Lush, juicy, and when tree ripened, delicious well beyond words - Low in calories & high in antioxidants, Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, B Complex & minerals and a good source of Potassium & Boron. Boron works with calcium & magnesium for stronger bones. Cherries contain pectin, which is a soluble fiber that helps control blood cholesterol levels. They also contain the antioxidants quercetin, a flavanoid with anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and anticancer fighting power. Anthocyanins found in cherries block inflammatory enzymes, reducing pain. 20 cherries are 10 times as potent as aspirin and have positive effects on gout and arthritis pain. To date, no other fruit or vegetable has been found to have the pain relieving properties of tart cherries. In addition, the antioxidants in tart cherries can help fight cancer and heart disease.

The largest variety of tart cherry grown in the United States is the Montmorency. It has been cultivated in the United States for more than a century because the fruit is excellent for pies, preserves, jellies, juice and other products. The leading producer of tart cherries is Michigan, producing about 70% of the crop each year. Utah, New York, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania also have commercial crops of tart cherries. Tart cherries, which are sometimes called pie cherries or sour cherries, are seldom sold fresh; they generally are canned or frozen shortly after harvesting for use in products throughout the year.

Sweet cherries primarily are grown in the Pacific Coast states, but Michigan joins the top 4 producers, harvesting about 20 % of the crop. The most famous sweet cherry variety is the Bing cherry. However, there are more than 1,000 varieties of sweet cherries. Bing cherries are a dark red/burgundy color. Lambert Cherries are the 2nd most common cherry. They are heart shaped, smaller than Bings. Other cherry varieties include Rainier (yellow with a pink blush, not as sweet as the red varieties, but considered by many to be the best), Queen Anne, Lapin (notably larger), Brooks ( the first cherries of the season) & Tulare Cherries (not quite as sweet as Brooks) Both tart and sweet cherries ripen in July.

Choose cherries that are firm & rich color without blemishes. They should always be refrigerated. Choose ones that are a good size with rich color and a glossy exterior. If they have the stem attached, it's a better choice because you can tell if it's old (brown stem) or fresh. Cherries are quite temperature sensitive so get them into the refrigerator as quickly as possible. Store them unwashed loosely in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable compartment of the fridge. Cherries are perishable, plan to use them soon after purchase. You can freeze cherries for a year!

We cherry Picked only the best resources for you:

Batch’s Best Farm - In Eastern Washington, the Batch family allows their fruit to ripen on the tree rather than en route to the store. Tom Batch's family hand-picks each piece of fruit, and then the cherries are checked for size, color, firmness, and even to be sure they have a stem before they are boxed. This means every cherry is, well, cherry picked from all the rest! PLEASE NOTE - THE CHERRIES WILL BE SHIPPED THE DAY THEY ARE PICKED, ESTIMATE DATE IS LATE JULY 2006.

Chukar – Life is all about Cherries at Chukar! Pacific Northwest’s Bounty of cherries - fresh, dried, chocolate covered, pure fruit jams, pie fillings & sauces. It’s all about cherries through the year. Their Succulent Bing and Rainier fresh cherries are harvested from mid-June through mid-July.

Cj Olsen Cherries 106 years producing cherries in Sunnyvale, CA . Fresh cherries available for shipping late May, dried, chocolate covered, pies, jams & cherry blossom honey– all from their own farm’s cherries

Grand Traverse Pies – Handmade Cherry pies & preserves from the cherry Capital of Traverse City, MI - 4 varieties of Cherry pies

Lou Lou’s Garden - Organic Bing cherries from the farm at Lagier Ranches. This jam is thick with cherries and the cherries are so sweet that very little sugar was added - made from the freshest fruit & hand pitted.

Dundee Fruit – Using their own Pacific Northwest Cherries Dick & Lynne Sadler produce many products to preserve their wonderful flavor all year. Black Cherries in Light syrup, in brandy, preserves & conserves. Tart cherries in water & Rainier cherries in light syrup. They also have wonderful recipes to use all these products.

Robert Lambert’s Dark Cherries in Merlot - Dark cherries are paired with fruity merlot and hints of raspberry, scented geranium, galangal root, bergamot, black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla and bay. Serve with pork, duck, game hens, quail, beef or lamb, with cheese, on ice cream.

Amon Orchards – Located in Acme, MI they offer cherry concentrate ( delicious to drink but it’s also a prescription for pain relief from arthritis & gout ), their own cherry honey, jams, dried cherries, mustards & sauces, vinaigrettes , frozen cherries.

Cherry Republic - Cherry Republic's Mission is to place the fabulous cherry in every household in America to keep Northern Michigan farms in operation & help preserve orchard lands. Cherry products of all types: Sauces, salsa, BBQ & dressing, soda, juices, baked goods, jams and so much more.

Diamond Organics – Bing & Rainier Organic Cherries in season and Organic Cherry pie ( all year)

Great Cherry Recipes