Fruit Tips for Care & Enjoyment
The Stemilt Difference
A Fresh Journey Worth Savoring, From Our Trees to Your Table
How Do I…
Store Cherries?
Pop them in the fridge! Cherries love the cold — it keeps them crisp, sweet, and ready for snacking. Leave them out, and they’ll lose that signature freshness pretty quickly. For best results, store them unwashed in a breathable container and enjoy within a week.
Know When Cherries Are in Season?
It all starts in sunny California! Our cherry season kicks off in early May and runs through September, moving to Washington by June. Curious about when your favorite variety hits? We’ve got a blog post with all the juicy details!
Use Cherries to Help with Inflammation?
Sweet relief is just a cherry away. Cherries aren’t just delicious — they’re also naturally anti-inflammatory. Packed with antioxidants called anthocyanins (say that three times fast!), cherries can support muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, and make a great post-workout or arthritis-friendly snack. Dive into the science on our blog!
Save Cherries for Later?
Yes you can — and should! Cherry season may be short, but your love for them doesn’t have to be. With a few simple tricks, you can freeze or preserve cherries to enjoy all year long. Head over to our blog for step-by-step guidance on making the most of cherry season… even after it’s over!
The Best Cherries Have…
Bright green stems – they’re a sign of freshness!
Firm and plump skin – skip the soft or shriveled ones.
Shiny, smooth skin means your cherries are in great shape (literally).
Dark color, go for a deep red or rich mahogany color for dark-sweet cherries.
Golden yellow hue, with a gentle pink or red blush is just right for Rainier cherries.
Did You Know…
Sweet dreams start with cherries
Cherries are one of nature’s best sources of melatonin — the hormone that helps regulate sleep. A handful before bed? Yes, please!
Packed with the good stuff
Cherries are bursting with essential vitamins like A, B, and C. They’re tiny, but mighty when it comes to boosting your daily nutrition.
Gentle on your blood sugar
With a low glycemic index score of just 22, cherries are a smart choice for keeping blood sugar levels steady.
Bones love cherries, too
They contain boron — a mineral that supports calcium balance, bone strength, and may even help prevent osteoporosis.
Potassium power
Cherries deliver potassium, which is important for keeping your muscles, heart, kidneys, and nerves running smoothly.
Want to dive deeper into the science behind cherries? Our friends at Have A Plant – Fruits and Veggies for Better Health have great resources on sweet cherry nutrition and research. Go check them out!
Our Top Tips!
Eat them within 5–7 days
Cherries are at their peak in the first week after you bring them home. That’s when they’re juiciest, crunchiest, and full of flavor!
Store smart
Keep cherries unwashed in the coldest part of your fridge (think back corner). And give them some space — strong-smelling foods like onions can mess with their flavor.
Keep it cool
Cherries don’t like heat or sunbathing. Warm spots and direct sunlight can lead to quick spoilage — and yes, one bad cherry can turn the whole bunch!
Freeze for later
Want to enjoy cherries after the season’s over? Freeze them! Just pit first for easy use in smoothies, sauces, and snacks. Not sure how to pit a cherry? We’ve got three easy methods you can try!
Too many cherries? Juice it!
Whip up a batch of homemade cherry juice — it’s refreshing, naturally sweet, and good for you too. If your cherries are frozen, just thaw, toss into a juicer, and voilà!
Cherry Varieties
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Trust The Farmer
At Stemilt, every cherry is nurtured from the soil up, using hands that know how to grow World Famous fruit — because your satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do!
Taste The Difference
We’re on a journey dedicated to freshness and take pride in delivering cherries that delight with every bite. That’s the Stemilt difference—quality you can trust, from our orchard to your table.
Growing in Nature’s Sweet Spots
At Stemilt, our cherries grow where nature brings out their best — from California’s Delta to Washington’s high-elevation orchards. Warm days, cool nights, and mountain air help cherries ripen slowly, building sweetness and flavor. We grow in harmony with the land to deliver unforgettable cherries!
Thoughtful Practices, Exceptional Fruit
As summer ramps up, so does cherry season! Beginning in late May and early June, harvest takes center stage in the orchards. Cherries are picked daily at sunrise—when temperatures are cool and the fruit is at its freshest—to ensure every cherry is handled with care and delivered at peak ripeness.
Innovation for Quality, Every Step of the Way
Once cherries leave the tree, the clock starts ticking. Because they’re so delicate and perishable, we move quickly to lock in their freshness. Within hours of harvest — right in the orchard — we run cherries through a hydrocooler, gently bringing down their temperature to start the cold chain. From there, it’s straight to packing, so they stay fresh and flavorful all the way to you.
The Longest Lasting Cherry Season Around
Stemilt’s cherry season is something special — it begins in early May and stretches all the way into September. Thanks to our diverse growing regions, we’re able to enjoy one of the longest cherry seasons anywhere, bringing fresh, delicious cherries to you all summer long.
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