U.S. Leads World in Sweet Cheery Output

LANSING - Feb 19/04 - MFB -- The United States produces about 650 million pounds of cherries each year. Generally, Michigan produces 200 million to 250 million pounds of tart cherries. The total U.S. tart cherry crop is 275 million to 300 million pounds.

The major variety of tart cherry grown in the United States is the Montmorency. It has been cultivated in the United States for more than a century because the fruit is excellent for pies, preserves, jellies, juice and other products.

America's newest tart cherry variety is a dark tart cherry similar to the dark-skinned European Morello. This U.S.-grown variety is called Balaton (named for a lake in its native Hungary). This variety was developed by horticulturists at Michigan State University and has been field tested by growers in Michigan, Utah and Wisconsin.

The United States leads the world in sweet cherry production. Sweet cherries are primarily grown in Washington, Oregon and California. Michigan joins the top four producers, harvesting about 20 percent of the crop each year.

The average U.S. citizen consumes about one pound of tart cherries per year. That is more than 260 million pounds per year nationwide.

Cherries contain powerful antioxidants that may help fight cancer and heart disease, according to research at Michigan State University. In addition, eating about 20 cherries per day may reduce the pain of arthritis and headaches.

Copyright (c) 2004 Michigan Farm Bureau

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