National Cherry Month
Those little, juicy, red delights, perfect for snacking, pies, or topping off a favorite dessert, adding a burst of fruity joy.
Drive February cherry sales and consumption across fresh produce, beverages, and baked goods by positioning cherries as a versatile, health-boosting superfruit for snacking and desserts.
- Cherry pie baking challenge or recipe roundup featuring user-generated content
- Tart cherry juice health benefits spotlight (muscle recovery, anti-inflammatory)
- Fun pit-spitting or pie-eating contest promotion tied to local events
- Fresh cherry variety guide: discover new flavors and uses throughout the month
Cherry month was established to help bring awareness to the availability of the fruit throughout the year. Leelanau Fruit Co. celebrates it in some of the most outrageous ways possible, including such competitions as pie eating competitions, where cherry pies are consumed en masse as tribute to their crimson deliciousness.
There’s also the Cherry juice flip cup, and the decidedly less tasty and perhaps somewhat disconcerting pit spitting competitions. Thankfully cherries aren’t about showing decorum, but lavishly enjoying this most delicious fruit and relishing in all of its glory, right down to the pit!
Cherries as we know them originated with the sweet cherry, a tree that ranges all throughout Europe and into some of Northern Africa. It’s been eaten since times prehistoric, and was ultimately introduced to England in Teynham by order of the King, Henry VIII. Since then they spread throughout the world and are now enjoyed everywhere in all their variations.
This is particularly surprising given that cherry trees are somewhat finicky and difficult to keep alive, especially in wet climates. Here’s looking at you England, how you managed to keep them alive on that great foggy island North North-East of Spain is nothing shy of amazing. But that’s the power of people’s love of cherries. They’ll do anything to get their fix.
Enjoy Eating Cherries
National Cherry Month is best celebrated by indulging in massive consumption of cherries. Start your day with a fresh bowl of cherries chilled from the fridge, and pack a few for lunch.
Share Cherries with Others
Make National Cherry Month even more festive by taking some of them to share with your friends at work, and bring a few varieties you hadn’t tried up till now!
Try Other Cherry Treats
Throughout the month you can add a glass of tart cherry juice, well known for its ability to help ease sore muscles, and on at least one night indulge in a piping hot slice of cherry pie. You know you love it!