Cherries are a stone fruit, members of the large rose family, and closely related to plums and apricots. Native to eastern Europe and western Asia, the tree itself has been cherished by many cultures, prized not just for its succulent fruit, but also for its beautiful blossoms that herald the beginning of spring. The types of cherries most popular today were brought to the New World by colonists from Europe (although several species existed here already).

There are two basic varieties of cherries: sweet and sour.

Culinary Notes:
Select firm, bright, glossy, plump cherries, with fresh-looking stems. (Dry or brittle stems are a sign of age.) Don't buy if the cherries are overly soft, leaky, or extremely dark. All ripe cherries, whether sweet or sour, should be firm to the touch.

Cherries are very perishable-they must be kept in the refrigerator. They freeze very well–just remember to pit them before freezing. (In many recipes, frozen cherries are interchangeable with fresh ones.)

Both sweet and sour cherries can be found these days in dried form. They are not that easy to find, and are a bit pricey, but they taste divine. My favorite source for dried cherries: www.chukar.com.

Nutrition Notes:
Cherries are full of minerals and fiber. Some healers have found that cherries have a detoxifying effect, and are a gentle laxative and a stimulant. Cherries also contain a "good" kind of sugar with a low glycemic load.

More details:
Cherries are high in potassium, vitamin C, B complex vitamins and antioxidants, the most vital of which are the flavonoids anthocyanins and quercetin, and the phenolic acid amygdalin.

Heart Disease Prevention
According to researchers, a flavonoid (quercetin) found in cherries can help prevent heart disease. Cherries are considered a nutritionally significant source of quercetin, containing larger quantities per serving than most other fruits.

Cancer Prevention
A phenolic acid called amygdalin, also termed Vitamin B17 and laetrile, found in the kernels of cherries and other fruits, has been shown to reduce tumor size and spread of cancer, as well as to alleviate the pains of the cancerous process. Populations such as the Hunza in Pakistan, who have always incorporated amygdalin into their diets, have–amazingly–remained cancer free, leading scientists to believe that its consumption could also be a powerful cancer preventative.

Pain Relief
Anthocyanins (responsible for the beautiful red color in cherries) serve to block inflammatory enzymes, thus reducing pain. Consumption of cherries has been shown to have positive effects on gout and arthritis pain.

Bone Health
Sweet cherries are excellent sources of boron, which, coupled with calcium and magnesium, has been linked to increased bone health.

For more information on cherries:
www.cherrymkt.org

For a fabulous mail-order source of fresh, certified organic cherries (as well as peaches, nectarines, Asian pears, and grapes-–all delicious, ripe, and organically grown) visit www.froghollow.com.