Want to enjoy these sweet ruby red gems even after the summer fades. Growing regions scattered throughout washington, oregon, idaho. But it takes an orchardist who likes to gamble to coax the flavor, color and size from. The state of washington is definitely the rainier state. Welcome to the home of world famous northwest cherries.
Washington is the nations leading producer of cherries and. It is a cross between the popular bing cherry and the van cherry. In comparison to harvesting apples, the cherry harvest season is fairly short and labor intensive. Eastern washington cherry harvest 2 weeks late originally published june 29, 2011 at 8. Seventy percent of the cherries both sweet and tart produced in the united states come from four states washington, oregon, idaho, and utah. Washington, california and oregon are the primary sweet cherry producing states. Cherry harvest has begun in washington state and yakima, wash. Northwest cherries season is starting to come to a close. The earlier dates are more applicable to southwest washington and the later dates for more northerly or colder areas. Our cherry season is longer than any other, starting in may in california, transitioning to washington in june and not winding down until early september. You can buy a big box of dried cherries that are from michigan. Its officially cherry blossom season in washington d. Stay up to date with the cherry crops right here in the lake chelan washington valley.
Cherries have the shortest period between flower blossom and harvest of any tree fruit 6075 days. Mayor ozaki donated the trees to enhance the growing friendship between the united states and japan and also celebrate the continued close relationship between the two nations. Washington fruit cherries there are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the united states, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially. Geraldine warner was the editor of good fruit grower from 19922015. Every year on july 11, we celebrate national rainier cherry day and enjoy some world famous rainier cherries. Ahead of starting its industryleading cherry season, stemilt is releasing a fast facts. Hi, ill be spending a few days around mid june in seattle and would like to pick some cherries red or rainier.
Today, we remain familyowned and operated, with the goal of. With so many varieties of fresh cherries for sale, how to choose. Washington cherry harvest americas heartland youtube. Find out when cherry season begins, how long it lasts, and where cherries are harvest throughout the season. While many ornamental cherries grow nicely in gardens in western washington, sweet cherry trees. What cherry trees can i plant in western washington. How to buy and store cherries like a pro epicurious. This site is the source for all of the latest news and information about cherries from the northwest including. Of course, weather changes, season variations, variety of a crop planted and other factors profoundly affect the dates, so this is a general guide only.
Ripened on the tree, cherries are generally harvested, packed and on the shelf of your favorite retailer within 2 days. Central washington states pick your own farms and orchards for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins and more. You can find more information many more photos in the april 20 cherry blossom watch update, but heres a sampling of how they were looking on april 20 ive also posted a photographic timeline of what to expect, when as we head past peak bloom. With flavor notes of cacao and citrus, it takes our organic, whole milk yogurt to a whole other level. The season lasts about until the beginning of august. Fresh cherries for sale washington cherries chef shop. During late june washington state overflows with rainer cherries. Washington fresh cherries, cherries for sale, cherry gift. Tim evans, sales director at chelan fresh remarked. Please look for them at your grocery store now while they last in addition to their good looks, california cherries possess a set of fine nutritional points. Washington led the nation in sweet cherry production in 2017, with 245,000 tons nass 2019 tree fruit report the united states is the thirdlargest producer of cherries in the world.
The rainier cherry is a very attractive, exceptionally large, yellow cherry with bright red blush. Some scenes from the area of the tidal basin in washington, d. The fivestate cherry commission lowered its outlook for the season to. Northwest cherry growers expected to harvest just under 20 million boxes of fresh cherries this season, down from 23 million in 2014. How to grow cherry trees january 29, 2015 every fruit has its peak season, but there are a few, such as cherries, that are truly only good for a month or two each year. Sweet cherry harvest wsu tree fruit washington state. Growing regions scattered throughout washington, oregon, idaho, utah, and montana offer small differences in microclimate which allow cherries throughout.
Plum trees, which look similar and are blooming furiously now in early march, typically come before the cherries. The northwest cherry season lasts from the first week of june until the end of august. They are sweet with a thin skin and thick creamyyellow flesh. Central washington state central washington state upick. Shipping point market inspection instructions accessed. The iconic collection of cherry trees in the quad reached full bloom on friday, said uw arborist sara shores the blossoms should remain in full bloom the week of march 14, just in time for study sessions on the lawn and frisbee games before students leave for spring break. Cherry season we are lucky to have two different types of upick cherries at harvest house. Washington state remains a leading producer of sweet cherries for supermarkets across the united states, but cherries and other fruit crop orchards exist in huge numbers in the eastern and central counties of the state.
Tart cherry season runs from early july to early august. Sweet, flavorful california cherries are a favorite ingredient around the world. The arid growing season of the pacific northwest produces a deep red, mahogany black cherry thats equal parts sweet and tart. Cherry harvest has just begun, and they are looking forward to the good season to come. Stemilt might not be the originators of darksweet cherries turkey gets the credit for that, but our founding family has grown these drupes or stone fruits for more than a century. Our products taste great because of our commitment to freshness and the use of wholesome ingredients without preservatives.
The season lasts through august and even part of the economy there relies on them. I recently had the opportunity to visit washington state cherry producers with northwest cherries and a group of other writers. Late june is when the shipping of these cherries begins. Rainier cherries are in season from may through june in california and june through august in washington. A supply of earlier cherries has helped growers and packers make better use of. Washington dc cherry blossom festival 2015 facts about the. The rainier is named after the highest peak in washington state, mount rainier. The california cherry season can make or break the start of the washington state. Please call ahead for upick times before coming up. As of april 20, all of the trees are being covered in green leaves.
But if thats too many cherries for you, heres our superspeedy rundown of the varieties of fresh cherries. Stemilt helps retailers zoom into cherry season with fast. A good year you got about 67 weeks to enjoys these delicate sweet cherries. Washington state grows more sweet cherries than any other region in the nation. Does anyone have information name of farmorchard or experience in doing that. The rainier cherry is the sweetest, prettiest and most pampered of cherries, as delicate as it is lucrative. Washington state produces a huge percentage of the cherries that make their way to your table. It was developed in 1952 at washington state university by harold fogle, and named after mount rainier. Make the most of cherry season with this primer on cherry varieties, how to choose cherries, and what to make with them, complete with recipes. Eastern washington cherry harvest 2 weeks late the. The european union27 is the leading cherry producer, followed by turkey fas 2012. In addition to sampling several different cherry varieties my favorite being an unnamed rainier variety called 801 and preparations see roasted asparagus and cherry tacos, we visited a cherry grower and packer in the yakima valley about a threehour. Cherry trees are in bloom across washington state and california cherry harvest is set to kick off soon.
As a grower, packer and shipper of premium apples, pears and cherries, weve been an industry leader for over a century. This is cherry season season2 sep 2015 by eccho rights on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Standards for sweet cherries marketed within the state of washington accessed 11917. This cherry has a distinctive and superior appearance among sweet cherry varieties. Cherries agricultural marketing resource center usda. The marketing season for tart cherries in all states is from june 25 to august 15. Northwest cherry growers washington state fruit commission. August is here, but the northern district of central washington cherry season continues to produce a very good volume of highquality cherries. Cherry growers in washington and oregon estimate a reduction of total tons harvested for the 2015 harvest season. The national cherry blossom festival is a spring celebration in washington, d.
Washington state rainier and dark sweet cherries borton. For three decades, familyowned chukar cherries has been transforming local sweet and tart cherries into awardwinning chocolate cherries, no sugar added dried cherries, cherry gift baskets, and more. Cherry picking in mid june seattle forum tripadvisor. If you dont live in washington or california and you want to buy rainier cherries, make sure to visit the site.
The cast episode that shares nielsen scan data insights on cherries. Cherries are one of the freshest produce items available. Well, you can always order the full quintet of fresh cherries. Rainier cherries love to grow big and are aptly named by the highest mountain peak in washington state, mount rainier. Fogle of washington state university in prosser, washington. The maraschino cherry was created from sweet cherries. Both are delicious eaten fresh and perfect for pies, tarts, jams, and other desserts.