History

Grown in the rarefied air of a few high-altitude orchards, the clear, starry nights and cold mountain snowmelt work their magic to produce sweeter, crisper, more delicious cherries than any you've tasted. From this limited crop we select only the top few percent that meets our stringent standards for quality. Then we pack each cherry by hand to prevent stem punctures — and to guarantee that they arrive looking as bright and wonderful as you see them here.

Sweet cherries have symbolized the good life for many people of many cultures. Ancient Romans referred to the fruit as prunus avium or “bird’s plum” because robins and blackbirds would inevitably harvest their share – in direct competition with their cherry-loving human counterparts.

A Japanese emperor named Saga held the world’s first cherry blossom festival at the royal palace of Kyoto in 812 A.D., and blossom viewing parties soon became a national passion. In this country, cherries entered the national folklore via stories of the young but honest George Washington and his trusty hatchet. And visitors and residents alike enjoy the 3500 magnificent cherry trees that grace the public byways of Washington, D.C. – a 1912 gift from the people of Tokyo.

But when it comes to fresh eating, these lustrous, deep maroon beauties are true classics – large, sweet and bursting with natural flavor and nutrition. They are not to be confused with the small, tart “pie cherries” that often require additional sweeteners. We choose only the finest examples from a few select boutique orchards here in the Pacific Northwest.