There is nothing quite like a sweet Washington cherry. Yes, they are ripe and ready! I picked up these beauties on Vashon Island last weekend. These are sweet Rainier cherries.

They were developed in 1952 at Washington State University by Harold Fogle, and named after Mount Rainier. It is a cross between the ‘Bing‘ and ‘Van‘ cultivars. (from Wiki)

On Time’s “100 Healthiest Foods to Satisfy Your Hunger”- Cherries:

They are best eaten whole and washed to remove pesticides.  A cherry can be sweet or tart and they are:

~High in vitamin C and potassium

~Can also reduce inflammation

~May improve sleep since they contain the hormone melatonin

Cherries are the perfect desert after a meal of halibut, herb lettuce with avocado, and spiralized gold & sweet potatoes from Jan’s kitchen.

Cherries are a whole food with healthy fiber and a high amount of natural sugar.