One of my favorite things about summer is the return of sweet cherries. Plump, juicy, firm and delicious, cherries don't just make you feel like a kid again, they also come with a number of health benefits.
One cup of raw sweet cherries, with pits, is an excellent source of vitamin C (16% DV or daily value) and fiber (12% DV) and a good source of potassium (9% DV). Cherries also are a great source of antioxidants, which fight inflammation and disease. In particular, those deep reddish purple Bing cherries most of us are familiar with, are loaded with anthocyanins, a type a flavonoid. If flavonoids sound familiar it is probably because you've heard about the heart healthy benefits they bring to red wine and dark chocolate.
One cup of raw sweet cherries, with pits, is an excellent source of vitamin C (16% DV or daily value) and fiber (12% DV) and a good source of potassium (9% DV). Cherries also are a great source of antioxidants, which fight inflammation and disease. In particular, those deep reddish purple Bing cherries most of us are familiar with, are loaded with anthocyanins, a type a flavonoid. If flavonoids sound familiar it is probably because you've heard about the heart healthy benefits they bring to red wine and dark chocolate.
In general, sweet cherries may be found in supermarkets and farmers markets from late May through August. The Rainier cherry, my absolute favorite, has a much smaller window. Yellow with a pink or red blush, these especially large cherries (pictured above) often appear later and are gone by mid-July. They are also more delicate and bruise easily, requiring careful handling. All of this makes them more expensive than other cherries but their creamy texture, sweet flavor and short stay means many people are willing to shell out a little more for this Pacific Northwest cherry developed at Washington State University. I had my first Rainier cherry experience on a trip to Seattle many years ago and ever since then I start itching for them each time summer comes back around.
Choose firm cherries with shiny unblemished skins and bright green stems. Rinse cherries under cool running water just before eating. Cherries are great just the way they are as a snack, side dish or
dessert, and at picnics and road trips. Don't wait - - get them before they're gone!
For recipes that feature cherries, check out either of these stories from the New York Times:
A Bowl of Cherries by Karen Barrow, 6/2013
Summer Cherry Season, Short and Sweet by Tara Parker-Pope, 7/2011
To learn more about Rainier cherries, read:
Rainier: THE Best Cherry by Carol Medeiros, Whole Foods Market Blog, 7/2011
Choose firm cherries with shiny unblemished skins and bright green stems. Rinse cherries under cool running water just before eating. Cherries are great just the way they are as a snack, side dish or
dessert, and at picnics and road trips. Don't wait - - get them before they're gone!
For recipes that feature cherries, check out either of these stories from the New York Times:
A Bowl of Cherries by Karen Barrow, 6/2013
Summer Cherry Season, Short and Sweet by Tara Parker-Pope, 7/2011
To learn more about Rainier cherries, read:
Rainier: THE Best Cherry by Carol Medeiros, Whole Foods Market Blog, 7/2011
