Let’s be real—half the time I’m standing in the produce aisle, I’m not thinking about vitamins or antioxidants. I’m thinking, when are cherries in season so I can actually get the sweet, juicy ones instead of those sad, flavorless marbles they sell off-season.
The thing about cherries? They’re not like bananas or apples. They don’t just magically sit on the shelf all year with that same “eh, it’s fine” taste. Cherries are moody. They come around for a short window, everyone gets hyped, and then boom—gone. Like that friend who always bails after two drinks.
So yeah, if you’ve ever been burned by a $12 bag of tasteless cherries, this guide’s for you.
Why Cherries Don’t Stick Around All Year
Cherries are basically drama queens of the fruit world. They need specific weather, short harvest windows, and honestly, a lot of babysitting. If you’re wondering when are cherries in season, the simple answer is: mostly summer. But not the same summer everywhere.
- Warm regions? Earlier harvest.
- Colder regions? Later harvest.
- My backyard tree when I was a kid? Never gave a single cherry. Figures.
A Quick Childhood Memory
I actually remember my neighbor had a cherry tree. Every June, those bright red fruits would hang there taunting us. One day, my brother tried climbing the tree to grab some and ripped his shorts on a branch. He was stuck like some tragic scarecrow until Mom came out with the ladder. Funniest thing I’ve ever seen.
That was also when I learned: cherries are sweet revenge if you pick them at the right time.
The Big Question: When Are Cherries in Season?
You’ll hear folks say “June and July.” And yeah, that’s true for most of the U.S. But if you’re hunting for the absolute best months for buying? Depends where you live.
- California: Kicks off the season around May.
- Pacific Northwest (Washington & Oregon): June through August, and oh man, they’re the best.
- Midwest/East Coast: Usually June and July.
- Other parts of the world: Australia gets them in December, which blew my mind the first time I heard it. Christmas cherries—what a flex.
So next time you ask yourself when are cherries in season, don’t forget: your zip code matters.
Sweet vs. Tart – Different Seasons, Different Vibes
Not all cherries are created equal. You’ve got sweet ones (the kind you snack on until your stomach regrets it), and tart ones (usually baked into pies so good they make you forgive your aunt for oversalting the potatoes).
Sweet Cherries
- Best months: May through July
- Varieties: Bing, Rainier, Chelan
- Taste: Sweet, juicy, “oh no I just ate half the bag without realizing”
Tart Cherries
- Best months: Late June to early August
- Varieties: Montmorency, Balaton
- Taste: Sharp, tangy, the pie hero we never deserved
I always mix them up at the farmer’s market. Last time, I grabbed tart ones thinking I’d eat them straight. Spoiler: my face puckered so hard I looked like a cartoon character. Lesson learned.
Why Timing Matters
If you’ve ever asked when are cherries in season, you’ve already figured out timing is everything. Because when they’re out of season? They taste like disappointment.
- In-season cherries: Deep color, plump, juicy, basically candy from nature.
- Out-of-season cherries: Expensive, mushy, flavorless sadness.
And trust me, your wallet will notice. I once bought a tiny tub of off-season cherries in December. Cost me $15. They tasted like cardboard dipped in cough syrup. Never again.
Pro Tips for Cherry Lovers
If you’re still thinking when are cherries in season, here’s how I shop for them without crying over wasted money:
- Follow the calendar. If it’s May–July (or December in Australia), you’re golden.
- Check the stems. Green stems = fresh. Brown, brittle stems = nope.
- Go for dark and shiny. Unless you’re buying Rainier cherries (they’re yellow and red), deeper color usually means more flavor.
- Don’t buy too many. They spoil fast. I once forgot a bag in the fridge for a week… opened it, and it looked like a horror movie set.
Global Cherry Seasons – A Fun Twist
Here’s the weird part. Ask someone in America when are cherries in season, and they’ll say June or July. Ask someone in Chile, and they’ll tell you November.
- USA: May to August
- Canada: June to July
- Europe: June to July
- Chile: November to January
- Australia/New Zealand: December to February
So yeah, technically, cherries are in season somewhere almost all year. But unless you’re flying around the globe (or paying those pricey imports), your best bet is still the summer months.
A Random Odd Fact
Did you know ancient Romans thought cherries could ward off evil spirits? Imagine telling your neighbor, “Don’t worry about ghosts, I’ve got a bowl of cherries.” Straight up wild.
Makes me wonder if they were also asking when are cherries in season just to keep their houses “protected.”
My Awkward Cherry Buying Story
Okay, confession time. I once bought cherries at a farmer’s market and tried to juggle them to impress someone. You can probably guess how that went. One flew into a woman’s tote bag, another rolled under a stroller, and I just… walked away pretending it wasn’t me.
But hey, at least I knew it was cherry season. Small wins.
Quick Guide: Best Months for Buying
If you don’t want the whole story, here’s the cheat sheet. Next time you’re at the store wondering when are cherries in season, check this list:
- May: California kicks off
- June: Sweet spot for most regions
- July: Peak flavor, prime time
- August: Late-season stragglers in cooler areas
Outside those months? Save your cash. Buy frozen or dried instead.
The Secret Weapon – Freezing Cherries
Here’s a hack: buy a ton when they’re cheap and in season, then freeze them.
Steps (learned the hard way after freezing them with pits once—don’t do that):
- Wash and dry thoroughly.
- Pit them first. Seriously. Don’t skip this.
- Spread on a baking sheet and freeze individually.
- Bag them up for smoothies, pies, or eating straight out of the freezer like weird cherry popsicles.
Now, anytime someone asks when are cherries in season, I smugly say, “Always, in my freezer.”
The Real Reason I Love Cherry Season
Sure, it’s about flavor. But honestly? Cherries remind me of summer road trips with my family. Dad would stop at roadside stands, Mom would argue over price, and we’d all sit in the backseat spitting pits into a cup like some strange Olympic sport.
That’s the thing about cherries. They’re not just fruit. They’re memory fruit. Short-lived, sweet, and gone before you’re ready.
Wrapping It Up
So, when are cherries in season? Mostly May through July in the U.S. Peak flavor hits around June. But depending on where you are, it might be earlier, later, or even during Christmas if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere.
The key takeaway: don’t waste money on out-of-season cherries. Wait for that sweet spot. Pounce when they’re fresh. Freeze some for later. And maybe… don’t try juggling them in public.
Oh, and if anyone asks what I’m working on today? I’ll just say, “Wrote this paragraph by hand. Then spilled coffee on it. Classic.”
