The harvest of sweet cherries grown in the Northwest has begun, which means a new crop of this superfruit will start appearing in produce sections nationwide. Available fresh for a limited time, this juicy summer fruit offers extensive health benefits both internally and externally.
From reducing inflammation and stress to improving sleep quality and skin brightness, sweet cherries are a nutritional powerhouse easy to incorporate into the daily diet of consumers of all ages.
"Growers are calling the 2024 harvest in the Northwest an average crop of excellent quality cherries," said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers. "We see cherries well distributed throughout the tree canopy, with fewer large clusters compared to 2023. Combined with warm weather, volumes are increasing. Historically, this type of fruit set has resulted in large, beautiful cherries and excellent storage quality."
Northwest sweet cherries are more than just a treat. Sweet cherries are a natural source of antioxidants, including anthocyanins that give the fruit its vibrant red color and provide anti-inflammatory benefits linked to anti-cancer properties, cardiovascular health, pain reduction, and more.
Sweet cherries, which contain vitamin C, support the immune system and keep skin bright. Studies have also shown that sweet cherries are a source of potassium, which can help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Northwest cherries are harvested by over 2,500 growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana, who together produce over 70% of the fresh cherries found in stores from mid-June to early September.
Read the full article: PR Newswire
Image: Fruitnet
29 Nov 2024
“The way technology detects defects, precisely identifies colors, and sorts sizes is far superior to what mechanical sorters and humans could achieve. Considering the large volumes we handle and the high standards we need to meet today, using optical sorting is simply a must.”
26 Jun 2024
"Organic sweet and dark cherries are up from last year," commented Brianna Shales. "Harvest is underway in Washington State, and we will see increased volume of organic cherries through the end of June for promotions.
21 Aug 2026
A genomic study identifies 17 HSP70 and HSP90 genes in sweet cherry and explains how they respond to heat and salinity. The results highlight key genes, including PavHSP90-5, that could support breeding of cultivars with resilience to climatic and environmental stress.
21 Aug 2026
A study in southern Chile shows how mineral nutrition, especially the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus, may influence internal browning in Regina sweet cherries, postharvest quality and the fruit’s ability to withstand long storage periods for export markets.
