Benefits of Tart Cherry Cherry Juice - Learn the Benefits of this Ruby Red Fruit
This history of the tart cherry and the history of the State of Michigan intertwines. In fact, the very first tart cherry tree was planted in 1852 by Peter Dougherty. He was a Presbyterian missionary living on Old Mission Peninsula (near Traverse City, Michigan.) Traverse City is known as the Cherry Capital of the World.
Much to the surprise of the other farmers and Indians who lived in the area, Dougherty's tart cherry farm and trees flourished and soon other residents of the area started their very own cherry farms. The area proved to be ideal for growing sweet and tart cherries because Lake Michigan tempers Arctic winds sweep the orchards in the winter and helps to cool the orchards in summer..
The first commercial tart cherry farms in the Traverse Bay area were planted in 1893 on Ridgewood Farm near the site of Dougherty's original plantings. By the early 1900s, the tart cherry industry was firmly established in the state with orchards not only in the Traverse City area, but all along Lake Michigan from Benton Harbor to Elk Rapids. Soon production surpassed other major crops.
The first cherry processing facility, Traverse City Canning Company, was built just south of Traverse City, and the ruby-red tart cherry fruit was soon shipped to Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee.
The Montmorency is the primary variety of tart cherry grown in the region. It was planted in the early orchards and is still used today. These type of tart cherry fruit is excellent for pies, preserves and juice. The newest American variety of tart cherry is the Balaton. Dr. Amy Iezzoni developed this tart cherry variety at Michigan State University. It currently has limited production, but has great potential for the fresh market and for juice.
Tart Cherry Juice from Fruit Advantage - More Information
