There’s nothing quite like the arrival of cherry season to mark the proper start of summer. At Chelan Ranch, we’re just a couple of weeks away from organic cherry harvest, the first dark sweet cherries of the season. These beauties are ripening fast, but they’re not quite there yet. Right now, they're not very dark. They’re still pink outside with pale white interiors—nature’s way of saying, almost.

Why Everyone’s Talking About Dark Sweet Cherries

Dark sweet cherries are a customer favorite. When ripe, they are deep red, with a firm texture and juicy sweetness. They are perfect for snacking, baking, or adding to a fresh summer salad. These cherries are also the earliest in our region, so you enjoy the season’s first harvest before anyone else.

But cherries are known for having a very short picking window. Once ripe, they only last a few days on the tree, so timing is everything. At Chelan Ranch, our picking crew starts early—around 5 a.m., before the sun even kisses the cherries. We only harvest in the cool of the morning, stopping once the day begins to heat up. Warm cherries bruise more easily and lose their firmness, so we treat them with extra care.

After harvest, our cherries are hydrocooled, placed in a humid, chilled environment to keep their delicate stems fresh, and refrigerated quickly to lock in peak flavor and quality.

At Chelan Ranch, our cherries are:

• Certified organic
  
• Fresh-picked and shipped straight to your door
  
• Grown with care using sustainable farming methods

Health Benefits of Cherries

Cherries aren’t just delicious—they’re a nutritional powerhouse. Here’s why this seasonal treat is worth the wait:

• Rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins that support heart health and reduce inflammation
  • Source: USDA and peer-reviewed studies such as those published in the Journal of Nutrition and Food & Function.

• A natural source of melatonin, which may help regulate your sleep cycle
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2001) — identified melatonin in sweet cherries like Bing.
    
• May reduce muscle soreness after exercise
  • Source: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports (2010) — showed that cherry juice reduced post-exercise strength loss and soreness.
    
• Low on the glycemic index, making them a smart sweet treat
  • Source: American Diabetes Association and GI studies show that cherries are a good fruit choice for blood sugar-conscious consumers.
    
• Good source of fiber to aid digestion and gut health
  • Source: USDA FoodData Central

Straight From the Tree to Your Door

Once our organic sweet cherries are ripe, they’ll only be available for a short time. We pick them at peak ripeness, handle them gently, and ship them fast, so you get fruit that’s as fresh and flavorful as possible.

📦 Order online at ChelanRanch.com for farm-to-door freshness
📍 Or visit our Chelan Ranch fruit stand for local pickup