Cherry picking

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Posted at 12:55PM, 30 June 2009 by Carol Wilson - Food writer

Recently, a friend arrived with a small punnet of cherries from a local supermarket. They were okay, but lacked distinct flavour. A glance at the label revealed that they were from the USA. I checked out other local supermarkets and discovered cherries from Turkey, Greece, Italy and Spain - which is such a shame, as sweet, juicy English cherries are one of summer's greatest pleasures and I think, far more delicious than imported fruit.

English cherries, their colours ranging from delicate pink-flushed gold through bright red to almost black, are in season for only about six weeks from the end of June. Sadly they're in danger of disappearing completely as the number of trees has decreased rapidly over the last fifty years, due to competition from cheaper overseas cherries.

Cherry fairs once held to celebrate the harvest have now made a welcome comeback in the county.

Kent is famous for its excellent cherries, which have flourished there since Roman times. Cherry fairs, once held to celebrate the harvest have now made a welcome comeback in the county. The luscious fruits were taken to London in the past to be sold in the city's streets, where the cherry sellers cried their wares.

In Stuart times Rotherhithe was famous for its Cherry Garden and Londoners often spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon relaxing there. Samuel Pepys mentions visiting the area to buy cherries for his wife, in his famous diary.

You're most likely to find English cherries at farmers' markets or local greengrocers. Buy them as fresh as possible as they don't keep well; look for firm, glossy, plump fruits with green stems - brown stems indicate that the cherries are either too old or have been stored incorrectly- to the detriment of the flavour.

Wash cherries quickly under cold running water - never soak them. Cherries also freeze well. Wash and drain them, remove the stems, then spread out in a single layer on a plastic or metal tray and open freeze. When completely frozen, they can be packed in an airtight plastic freezer bag or box.

I love eating raw cherries and also keep some to use in delicious cakes, desserts, ice cream and jam. I cook them with the stones in and remove them at the end of the cooking time for the best flavour. I poach cherries in wine to serve with ice cream and I also like to macerate cherries in good quality balsamic vinegar to accompany a rich savoury mousse or pâté. Fresh cherries are surprisingly delicious with creamy goats' cheese.

Comments

Nicola

1 July, 1:34PM
Nicola

I've got some sort of cherry like tree in the car park for my block of flats...I did wonder last year if they were edible, but never bothered to find out. This post has reminded me and I found they are cherry plums (large cherries/small plums)! I'm going to pick some tonight and give them a try...perhaps make a cake! I can't wait :-) So thanks for reminding me - I'm sure they'll be better than supermarket imports even if only because they are languishing unloved in a car park!

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smitty

1 July, 9:31PM
smitty

We have a lovely cherry tree in the garden - but the birds always get to the fruit first! Any ideas how we can stop them gratefully received!

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miniminx

2 July, 11:42AM
miniminx

I've got an idea - but you're not going to like it! Growing up in New Zealand THE quintessential summertime job was cherry picking. I worked on numerous orchards at great personal risk: probably the tallest fruit trees on earth, rickety wooden ladders and a five kilo wooden basket hung round my neck. And I'm sorry to say, but the ONLY way to keep the birds off - an automatic 'shotgun' tied to the trees that goes off at five minute intervals.....an extrememly pant-filling experience the first time! I was picking Black Dawsons, incidentally..........can you get those in the UK? Black, huge and luscious, yum!!

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miniminx

2 July, 11:45AM
miniminx

can I just make it clear that the gun was to scare the birds - not actually kill them....

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sudhakar

5 July, 8:03AM
sudhakar

I planted some English cherry seeds but they haven't come up. The English apples are doing great though. I need to find some more English cherries. I think Morrisons might still have some.

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Maz

6 July, 7:39AM
Maz

Cherries are my favourite summer fruit and every week my husband and I travel a few miles to buy them freshly picked from farms in our neighbouring county of Kent.We are very fortunate to live so close! After the local ones finish then it's the Picota from Spain for me.

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Riz Din

8 July, 1:30PM
Riz Din

Smitty, we've had a bumper crop of cherries this year (http://tinyurl.com/ngjyt9) and so far only minimal bird attack. Hanging several CD's from the branches seems to be working in keeping them at bay. The downside is the occasional flash of blinding reflection, but it's a small price to pay for cherry protection!

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MindyaCalling

31 July, 2:37PM
MindyaCalling

Cherry time has been and gone in Mindya, Bulgaria. One minute everybody has them, the markets are full of them and then they are gone till next year. SEASONAL FOOD. They were lovely while they lasted. Friends put some in Rakia. a local brandy. Very moorish, but at 40% proof best just have the one!!

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lili

28 October, 5:15AM
lili

How long before I receive my <a href="http://www.mytobling.com/"><strong>Uggs On sale</strong></a>?

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