Washington,California and Oregon are the largest U.S. producers of sweet cherries while Michigan and Wisconsin grow most of our sour cherries.
Fresh sweet cherries are available May through August and sour cherries only from June through early July. Fresh sour cherries are seldom sold in supermarkets, so scout them out at farmers’ markets or roadside fruit stands. Whether eaten out of hand or baked into a pie or cobbler, be sure to enjoy succulent summer cherries.
Serving Cherries
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Use in simple, old-fashioned fruit desserts, such as pies, cobbler, crisps and crumbles.
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Preserve fresh summer cherries to enjoy all year round by turning them into homemade jam or jelly.
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Add pitted sweet cherries to the blender while whipping up smoothies and shakes.
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Cherries pair well with almonds because cherry pits, which should not be eaten, have a natural almond flavor.
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Chocolate and cherry is a classic flavor combination, as in chocolate-covered cherries and Black Forest torte.
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Toss halved sweet cherries into your favorite fruit salad.
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Stir pitted, chopped sweet cherries into yogurt or BREAKSTONE’S Cottage Cheese.
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Substitute chopped cherries for other fruits in quick bread or muffin batter.
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Garnish summer drinks with pitted, frozen sweet cherries in place of ice cubes.
Cherry Recipes
SURE.JELL Cherry Jam
OREO-Cherry Cookie Balls
Marshmallow Cherry Kisses
Bing Cherry Pie
Cherries in the Snow