Ah, Cherry Day! July 16 is a day dedicated to these plump and juicy little fruits that make pies, cobblers, and ice cream toppings even more delicious. Cherries range from sweet to tart, they come in shades ranging from red to yellow, and you can create a wide variety of dishes, desserts, and drinks with them. We can’t blame George Washington for allegedly chopping down that cherry tree. Today, the U.S. cherry industry produces more than 650 million pounds of tart and sweet cherries each year.
Get ready to pit yourself against some cherry trivia and discover why this day is worth celebrating!
The History of Cherries in the U.S. (and Cherry Day)
Cherry Day was originally established as a day to raise awareness of Britain’s cherries. During the 20th century, Britain lost 90% of its cherry orchards. Following the two World Wars, cherry orchards were planted over with more vital crops to feed the people.
The fruit themselves have been a staple for centuries. From the Roman Empire to the Chinese dynasties, the little red fruits have been on the plate of millions and came to America by ship with early settlers in the 1600s.
Modern-day cherry production in the United States began in 1852 when Peter Dougherty began planting cherry trees on the Old Mission Peninsula in the state of Michigan. The Midwest area proved to have an ideal climate for growing cherries and mass harvesting soon took place, with the first commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan being planted in 1893. Soon, production surpassed other major crops and the first cherry processing facility, Traverse City Canning Company, was built with the ruby-red fruit soon being shipped to neighboring cities in the Midwest. Outreach to the entire country was created shortly after.
The maraschino cherry, created from sweet cherries, is what popularized cherries in the U.S. This popular dessert cherry was invented by merchants on the Balkan Peninsula and in northern Italy by adding liqueur to a local cherry called the Marasca. The resulting cherry product was shipped into the United States in the 1890s.
In 1896, U.S. cherry processors began trialing an indigenous sweet cherry for maraschino cherries, in which less liqueur was used in the processing, and almond oil was added. In the end, the liqueur was eliminated completely. By 1920, the American variation of the maraschino cherry was so popular that it had substituted the nonnative variety in the United States.
Health Benefits of Cherries
Cherries aren’t just tasty and fun to eat, they’re packed with nutritional benefits! Cherries offer a variety of health benefits, primarily due to their rich antioxidant and nutrient content. They’re said to reduce inflammation, promote heart health, improve sleep, speed up exercise recovery, and help with weight management.
Cherries also offer additional health benefits like improved skin health, enhanced digestion, and potential cancer prevention.
Cherry Fun Facts Galore!
If you thought cherries were just fruits, think again! Here are some fun facts from What National Day Is It? to tickle your taste buds:
- Cherries come in two main types: sweet cherries (perfect for snacking) and sour cherries (ideal for cooking).
- The cherry blossom, a symbol of beauty and renewal, is the national flower of Japan.
- Cherries are rich in antioxidants, making them a sweet and healthy treat.
- It takes about 250 cherries to make a single cherry pie. That’s a lot of cherries!
- Montmorency cherries, a tart variety, are often used to make delicious cherry juice.
- Just one cherry tree can produce up to 7,000 cherries!
How to Celebrate Cherry Day
So, how can you celebrate Cherry Day? Let’s delve into some cherry-loving activities:
- Pick Your Own Cherries: Find a local cherry orchard and enjoy the experience of picking your own cherries. It’s a fun and rewarding activity!
- Try a New Recipe: Experiment with cherry-infused recipes like cherry pie, cherry cobbler, or even cherry salsa. Let your taste buds go on a cherrylicious adventure!
- Cherry Crafts: Get crafty and create cherry-themed DIY projects. Make cherry-themed jewelry, paint cherry-inspired artwork, or decorate your home with cherry motifs.
- Share the Love: Spread the joy of cherries by gifting cherry goodies to your loved ones. Trust us, cherries have a way of making everyone smile!
Whether you prefer to savor cherries straight from the tree or indulge in cherry-filled delights, World Cherry Day is the perfect occasion to pay tribute to these delightful fruits. So grab a handful of cherries, hop online to share your cherry love, and let the world know: today is a day to celebrate all things cherry!
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Photo Credit: Boule / Shutterstock.com