Baking with cherries

I was amazed to see another Northwest Montana/Flathead Lake person here - hello Becky Wilcox ... I live just north of Bigfork. And, even though huckleberries get more press around here, I prefer the cherries both tart for baking and a bit later the sweet. For an herb to mix with cherries, I like basil and make a sweet cherry-basil syrup. 1/4 syrup and 3/4 fizzy water (I carbonate my own well water) for a refreshing beverage. ***I grew up in Ohio and we vacationed in Traverse Bay area late July/early August so I grew up enjoying Northern Michigan sweet cherries.

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Try going to an Orchard that let's you pick cherries. They often sell cherries already picked if you can't or are not up to picking your own cherries. "Pre-picked" are a tiny bit more expensive that "pick you own" prices but worth it if you can't spend the time. Either way they are usually much cheaper than store bought canned sour cherries. I live in Northern Virginia and get them every year by the quart at an orchard in Maryland just north of the Capitol Beltway. But be aware they are likely coming into season very soon in NC if not already in season right now. They will be in season here the DC area in a few weeks at the end of June and we're at least a few weeks behind you all in NC when it comes to seasonal produce. If you want fresh cherries start with pickyourown.org/NC.htm Click on the map or region you live in and you will get a new page listing nearby orchards and farms. You'll need to spend a bit of time looking for orchards/farms that have sour cherries. The farms and orchards on listed on this site have contact info and/ or a link to their websites. I would contact them ASAP to see when they have sour cherries in season and if they sell them pre-picked if need be. I have to reserve the quantity I want a few weeks ahead of time at the orchard where I buy them or I likely can't get them. Also, because we had that warm snap in February followed by freezing temps a few weeks later here in the Mid-Atlantic and further South, some crops were damaged from trees blooming too early with subsequent freezing. Many of the blooms were damaged by the freeze so some areas along the Atlantic Coast are projected to have shortages this year of local fruits especially strawberries, apples, cherries, etc. Take this into account if you find you can't get them this year. They will most likely be available next year unless this early warming/ freezing becomes a consistent trend. There's always canned sour cherries though for me that's the last resort unless I've canned them myself. Hope this helps!

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