Kyle has traveled the world looking for the perfect cherries to grow.
Amazingly, there are over 1,000 different cherry varieties, but of those only
10% are produced on a large scale. While the search for a better cherry is always
on, some of Kyle's current favorite cherry varieties grown in California and Washington
are listed at left.
Brooks
The Brooks variety was developed at the University of California – Davis.
One unique trait about Brooks is that the stone, or pit, is nearly free from the
flesh. Brooks is also very tolerant of hot climates and is the first variety to
ripen in California.
Characteristics:
Large, firm red cherry with a red skin and reddish-pink flesh
Flavor Profile:
Sweet, rich, and well-balanced with great firmness
Availability:
Available from California in late April to mid May; available from Washington in
early June
Chelan™
Born in 1971 by Washington State University researcher Tom Toyama, Chelan is a cross
between the Stella and Beaulieu varieties. A popular early cherry from the Pacific
Northwest, Chelan closely resembles the Bing variety.
Characteristics:
Round, medium-sized fruit with mahogany red skin and medium to dark-red flesh.
Flavor Profile:
Similar to Bing, except not quite as sweet
Availability:
One of the first varieties harvested in Washington state; Available in early June
through the end of June
Garnet
Introduced by California breeder Marvin Nies, Garnet is a large cherry with excellent
flavor. There are several strains of this variety, but all produce a delicious dark-sweet
cherry.
Characteristics:
Large, uniform cherry with a red skin and flesh. Garnet is very glassy and typically
has shorter stems.
Flavor Profile:
Firm and sweet with balanced acidity
Availability:
Early to middle of May from California
Bing
The Bing cherry was developed in the 1870’s by horticulturalist Seth Lewelling and
his Chinese foreman Ah Bing, for whom the variety is named after. Bing is the leading
sweet cherry variety in the United States.
Characteristics:
Large cherry with a dark-red to mahogany color and round shape
Flavor Profile:
Rich sweet flavor and very juicy
Availability:
Middle to late May until the beginning of June from California; middle to late June
through the beginning of August from Washington
Rainier
Developed by Harold Fogel in 1952 at Washington State University, the Rainier cherry
is a cross between Bing and Van. A celebration for Rainier’s called National Rainier
Cherry Day is held July 11th each year.
Characteristics:
Yellow with a bright red blush and creamy yellow flesh. Rainier is slightly obovate
and typically larger in size than dark-sweet cherry varieties.
Flavor Profile:
Super-sweet (very high sugar levels) and delicate
Availability:
Middle of June until the first week of August from Washington
Lapins
Developed by researchers at the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Summerland,
British Columbia, this dark-sweet cherry is a result of a Van and Stella cross.
This variety was named after Dr. Karl Lapins, a pioneer in cherry breeding.
Characteristics:
Very large, broad-shouldered red cherry with a light red flesh. Lapins are very
firm and have a shiny skin.
Flavor Profile:
Very sweet and juicy with a nice, firm texture
Availability:
During the month of July from Washington
Skeena™
Discovered by researchers at the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Summerland,
British Columbia, in the mid-1990’s, Skeena is a cross between the Bing, Stella
and Van varieties.
Characteristics:
Deep mahogany in color with a round shape and firm skin
Flavor Profile:
Juicy, sweet and crisp with lower acid levels than other dark-sweet cherries
Availability:
This late-harvesting variety is available in the middle of July from Washington
Sweetheart™
The Sweetheart variety was discovered by researchers at the Agriculture Canada Research
Station in Summerland, British Columbia. It is a cross between the Van and Newstar
varieties, and falls under the ‘dark-sweet’ category for cherries.
Characteristics:
Medium-sized red cherry with a thick green stem
Flavor Profile:
High sugar levels with a nice firm texture
Availability:
Middle of July to the middle of August from Washington
Staccato®
The Staccato cherry was discovered by researchers at the Agriculture Canada Research
Station in Summerland, British Columbia. A late-ripening variety, Staccato is harvested
in the middle of August. Stemilt Growers holds the exclusive rights to grow this
variety in the United States.
Characteristics:
Dark-red to almost black in color with an attractive heart-shape. Staccato is consistently
firm and large in size
Flavor Profile:
Super-sweet and juicy
Availability:
Middle to late August from Washington
Sequoia®
Developed by researchers at Bradford Genetics in Le Grand, California, Sequoia is
actually a group of early-season cherry varieties that resulted from multiple crosses.
Warmerdam Packing LLC in California holds the exclusive rights to grow, pack and
market Sequoia in the United States. A sublicense allows Stemilt Growers to grow
Sequoia in Washington state.
Characteristics:
Red cherry with a firm-textured flesh. Sequoia closely resembles the Brooks variety.
Flavor Profile:
Very sweet cherry that stays crisp and firm
Availability:
Available from California in late April; Early June from Washington