General Information
Bing cherries are a relatively large variety and share the characteristic heart-shape that most cherries exhibit. Their taut skin is smooth and shiny with a deep red to maroon coloring. The firm yet juicy interior has a snappy crunch and encompasses a single pit. The Bing cherry is intensely sweet and tangy, considered by most to be the ultimate cherry for both flavor and texture.
History
Cherries are native to China. First documentation of cultivation dates back to 4000 B.C. The Bing cherry was first cultivated in 1875 by Seth Lewelling in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Bing cherry trees still thrive in the Willamette Valley and along the Pacific Coast from Washington to California. Under extreme weather conditions such as excess spring rainfall, the fruit will crack or split prior to harvest, damaging crops. Nature’s weather elements alone don’t prevent some cherries from making it to market. Birds can account for eating up to 30% of a tree’s crop.
