Dried Tart Cherries, Pitted

Prunus avium

Origin / Harvest:

• Uzbekistan / July

Description & History

Cherries fall into two categories: sweet and tart. More then 700 varieties of sweet and tart cultivated cherries are known to exist, not including the large number of wild varieties. Our tart cherries grow wild in the virgin countryside of Uzbekistan.

The modern cherry is thought to have originated from China over 4,000 years ago. It was most likely brought to Rome from Cerasos, the ancient Turkish town from which the fruit is named. Cherry seeds were one of the first fruits early settlers brought to America in the 1600s. During the late 1800s, commercial cherry orchards took root in the U.S. – tart cherries in Michigan and sweet cherries in Oregon. Today, cherries are grown in most parts of the world but are produced in large commercial quantities primarily by Europe and the U.S.

Uses

Dried cherries can be used in similar fashion to raisins and added to cookies, breads, desserts, and trail mixes. Tart cherries in particular can be used balance and taper the sweetness of these foods.

Nutrition

Cherries are rich in flavanoids, known for their antioxidant and anti–inflammatory properties. The darker the cherry, the higher the flavanoid content. Tart cherries are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. They are also a good source of copper and manganese.

Tart Cherries