Road trip idea:
If you are looking for a great weekend road trip in June; consider driving to Door County Wisconsin. Some people make this a yearly pilgrimage and travel to Door County every June/July to pick their own cherries!
For the History Buffs:
The first successful cherry orchards in Door County were planted by Professor E.F Goff and A.L Hatch in 1862. The pair planted three acres of Montmorency tart cherries that grew to be a wildly successful crop. Montmorency Cherries, also known as “the Door County Cherry,” have thrived on the peninsula ever since. Today, Seaquist Orchards is the largest Montmorency Cherry grower in Door County.
Named after a valley in the northern suburbs of Paris where it was first cultivated in the 1700’s, the Montmorency Cherry is a medium sized tart cherry with a deep, red skin and clear yellow flesh. Unlike sweet cherries, which are best enjoyed fresh off the tree, tart cherries are usually served baked, dried, frozen, or juiced.
The Cancer Research:
What’s in Cherries that matters:
Anthocyanins
Dietary Fiber
Phenolic Acids
Vitamin C
Beta-Carotene
Melatonin
Flavan-3-ols
Perillyl Alcohol
More Details:
This smallest stone fruit — a category that includes peaches, nectarines, and plums — contains a phytochemical called perillyl alcohol that may help protect against cancer. Cherries also contain potassium, an essential mineral, and vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects the body’s cells.
Cherries are among foods highest in melatonin, which shows cancer-preventive potential in laboratory studies. Limited human research on cherries as a source of melatonin has investigated the potential to improve sleep, but little is known about whether eating melatonin-rich cherries contributes to cancer prevention.
Quick Tips and Ideas for using more cherries:
Store cherries in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and wash them just before using to preserve their texture longest. If you don’t want to pit cherries for recipes, just buy frozen, unsweetened pitted cherries then thaw, drain (you may want to reserve the delicious juice for drinking) and you’re ready to use them as desired.
Top whole-grain French toast with dark, delicious cherries or put them on vanilla yogurt. Add a half-cup of them to oatmeal or another whole-grain breakfast cereal in the morning to get a serving of fruit. You can even put them in entrees with cooked whole grains or a salad with greens, turkey and a sprinkle of slivered almonds. Or buy a bagful, wash, and munch cherries just as they are.
Add fresh or dried cherries to salads and to hot or cold cereal. In muffins and cookies, dried cherries add great flavor and boost moistness.
