By Carla Espinoza GutiérrezA harsh spring freeze has taken a significant bite out of this year’s tart cherry crop. As a result, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is forecasting production at 91 million pounds, a 36 percent drop year-on-year. “Tart cherry harvest is highly seasonal, and almost 99 percent of production is destined for processing,” the report states. If realized, the state’s tart cherry crop would be the smallest since 1972, when yields reached 1.3 million pounds after another year noted for damaging spring freezes. Related storiesNorthwest cherry season winds down with dramatic Rainier volume decline