Super Fruit Handbook Discover the Secrets of Mother Nature
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Super Fruit Handbook Discover the Secrets of Mother Nature
The Tart Cherry
The tart cherry has a long history of offering an range of natural health benefits. In fact the tart
cherry has traveled the world from Asia to Europe and finally traveling to the new world by the
early settlers in 1600’s. The cherry has pleased the palates of people for centuries. This ruby-red
color has won it a place on the tables of Roman conquerors, Chinese nobleman and Greek
citizens.
Once arriving in the New World, the cherry spread across the
county. Ultimately, they ended up being grown
commercially in several states including New York, Utah,
Washington, Wisconsin, and Michigan. One area of the
country has earned the nickname “Cherry Capital of the
World”. This section of Northwestern Lower Michigan
produces approximately 60% of U.S. tart cherry production.
The pioneer who is widely credited to bring the tart cherry to Michigan is Mr. Dougherty. In
1852, Mr. Dougherty, a Presbyterian missionary planted the first tart cherry tree on Old Mission
Peninsula. After his first trees were successful, many of his neighbors also started planting cherry
crops and the first official commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan were planted in 1893 on
Ridgewood Farm on Old Mission Peninsula. In fact, this first commercial farms was very near
the site of Dougherty's original trees.
By the early 1900s, the cherry industry was fast spreading from Old Mission to a number of
cities and towns along Lake Michigan including Traverse City area, Benton Harbor and Elk
Rapids. The very first cherry processing facility was called Traverse City Canning Company was
built just south of Traverse City. Once harvested and processed, the cherry was soon being
shipped to major cities across America including Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee.
