Cherries

Commodity Overview

Cherries tend to have a higher price point than many other popular fruits, so take advantage of their rising popularity to boost your bottom line. Make the most of cherry season so shoppers can easily find them. Give cherries a place near the front of the department when supplies are at their peak.

PLUs

4045 regular/red/black
4258 golden/rainier

Varieties

Dark Sweet Cherries

Rainier Cherries

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Cherries have a number of health benefits. Tart cherries have been shown to reduce inflamma-tion and reduce arthritis pain. Tart cherries also have been connected to cancer prevention and the prevention of memory loss. A diet that includes any type of cherries can help prevent cancer. Sweet cherries are a good source of potassium, which has been shown to help reduce blood pres-sure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for cherries: fat free, saturated fat free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free and a good source of fiber.

Sales Strategies

Cherries are a popular fruit in baking, so cross-merchandise them with pie crusts, cobbler ingredi-ents, baking supplies, whipped topping, freezer bags, pancakes, yogurt and ice cream.
Cherries are available in limited supplies most of the year, but promotable volumes are available in the summer and early fall. Make cherries a focus during those times of the year.
Fall: Include cherries in back-to-school promotions as they are a tasty, nutritious snack or lunchtime side dish.
Summer: Let cherries shine during the summer months. Include them in Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day promotions. Be sure to cross-merchandise them with pie fixings during those times. Promote cherries the rest of the summer as a quick snack for on-the-go families during the summer. You can also push them as a topping for those summertime ice cream sundaes.
Promote cherries as soon as they hit the shelves in quantity to attract consumers who are waiting for cherry season to start.

Dynamic Displays

Cherries come in a multitude of varieties. Clearly label your display with variety information and some details about the best use and the flavor of each variety.
Clamshells and bags keep a display tidy and reduce the chances of a slipping injury. Offer mul-tiple sizes to suit every consumer.
Keep cherries refrigerated and away from sunlight and fans. Do not mist cherries. It will soften the fruit.
Don’t stack clamshells on the display as cherries bruise easily.
Make the most of cherry season so shoppers can easily find them. Give cherries a place near the front of the department when supplies are at their peak.
Place cherries on display with other stone fruit like peaches and nectarines. Cherries’ red color contrasts well with the paler tones of those fruits.

Food Service

Add cherries to drinks for a unique flavor.
Include sliced cherries in salads for a new and interesting flavor.
Cherries are a natural in baked goods, including pies, cheesecake, breads and pastries.
Cherry chutney is a tasty pairing for any type of meat.
Use cherries as a plate garnish.
Offer cherry topping for ice cream desserts.

In the Backroom

Shipping
Dark-sweet cherries 18-lb. cartons, loose (California) 20-lb. cartons, loose (Northwest) 24-lb. euro cartons, 12 2-lb. bags 16-lb. euro cartons, 8 2-lb. clamshells 16-lb. euro cartons, 4 4-lb. clamshells 16-lb. euro cartons, 16 1-lb. clamshells (Northwest) 18-lb. cartons, 8 2.25-lb. bags (Northwest) 18-lb. cartons, 12 1.5-lb. bags (Northwest) 16-lb. cartons, 8 2-lb. bags (California) RPC 3417, 6411, 6413 Rainier cherries 18-lb. cartons, loose (Northwest) 16-lb. cartons, 16 1-lb. clamshells 16-lb. cartons, 8 2-lb. clamshells (Northwest) 15-lb. euro cartons, 12 1.25-lb. bags (Northwest) Chilean cherries 11-lb. cartons Foodservice packs 4-, 5- and 6-lb. boxes 12-, 18- and 20-lb. row-sized boxes

Grades
United States U.S. grades U.S. No. 1 U.S. Commercial Washington grades Washington No. 1 (more stringent than U.S. grades)

Handling
Temperature: 32 F, 0 C Relative humidity: 90-95% Mist: no Typical shelf life: 10 to 14 days Odor-sensitive. Sweet cherries may pick up off-flavors from shipping or storage with commodities that have strong odors. Modified atmosphere poly liners should be slit when product is received to eliminate gas buildup and off-flavors. Open the lids of cherry boxes stored in the cooler; good air circulation will slow spoilage. Don’t break cherry stems. Cherries with stems have a greater shelf life than those without. It is normal for rainier cherries to have some skin discoloration, slight scuffing or brown spotting, and it often indicates high sugar content. Cherries that are mahogany or reddish brown are considered to be the most flavorful.