Northwest Cherry Growers Tout Last of Sweet Cherry Crop for Back to School Snacks

Northwest-grown sweet cherry season is drawing to a close in September. This season yielded an abundance of the fresh superfruit, which means Northwest sweet cherries are available to send kids back-to-school with a smart snack choice. Packed with nutrients, fiber and flavor, sweet cherries are a perfect treat for school lunches and grab-and-go after-school snacks.

“We saw an outstanding Northwest sweet cherry crop, as more temperate conditions produced exceptionally high-quality, flavorful fruit,” said Karley Lange, director of domestic promotions of Northwest Cherry Growers. “Our normally short sweet cherry season is longer this year, giving shoppers more time to stock up, enjoy and preserve them.”

Northwest sweet cherries contain polyphenols, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, which boast anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. One cup of the fruit provides approximately 12 percent of the recommended daily value intake of vitamin C, boosting immune systems. They also have a lower glycemic index than almost any other fruit, making Northwest sweet cherries a smart and satisfying snack.

Cherry recipes to end the season
The flavor and health benefits of Northwest sweet cherries can be tapped throughout the year, whether enjoying them fresh or preserved (frozen, dried, sauced or even pickled). Northwest Cherry Growers develops and shares a robust catalog of recipes, offering inspiration for incorporating cherries on every plate, savory or sweet, during and beyond fresh cherry season.

Preserved cherries offer year-round enjoyment in these recipes:

• Low Sugar Cherry Jam
• Quick Pickled Sweet Cherries 
• Cherry Salsa
• Smokey Cherry BBQ Sauce

Cherries make ordinary dishes extraordinary in these preparations:

• Dried Cherry Overnight Oats
• Cherry BBQ Chicken
• Steak and Arugula Salad with Cherry and Almonds
• Dried Cherry Quinoa Salad

Sweet Northwest cherries are harvested from 2,200 growers across five states and account for more than 70 percent of the fresh cherries found in stores nationwide. More health information and recipes are here.