Season of Cherries: How Weather Impacts Cherry Quality and Taste

I have many favorite fruits, but cherries hold a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s because their harvest period is relatively short, or maybe it’s because they just taste so good—whatever the reason, we’re now in the season of cherries.

I have to admit that this year’s California cherry season has not been as good as others in the past. We’ve seen good cherries start in May, but this year the season really geared up in June. It was a late start for California stone fruit and we can blame the weather, specifically the rain.

Cherries are extremely delicate fruits, and when they’re exposed to rain near harvest, they can split and crack. This happens when the protective cuticle layer that contains natural waxes to keep moisture out has been stretched and thinned, which can be caused in two ways: Rain can pass through this thinned cuticle layer and swell the cherry past the breaking point until the skin cracks. This can also happen from inside when a tree absorbs too much water through its vascular system. Water management in fruit is an important and delicate balancing act. Too much water can damage fruits like cherries and dilute the taste.

Some farmers will water as they get near harvest to gain size in fruit so that it looks appealing. If the fruit’s size hasn’t been planned through thinning (removing) fruit, rather than overwatering, then the growth from excess water just ends up diluting the sugars in the fruit rather than enhancing the taste. I find that small and medium-sized fruits contain better sugar concentrations and thus taste better.

The cherry season shifts by location very quickly. The harvest transitions mean that there may be some gaps in our regional cherry offerings, so please visit our mix pages to see what’s happening—they’re updated every Sunday.

FAQs

1. What season do you get cherries?
   Cherries are typically in season from late spring to summer. In the US, the season usually starts in May in California, peaks in June, and extends into August in states like Washington and Oregon.
2. Why should you eat cherries before bed?
   Cherries, specifically tart cherries, are rich in melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Eating them before bed can improve your sleep quality and might even help with insomnia. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, so eating them nightly could help with muscle recovery after a workout.
3. What city is known as the Cherry Capital of the World?
   Traverse City, Michigan, is known as the Cherry Capital of the World. It hosts the National Cherry Festival every July, and the region it’s located in produces a significant portion of the US’s tart cherries.

This article was originally published on June 4, 2010, by Chris Mittelstaedt. It was updated by The FruitGuys on March 18, 2025.