10 Seriously Juicy Facts About Cherries

Updated: Mar. 12, 2024

It's time to fall in love with cherries. We've rounded up the 10 wildest facts about this beloved stone fruit.

Ah, cherries. These cute little red fruits have made their way into my heart. They’re perfectly sweet and purely delightful, especially when baked into a fresh cherry pie. I fell in love with cherries all over again after taking a trip to Door County, Wisconsin, one of the biggest cherry-producing regions in the United States. After relaxing among the area’s gorgeous cherry blossoms, sipping some cherry wine, and devouring Door County’s famous cherry-stuffed French toast, I was inspired to learn more.

Read on to discover the craziest facts about cherries-this stone fruit may surprise you!

1. It’s likely George Washington never cut down a cherry tree.

Despite what we learned in poems as kids, there is no factual evidence that our first president chopped down any of these fruit-bearing trees. The myth was created by Parson Mason Weems, who wrote the story in a biography of President Washington to illustrate his integrity and honesty.

2. The average cherry tree has 7,000 cherries.

That’s right. A single tree can yield enough cherries to make 28 pies. (Or at least a few of our favorite cherry desserts!)

3. A cherry tree can be harvested in seven seconds.

Thanks to the introduction of mechanical tree shakers, the laborious process of hand-picking cherries now takes a mere seven seconds per tree. Efficiency has its price, though. Because the machine is so intense, it shortens a tree’s life by seven years.

4. Japanese cherry blossom trees don’t produce fruit.

Despite the name, cherry trees don’t always produce cherries. Most varieties are ornamental, not fruit-bearing, trees. So if you go to the famous National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., don’t expect to pick any cherries while you’re there.

5. There are two main types of cherries: sweet and tart.

Sweet cherries are mostly grown in California, Washington and Oregon, and tart cherries are mostly grown in Michigan and Wisconsin. The most common type of sweet cherry is the Bing, followed by Lambert and gold-toned Rainier. Sweet cherries are usually eaten fresh, as a fun snack. The most common type of tart cherry is the Montmorency. Tart cherries are used in baking because they hold their shape better than their sweeter cousins. The tartness also allows bakers to adjust the sweetness level until it’s just right. The next time you get hold of some fresh tart cherries, make this cherry streusel tart.

6. Door County, Wisconsin, is nicknamed Cherryland USA.

Door County was once the No. 1 grower of cherries in the U.S. During the 1950s, it produced 95 percent of the nation’s tart cherries, with more than 1 million cherry trees. Today, there are only 2,500 acres of cherry orchards in the county (that’s still a lot!). Door County residents pride themselves on their cherries. Go to any restaurant and you’ll likely find a cherry special on the menu. (Cinnamon Roll Cherry Cobbler, anyone?)

7. Traverse City, Michigan, is known as the Cherry Capital of the World.

Today, Michigan is the big producer in the cherry-growing business, with more than 30,000 acres of cherry trees. In the Traverse City region alone, a whopping 4 million trees produce 150 to 200 million pounds of tart cherries annually. Traverse City’s annual National Cherry Festival started in the 1920s as an informal “blessing of the blossoms” ceremony. Now it’s a weeklong festival attended by people from all over the world.

8. The Midwest has ideal weather conditions for growing tart cherries.

It’s no coincidence that Michigan and Wisconsin produce so many cherries. The land off Lake Michigan is ideal for cherry trees. Weather conditions prevent early frost, and the light wind helps pollinate the trees. Alkaline soil and shallow limestone deposits are also beneficial.

9. Michigan hosts official cherry pit-spitting contests-and they’re pretty awesome.

Think you’ve got skill in spitting a cherry pit? There’s a place you can prove it. Eau Claire, Michigan-known as the Cherry Pit Spitting Capital of the World-hosts the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship every year. The world record for cherry stone spitting is a whopping 93 feet 6.5 inches. Talk about impressive! When I tried my hand at pit spitting, mine only reached 17 feet. Learn how to pit cherries.

10. This ruby red fruit delivers some health benefits, too.

Cherries are jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are good for your health. To sweeten the deal, they’re low in calories, too! Pack some in your lunch bag for a guilt-free snack.

Now that you know so much about cherries, it’s time to share your knowledge with the world. Delight friends and family with these fun-filled facts over a toasty cherry cobbler or cherry-packed pie. And remember, no ice cream sundae is complete without a cherry on top! For more ways to use this wonderful fruit, check out our 20 recipes made with cherries.

Try Our Favorite Cherry Recipes

1 / 31

Cherry and Chocolate Ice Cream Pie We took cherry pie to a whole new level as a frozen treat. With a luscious layer of chocolate fudge inside, this is one impressive pie. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia Get Recipe Also, try our incredible tart recipes are just as pretty as they are delicious!

Michigan Cherry Japanese Style Cheesecake Exps Rc21 264080 B07 27 10b 1

Michigan Cherry Japanese-Style CheesecakeMichigan is known for its amazing cherries, especially the tart ones, so we have plenty of opportunities to find new ways to try and use them. They became my muse for this recipe—a twist on the traditional American cheesecake recipe. I decided to make use of the extraordinary texture and unique taste found in a Japanese-style cheesecake, which is light and melts in your mouth. —Laura Kurella, Wellston, Michigan