Rainiers:The King of Cherries
The first fruit off our truck this year is for many the most exciting: strawberry-blonde Rainier Cherries, renowned for their sweetness and creamy yellow flesh. These cherries are also infamous among growers for their sensitivity--they won't grow above 90 degrees, bruise easily in high winds, and split their skins with too much rain. It's not uncommon near harvest time to see contracted helicopters hovering over the orchards after a storm--just to blow off the rain. Given all this, you might call Rainiers the Princess rather than King of Cherries!
Most agree the high-maintenance is worth it--Rainiers come but once a year, at the beginning of the season, but our customers ask for them all year long. Consider this: sweetness in fruit is measure by the Brix system--the higher the numbers, the sweeter the fruit. A ripe peach usually clocks in around thirteen brix--whereas Washington state regulations require Rainiers to be at least seventeen before harvesting, and many growers wait till twenty! Combine this with the thinner skins and rich flavor of Rainiers and you'll understand why they are the favorite of many cherry lovers.
Even so, Rainiers haven't been around long. A cross between Bing and Van cherries developd in 1952 (by Harold Fogle), Rainiers spent much of the 20th century in obscurity--it's only in the last decade or two that production has ramped up in those areas able to grow them (Oregon, Washington and Montana), from a few hundred tons to several thousand--a significant percentage of the 70,000 or so tons of cherries grown in the US annually!
Demand has grown apace: domestic buyers now have to compete with specialty markets in East Asia, where a single Rainier can go for a dollar or more. This is increased by the cherry's relatively short season, just a few weeks in June, and the third of the harvest that literally goes to the birds (they love these cherries too!).
What to look for in a Rainier? Naturally golden in color, these cherries blush red where exposed to sunlight--a key factor in increasing their sweetness. Rainier branches are pruned yearly to ensure light penetration, and some growers lay reflective mats under their trees to bounce light up. Look for a smooth golden color with a red blush. Some scuffing or brown spotting is not uncommon--this is a sign of high sugar content, rather than bruising (soft brown spots). As always, the best sign of freshness is a firm cherry--almost hard to the touch, but bursting in your mouth with juice and flavor.
Sound good? Then come see us first thing, because these cherries don't last long!
Most agree the high-maintenance is worth it--Rainiers come but once a year, at the beginning of the season, but our customers ask for them all year long. Consider this: sweetness in fruit is measure by the Brix system--the higher the numbers, the sweeter the fruit. A ripe peach usually clocks in around thirteen brix--whereas Washington state regulations require Rainiers to be at least seventeen before harvesting, and many growers wait till twenty! Combine this with the thinner skins and rich flavor of Rainiers and you'll understand why they are the favorite of many cherry lovers.
Even so, Rainiers haven't been around long. A cross between Bing and Van cherries developd in 1952 (by Harold Fogle), Rainiers spent much of the 20th century in obscurity--it's only in the last decade or two that production has ramped up in those areas able to grow them (Oregon, Washington and Montana), from a few hundred tons to several thousand--a significant percentage of the 70,000 or so tons of cherries grown in the US annually!
Demand has grown apace: domestic buyers now have to compete with specialty markets in East Asia, where a single Rainier can go for a dollar or more. This is increased by the cherry's relatively short season, just a few weeks in June, and the third of the harvest that literally goes to the birds (they love these cherries too!).
What to look for in a Rainier? Naturally golden in color, these cherries blush red where exposed to sunlight--a key factor in increasing their sweetness. Rainier branches are pruned yearly to ensure light penetration, and some growers lay reflective mats under their trees to bounce light up. Look for a smooth golden color with a red blush. Some scuffing or brown spotting is not uncommon--this is a sign of high sugar content, rather than bruising (soft brown spots). As always, the best sign of freshness is a firm cherry--almost hard to the touch, but bursting in your mouth with juice and flavor.
Sound good? Then come see us first thing, because these cherries don't last long!
