Cherries

Storage Tips:

Cherries are a delectable summer fruit, and they are also extremely perishable. To keep your cherries orchard fresh, store them uncovered in the coldest part of the refrigerator immediately after receiving them. Avoid storing cherries near strong-smelling food items as the taste of the fruit may be altered by these powerful scents. You should also avoid placing cherries near windows, sunlit or warm areas for a prolonged period of time. These warm environments cause cherries to quickly lose their firmness and luster. Finally, preserve your cherries by rinsing them under cold water only when you are ready to use/eat them.

Unique Facts:

• It is believed that the sweet cherry originated in the area between the Black and Caspian Seas in Asia Minor around 70 B.C.
• The Romans introduced them to Britain in the first century A.D. and colonists brought cherries to the United States in the 1600’s.
• Stemilt Growers is the world’s largest shipper of sweet cherries
• Records indicate that cherries were a prized food in a region of China dating back to 600 BC - fit for royalty and cherished by locals
• Broadway in New York shifts west at East 10th Street because a cherry tree once stood there
• There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially