YAKIMA — Northwest cherry growers are expected to harvest a large crop in the coming months.

The five-state Northwest cherry growing region is projected to harvest 24.9 million 20-pound boxes this year, according to the initial estimate released Tuesday by Northwest Cherry Growers, which promotes cherries grown in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah.

That amount would be below the 25.4 million and 26.4 million boxes harvested in 2018 and 2017, respectively. If the estimate holds, the 2019 crop would be the third largest ever.

The number is based on packing house and grower reports from about 10 days earlier, said B.J. Thurlby, president of the Northwest Cherry Growers. Growers are anticipated to get an updated figure during a Northwest Cherry Growers meeting in Pasco Wednesday. Northwest Cherry Growers will continue adjusting its estimate in the weeks leading up to the start of the cherry harvest.