Washington state's cherry crop was smaller than expected, due to colder-than-Siberia weather in May and June.

The harvest started about a week late because the cold kept the fruit from ripening, and early estimates were that frost damage in the Upper Yakima Valley would further limit the crop. Last year, growers set a record harvesting 143,000 tons of cherries; this year's crop was expected to be closer to 97,000 tons.

The cool weather also may have hurt a Kennewick 7-Eleven store's efforts to repeat as the nation's Slurpee champion. The store at 3606 W. Clearwater sold more Slurpees than any other in North America last summer.