Cherry Varieties: early June through early August

THE DARK SWEET VARIETIES

CHELAN

Northwest Cherry season begins in the Northwest with Chelans. Noted for their firmness, large size profile and their round, yet heartshaped size. Grant J. Hunt’s first cherry offerings are usually of this variety.

BING

Bing remains King and is one of the most popular varieties thoughout the world. Sweet and delicious, bings remain the cherry that all others are measured against. Grant J. Hunt’s bings start in early June and are typically available until mid-July.

GIBRALTAR

One of the largest cherries available, the Gibraltar enjoys a brief season in mid June currently. This unique cherry from Grant J. Hunt can be perfect for a special promotion focusing on large cherries.

LAPIN

The Lapin is predominantly a July cherry and usually are available from the 4th of July until the 3rd week. Lapins are large, firm and have a deep mahogany color. If you haven’t experienced Oregon Lapins, you might find them to be a tad different than those found in Washington, Grant J. Hunt has a tradition of very successful deliveries and satisfied customers with our Lapins.

REGINA

A Grant J. Hunt specialty, our Regina program will grow rapidly over the next several years. This dark red, sweet cherry is available in mid July and the reviews from consumers have been excellent. In fact, a “Consumer Sensory Evaluation” test this past summer at a major university revealed that the Regina variety scored significantly higher than the five varieties it was tested against. Let’s start our planning today.

ATTIKA

The Attika is a dark red, sweet cherry available in mid July. 10 row+ is the typical size of this variety. Grant J. Hunt has limited offerings of Attica.

SWEETHEART

A Grant J. Hunt favorite, the Sweetheart’s mild, sweet flavor and outstanding firmness has made it the leader in late season cherries. This heart-shaped cherry ships extremely well, and will keep your late July and August cherry displays full.

SKEENA

Large, very firm and sweet, Skeena continues to grow in popularity with consumers and growers. Skeena is a dark red to almost black variety with a very dense texture. A great late-season variety which will help keep you in cherries until the end of July.

THE BLUSH VARIETIES

RAINIER

You know a cherry has reached mass consumer acceptance when it is featured on shows such as Oprah and The Ellen DeGeneres show. This incredibly sweet variety noted for its yellow skin with a red blush continues to grow in popularity. The Grant J. Hunt Company focuses on high quality, juicy and plump Rainiers. Great marketing opportunities lie ahead for the Rainier as consumers continue to discover this unique and special variety.

EARLY ROBIN

Early Robin® is an early season, Rainier-type cherry maturing slightly ahead of Rainier depending on the growing region. The Early Robin® distinguishes itself from the Rainier with more of a heart-shaped appearance and a milder flavor. We will continue to evaluate this variety over the next several seasons.