Meet the Rainier Cherry

We are proud to introduce one of the primary cherries used in Chukar products: the gorgeous and deliciously sweet Rainier cherry!

Rainier cherries are only grown right here in the Pacific Northwest. Lucky us! Developed as a cross between the Van and Bing cherries at Washington State University’s Prosser experiment station in 1952, the now-beloved Rainier cherry is named after Washington's highest mountain peak, Mount Rainier.  

Like many sweet cherry varieties, the Rainier cherry requires a growing climate with sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity. 

Fresh Rainier cherries can be seen at grocery stores and farmers markets for a brief time in late spring through early summer. Subject to fickle spring weather, Rainier cherries are considered a premium sweet cherry variety as they are only produced in limited quantities each season and are difficult to cultivate. They are also a favorite food of birds. Growers go to great lengths to protect their crops from birds including hanging reflective tape off the trees, placing large nets over the orchards, and using fake falcons that fly overhead as a deterrent.

Fun fact: in Japan, Rainier cherries can average $5 per cherry!

When ripe, Rainiers are golden yellow with red blush on their shoulders. In addition to be attractive, the Rainier is exceptionally large and sweet. The flesh is firm and finely textured, which allows a sweet pop of juice when bitten into.

Rainier cherries have some of the highest sugar levels of sweet cherries, ranging from 17-23 Brix. Rainiers have a lower acidity level, which results in them having higher Brix (sugar content). Thus, Rainier cherries are actually sweeter than dark sweet cherries such as Bings.

Did you know that Rainier cherries are the only cherry variety to have their own national holiday in the US? National Rainier Cherry Day is an annual event held on July 11th to recognize and celebrate the American-bred cherry. The holiday takes place in the height of cherry season, with outdoor markets and growers participating in festivals a to promote the year's crop.

Rainier cherries are a natural source of potassium, which helps to balance fluid levels in the body. The cherries also contain vitamins A and C to reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and boost collagen production within the skin, while providing small amounts of the trace minerals copper and manganese.

At the Chukar headquarters here in Eastern Washington, we work with local farmers to pick Rainier cherries at peak ripeness. They are delivered straight to our facility, often just miles from where the cherries were plucked from the branch. We naturally air dry the Rainiers using a technology that owner Pam Montgomery innovated over 30 years ago using speciality machinery.

The result: incredibly tasty, healthy, plump dried cherries with no added sugar, oil, or sulfites. Our dried Rainier cherries sing in a bowl of yogurt or granola and are also delicious on salads. We offer Dried Rainier Cherries and Organic Dried Rainier Cherries, which is a product you are not likely to find anywhere else. We hope you'll give them a try today!