There are two types of cherries grown in the United States, sweet and tart. Washington, California, Oregon produce about 90% of the nation’s sweet cherries, while Michigan is the largest producer of the tart varieties, producing nearly 74%. The other remaining tart cherries come from Utah, Washington, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The U.S. is the second largest producer of cherries, following Turkey. There are more than a thousand varieties in the U.S., but only 10 are produced commercially.
History of Cherries
The fertile areas between the Black and Caspian seas are where sweet cherries originated. It is believed the fruit come to Europe because of birds. Greeks were the first to cultivate the fruits, while the Romans increased production.
The colonists brought the fruit with them to North America in 1629 and the Spanish missionaries introduced them to the west. Pioneers and fur traders also moved cherries to Washington, Oregon, California during their movement in the 1800’s.
Cherry Production
Cherry trees are planted in straight rows in the orchards. Typically farms plant about 100 trees per acre. It can take between 4 to 7 years to begin producing sweet cherries, while it can take 3 to 5 years to produce tart cherries. Sweet cherries are not self-pollinating and need to planted with compatible varieties to be pollinated by bees. Whereas tart cherries are considered self-pollinating and do not need to be planted with other varieties. Cherry trees require between 1,000 and 1,500 hours of chilling to induce flowering.
California cherries are the first cherries of the season, which usually begins in mid-April and lasts until early June. Tart cherries are typically harvested in July or August. When the color changes on the fruit and they are in the firm-mature stage they are ready to be harvested. Fresh market sweet cherries are harvested by hand and leave the stems intact. These small fruits can be bruised easily, so they must be handled with care. They’re immediately brought to the packing facility and cooled using cold water. They are then sorted by size and color to be packed into boxes and shipped.
Tart cherries are harvested by a machine that shakes the trees in a figure-eight motion until the cherries are dropped. A conveyor then takes the cherries away to large bins of chilled water to be taken to a processing facility to be rinsed with colder water to retain firmness. These cherries are also pitted to be made into juice, dried, or frozen.
U.S. Consumption
In 2016 over 350 tons of sweet cherries were produced, while about 329 million pounds of tart cherries were yielded. About 75% of sweet cherries are produced for the fresh market, with the remaining used for processing. Since tart cherries are extremely delicate, majority of them are processed into juice, frozen or dried products.
The average American consumes about 2.2 pounds of cherries a year either frozen, canned, fresh, juice, wine, brine and dried. Tart cherries are a multipurpose ingredient. The flavor and bright color are great for co*cktails, desserts, salads, and more.
Other Facts
- Michigan has about 3.8 million tart cherry trees and about 0.5 million sweet cherry trees.
- Traverse City, Michigan is considered the Cherry Capital of the World.
- On average, there are about 7,000 cherries in a tart tree and 250 in cherry pie, which means a tree produces about 28 cherry pies.
- There are about 100 whole cherries in an 8-ounce class of cherry juice.
- Harold Robertson set the record for picking the most cherries by hand in one day in 1958. He picked 1,225 pounds of cherries in a 12-hour period.
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Sources:
Agricultural Marketing Resources Center
California Cherry Board
Montmorency U.S. Tart Cherries
Northwest Cherries
Agile Writer Biography and History
FAQs
Cherry Fun Facts!
How many cherries does a cherry tree have? ›
A mature cherry tree can produce 7,000 cherries a year! To harvest the cherries, cut bunches of them from the tree, still on their stalks. Be gentle as over zealous handling could damage the fruit.
What state has the most tart cherries? ›
Michigan produces about 75% of the total United States tart cherry crop. Utah grows about 8%, New York 5% and Wisconsin 4%. There are also tart cherries grown in Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
Which state grows about 70 percent of the world's tart cherries? ›
Michigan has a long history with cherries of all kinds. The state produces 70% of the nation's tart cherries, which you'll often find in baked goods, smoothies and other tasty treats. If you're looking for a juicy snack, seasonal sweet cherries are a favorite summer fruit.
How many pounds of cherries does a tree produce? ›
Cherries bear in four to seven years, starting with light crops, then increasing to 50 to 80 pounds of fruit per tree for sour cherries and more for sweet varieties. Prime harvesting time is in June and July in Maine. Sweet cherries will keep refrigerated for up to three weeks. They freeze and dry well.
How many cherry trees do I need for a family of 4? ›
Sweet Cherries
They are much easier to maintain. However, one standard cherry tree can produce 150 lbs of fruit. Two dwarf trees or 1-2 standard trees would also be enough for a family. Keep in mind that some cherry trees require at least two for pollination purposes.
What time of year do cherry trees produce cherries? ›
Cherry fruits ripen early to mid-summer, depending on variety. Choosing sweet cherry cultivars from different ripening times can extend your fresh eating cherry picking season.
Is it OK to eat tart cherries? ›
Furthermore, eating tart cherries has been linked to heart-health benefits, including decreased cholesterol and decreased risk for hardened arteries (called atherosclerosis), which are risk factors for heart disease. Muscle recovery and tart cherry juice has received much attention.
What is the best tasting tart cherry? ›
Grown on small family farms in North America, Montmorency tart cherries are truly “The Cherry With More,” with their on-trend sweet-sour taste and unique nutrient profile. Montmorency tart cherries have been studied more than any other type of cherry – and the evidence is growing.
How many tart cherries can you eat? ›
The recommended amount of tart cherry juice is 2-8 ounces (60-240 ml) per day. And for tart cherries in dried or frozen form is 10-30 cherries per day.
Turkey is the largest producer and consumer of cherries in the world. In this country, cherry is widely used for direct consumption as a food, and for the preparation of jams and confectionery. Volume of cherries consumption in Turkey is growing steadily, based mainly on their own production.
Where are the best cherries in the United States? ›
Much of the cherry production is concentrated in Michigan and the Northwest. Michigan grows about 75 percent of the tart cherry crop. Oregon and Washington harvest about 60 percent of the sweet cherry crop. Other states with commercial cherry crops are Utah, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and California.
What is the cherry capital of the world? ›
Today Traverse City is known nationally as the "Cherry Capital of the World". The five counties around Traverse City make up the region that produces 40 percent of the annual tart cherry crop in the United States. Orchards line the Lake Michigan coast from Benton Harbor to the Grand Traverse Area.
How long do cherry trees live for? ›
Their life spans are usually 15 to 25 years long, though in optimal conditions, they have been known to reach 30 to 40 years of age. On the other hand, some (like black cherry trees) can live much longer. Black cherries have been known to reach 250 years old under the right conditions.
How many cherries does a cherry tree produce a year? ›
One mature, standard-size tart or sweet cherry tree will produce 30 to 50 quarts of cherries each year; a dwarf tree, about 10 to 15 quarts. Plant cherry trees in early spring or late fall (when the ground is soft and has a higher moisture content) in a sunny site with good air circulation and deep, well-drained soil.
Will one cherry tree produce cherries? ›
Pie cherries and some sweet cherries are self-fertile; they will produce fruit without being pollinized by another variety. Others require cross-pollination with a different, compatible cherry variety in order to produce fruit reliably. In the table below, sweet cherries which need cross-pollination are in bold.
Is 20 cherries a lot? ›
A typical serving size of cherries is 5 ounces, or about 21 cherries. This amount serves up 90 calories, 3 grams of fiber and a healthy dose of potassium and vitamin C, per the USDA.
How much can you get from a cherry tree? ›
Yield: A mature cherry tree can produce between 50 and 200 pounds (23 to 90 kg) of fruit per year, depending on the variety, tree age, and growing conditions. Market price: The market price for cherries can fluctuate based on supply and demand, quality, and the variety of cherries.
How many times can you harvest a cherry tree? ›
Cherries are fruit crops unlocked at experience level 22. They grow on cherry trees and can be harvested four times. They are used as ingredients in several food products.
