SEATTLE — Farmers from the Skagit Valley to Eastern Washington are staying busy harvesting fruits earlier than usual.
It’s largely due to the state’s warmer, drier winter and spring.
The early start is also changing what’s available at farmers markets across Washington.
At the West Seattle Farmers Market, it was an historic day.
It was the first day in its new, street location on California Avenue between Alaska and Oregon.
The market is bigger, allowing more vendors in.
And some of the produce available right now hasn’t been seen this early before.
“I've been organizing farmers markets for 22 years and I have never seen certain crops come in this early," said Chris Curtis, executive director of the Neighborhood Farmers Markets.
For example, berries from Puget Sound.
Angelica Hayton of Hayton Farms in Mount Vernon says this season was earlier, than even last year.
"Last year was early and we started two weeks earlier this season," she said.
Add Eastern Washington fruit like apricots from Pipitone Farms to the early-fruit list.
Farmer Jerry Pipitone reports they experienced six days over 100-degrees just last week.
“We picked a full two weeks early," said Pipitone.
Some worry if the season peaks early, will it end early?
“In the long-run somehow it's probably not a good thing -- but it didn't make any different to me now," responded Pipitone.
Hayton Farms says some berries end early, specifically their June-bearing strawberries.
But everbearing Strawberries should continue into August.
When it comes to the Washington cherry harvest, Tonnemaker Family Orchard in Royal City says the two-week jump on the season is helping their 16 varieties of red cherries.
"It allows each variety to have its own window of time. In a shortened season, then everything's together and it's harder to pick it all," said farmer Kurt Tonnemaker.