10 Fun Facts About Cherries
I like produce. I like to grow it. And I like to eat it. I’m also kind of a nerd and like to get to know my produce. I like learning new or fun tidbits of info about the produce I’m growing/eating/baking. If you’re a weirdo like me then you will too!
10 Fun Facts About Cherries
The cherry was brought to England by Henry VIII after tasting them in Belgium.
Cherries were first brought to North America in the settlement of Brooklyn New York, around 1639.
Cherries can be harvested with a tree shaker in under 10 seconds. The action is so violent it can reduce the tree’s life by 7 years.
The Unofficial cherry pit spitting record is around 100’ 5” spat in the city of Eau Claire Michigan.
More Fun Facts About Cherries
Cherries have a good nutritional value with mostly Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and a healthy dose of fiber.
Under ideal conditions, a cherry tree can produce fruit for over 100 years.
The country of Turkey is by far the largest cherry producer followed by the U.S..
Even More Fun Facts About Cherries
Cherry pits can be dangerous if eaten, especially when broken or crushed. They contain Cyanogenic compounds which your body turns to cyanide. Spit them out or use a cherry pitter. Duh.
Cherries have been eaten by humans since the Stone Age. Piles of cherry pits have been found in Paleolithic caves.
Removing cherry stains from hands is as simple as rubbing a wedge of a fresh lemon on them.
Had you heard any of those fun facts before? Do you have any of your own to add? Is there a particular produce item you’re just dying to know more about? I take requests!
Grow on,
~Mavis
Looking for some good cherry recipes? Check these out:
- The World’s Greatest Sour Cherry Pie Recipe
- The Best Rhubarb Cherry Cobbler Recipe
- Easy Cherry Cobbler Recipe with Canned Cherry Pie Filling
- Cherry Almond Jam Recipe {It’s AMAZING!!!}
- Grandma’s Cherry Cola Jello Salad Recipe
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Recipe
- Canning 101 Recipe – Cherry Pie Filling
- Canning 101 – How to Make Cherry Jam
- Homemade Cherry-Pistachio Nougat
Ramona says
Cherries are said to help if you have gout.
Margaret says
Yes Ramona, my dad and brother suffered from and my mom insisted cherries and cherry juice helped!
Linda says
Have you ever done fun facts on blueberries.? Blueberry season is right around the corner.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep! Here it is: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/10-fun-facts-about-blueberries/
Ann says
There is a native cheery as well. I don’t know if it is good to eat.
Elle says
Loving this years’ crop of Rainier cherries. (do you get them in Maine?)
Mavis Butterfield says
I haven’t seen any yet.
sandyf says
I love this! My Dad was a cherry broker- I have his cherry measuring tool, that he carried to wholesale markets to buy premium cherries for his clients. We could never travel in the summer, cherry season!
But oh boy did we grow up with the biggest fattest juiciest cherries. He would bring hime “lugs” of cherries and we would eat them until our stomachs hurt and we had red fingers. He would always tell us to throw the pits in the dirt and maybe they would grow ( Southern CA-they never did)
Awe-my Dad…
judy egan says
Hi Mavis, I notice in a lot of your pir recipies you use a metal pan, table talk? I have a couple of them in pretty good condition. Are they ok to use? I am afraidm of a metal taste in the pie crust. What’s your take on that? Also, I see all of the good things you have to eat…… How are you still loosing weight? I am so Jealous!!!! Have a happy 4th Judy
Mavis Butterfield says
I use both metal and ceramic pie dishes and have never noticed a difference.
Diana Joy says
Any recipes for sour cherrys out there please. We have 5 trees and only one is a sweet one.
Cheryl says
#11 My mom was crowned Champion Cherry Picker of Niagara County (in NY) in 1940, true story! 🙂 She was raised on a dairy/fruit farm so she kinda had an edge.
I did not know that swallowing the pits could be deadly. I should be dead 10 times over! Although, I don’t think any were crushed or broken, but of course I never checked, after the fact. 🙂
Susan says
Very cool!!! A fun fact about your Mom. I love it!! 🙂