Overview

Cherries are consumed in a variety of ways, including fresh, frozen and canned or as juice, wine, brined or dried. Two main types of cherries are produced in the United States: sweet cherries and tart or "sour" cherries. In recent years, two-thirds of the sweet cherries produced have been destined for the fresh market, with the remaining one third used for processing. Of the sweet cherries that are processed, 65 percent are brined. With regard to tart cherries, 99 percent of production is used for processing, with the majority processed as a frozen product (71 percent). A total of 22 percent of tart cherries are canned and the remainder (those neither frozen nor canned) are used for juice, wine, brined and dried products (NASS).

The marketing season for U.S. sweet cherries lasts from early May to mid August, while the marketing season for tart cherries lasts from mid June to late August (NASS). Washington, California, Oregon and Michigan are the primary sweet cherry producing states, accounting for over 97 percent of the quantity produced nationwide. The primary tart cherry producing state is Michigan, which alone accounts for more than 70 percent of tart cherry production.  March 2008... Cherries

Marketing

• California Cherries, California Cherry Advisory Board - This site provides information on Bing, Rainer, Lambert and Van cherries to consumers and industry sources.
• Cherry Marketing Institute - The national research and promotion organization represents U.S. cherry growers and works to increase demand of processed tart cherries.
• Cherry Production and Trade Summary, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA, 2007.
• National Cherry Growers and Industries Foundation - This organization represents growers and industry interests.
• Northwest Cherry Growers - Approximately 70 percent of the U.S. cherry production comes from this group, which represents growers in Washington, Oregon, Utah and Idaho.
• Oregon Cherry Growers - This grower-cooperative was formed in 1932.

Production

• Cherry, Integrated Pest Management guidelines, University of California, Davis.
• Cherry Production, NASS, USDA - This report contains the mid-June production forecast for U.S. tart and sweet cherries.
• Michigan Cherries, Michigan State University - This page links to other university resources for sweet and tart cherries.
• PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, a FAQ database and a glossary.
• Postharvest Information Network, Washington State University - This features information on topics such as cherry quality, marketing, packaging and storage.
• Sample Costs to Establish an Orchard and Produce Sweet Cherries, University of California – Cooperative Extension, 2001 - This online guide provides sample costs for establishing a cherry orchard using sprinkler irrigation in California.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Cherry Central, Traverse City, Michigan - Located in the cherry capital of the world, this company is owned by member cooperatives representing growers in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Utah and Washington.
• Falcon Orchard, Sister Bay, Wisconsin - This "you-pick" and "we-pick" fresh cherry orchard features a craft store that sells country-folk-art-related gift items. Cherries are available in season, and the operation stresses the camaraderie of picking fruit together. Other fun activities and amusements include a seed-spitting range and life-size soft-sculpture figurines.
• Irons Fruit Farm, Lebanon, Ohio - This farm raises tart cherries, along with apples, berries, pumpkins, sweet corn and vegetables. The farm offers you-pick produce, a seasonal bakery and gift room, fall tours and hayrides.
• King Orchards Cherry Juice Concentrate, Central Lake, Michigan - This farm processes and markets its own tart cherry juice and dried cherries using its own label.
• Seaquist Orchards, Sister Bay, Wisconsin - This fifth-generation operation processes cherries in its own processing plant. Pressed cider and cherry juice are processed on the farm.
• Shaw Orchards, Stewartstown, Pennsylvania - This orchard has been in operation for seven generations. In addition to tart and sweet cherries, the orchard is also noted for its apples and peaches. A variety of fruits, vegetables and homemade jams and jellies are also marketed directly to customers.
• Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, Eau Claire, Michigan - The farm grows more than 15 varieties of sweet cherries as well as tart cherries. You-pick customers can have their fresh picked cherries pitted while at the farm. Tree-Mendus also is host to the “world famous” International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship the first Saturday in July.

Links checked February 2008.