Produce Pick of the Month: Cherries!
SANTANA ROW FARMERS’ MARKET EVERY SUNDAY, 11am-3pm
Luscious California sweet cherries have arrived! They will be at the market through late June - such a short time to enjoy their wonderful flavor and antioxidant benefits. Our producers offer many varieties, from the dark red Bing and Burlat to colorful red and yellow Rainiers.
California is home to over 600 cherry growers, farming over 26,000 acres from the Santa Clara Valley to the San Joaquin Valley. Most are grown on small farms of 10 to 40 acres. The weather has been good so there will be an abundance this year.
When selecting cherries, choose those that are heavy for their size and still have their stems attached. Avoid those that are small and hard because they have been picked before they were ripe.
Cherries should be stored, unwashed, in the coldest part of the refrigerator to help protect their texture and flavor. If you can’t use all your cherries within five or six days, it is best to freeze them. Wash and drain them dry, place in a single layer on a flat tray and freeze. When frozen solid, transfer to freezer bags. They will last for up to a year.
RANIER CHERRY LAPIN CHERRY