Learn more fun facts on the National Cherry Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- FruitHealthy FoodSweet Food
- Where:
- U.K.
- Date change rule:
- Every July 16
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍒
National Cherry Day arrives every July 16, inviting everyone to celebrate the vibrant flavor and versatility of this beloved stone fruit. From pies and tarts to fresh snacking and cocktails, there are countless delicious ways to enjoy cherries. Grab a bowl, bake a pie, or mix a drink to join the festivities!
Want to sponsor National Cherry Day? Learn how
Expected National Cherry Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Cherry Day often brings a flurry of sweet deals and seasonal specials. Look for discounts on fresh cherries at major grocery chains like Kroger and Whole Foods, along with special cherry-infused desserts at local bakeries. Ice cream parlors such as Baskin-Robbins and Cold Stone Creamery may feature cherry-flavored scoops or sundaes, while fruit stands and farmers’ markets will highlight peak-season varieties. Specialty food retailers like Harry & David often offer cherry gift baskets. Don’t forget to check local restaurants for limited-time cherry cocktails or savory dishes. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 16 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Cherry Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCherryDay. Film a quick recipe video featuring fresh cherries or a fun cherry taste test.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCherryDay. Share visually appealing photos of cherry desserts, drinks, or vibrant cherry harvests.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalCherryDay. Share your favorite family cherry recipes or local cherry festival events.
National Cherry Day Hero
George Washington
History of National Cherry Day
Cherries have been a staple for centuries. From the Roman Empire to the Chinese dynasties, the little red fruits have been on the plate of millions and came to America by ship with early settlers in the 1600s.
Modern-day cherry production in the United States began in 1852 when Peter Dougherty began planting cherry trees on the Old Mission Peninsula in the state of Michigan. The Midwest area proved to have an ideal climate for growing cherries and mass harvesting soon took place, with the first commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan being planted in 1893. Soon, production surpassed other major crops and the first cherry processing facility, Traverse City Canning Company, was built with the ruby-red fruit soon being shipped to neighboring cities in the Midwest. Outreach to the entire country was created shortly after.
The maraschino cherry, created from sweet cherries, is what popularized cherries in the U.S. This popular dessert cherry was invented by merchants on the Balkan Peninsula and in northern Italy by adding liqueur to a local cherry called the Marasca. The resulting cherry product was shipped into the United States in the 1890s.
In 1896, U.S. cherry processors began trialing an indigenous sweet cherry for maraschino cherries, in which less liqueur was used in the processing, and almond oil was added. In the end, the liqueur was eliminated completely. By 1920, the American variation of the maraschino cherry was so popular that it had substituted the nonnative variety in the United States.
National Cherry Day timeline
Greek author, Theophrastus, discusses cherries in the book “History of Plants.”
King Charles V of France planted over one thousand cherry trees in his gardens at St. Paul and Tournelle.
Cherries are brought to America with the first settlers.
Americans produce their first Maraschino cherries using liqueur.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Cherry Day
Local businesses can honor National Cherry Day by incorporating cherries into their offerings. Restaurants might feature special cherry-glazed entrees or cherry-infused cocktails. Bakeries can showcase a variety of cherry pies, tarts, and pastries, while ice cream shops could offer limited-time cherry-flavored scoops or sundaes. Farmers’ markets and fruit stands should highlight their freshest cherry harvests, perhaps offering tasting samples or bulk discounts. Even non-food businesses can participate by decorating with cherry themes or offering cherry-flavored treats to customers.
National Cherry Day FAQs
When is National Cherry Day?
National Cherry Day 2026 falls on a Thursday, July 16, inviting everyone to enjoy the sweet and tart delights of this beloved fruit.
How many cherries are produced in the U.S. annually?
The U.S. cherry industry produces over 650 million pounds of tart and sweet cherries each year, with Michigan leading in tart cherry production and Washington in sweet cherries.
What are the most popular types of cherries?
Sweet cherries like Bing, Rainier, and Chelan are popular for fresh eating, while Montmorency tart cherries are favored for baking, juices, and preserves.
Is the cherry a fruit or a vegetable?
Botanically, a cherry is a drupe, or stone fruit, making it unequivocally a fruit. It develops from the flower’s ovary and contains a single hard seed, or ‘stone,’ in its center.
National Cherry Day Activities
Visit a U-Pick farm
Oregon, California, and Michigan are a few of the states that have cherry U-Pick farms. Enjoy a day outside, picking fresh cherries.
Make black cherry iced tea
Celebrate this national holiday by adding a twist to a southern classic. Iced tea is the perfect summer drink, and cherries are a great addition.
Attend a cherry-pit spitting contest
Think you have skills? Known as the Cherry Pit Spitting Capital of the World, Eau Claire, Michigan, hosts the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship each year. The world record for cherry stone spitting is a whole 93 feet 6.5 inches. Try beating that!
5 Facts About Cherries That Will Blow Your Mind
The average cherry tree has 7,000 cherries
Cherry trees are so productive, they can yield up to 28 pies.
There are two main types
Cherries are either sweet or tart.
Michigan is the cherry capital
Around 94% of cherries consumed in the U.S. are grown in Michigan.
Pits contain toxins
Don’t chew on cherry pits because they can release toxins.
There are 1000 varieties
There are more than 1000 different cherry varieties, sweet and tart combined, but only 20% of them are used for commercial purposes.
Why We Love National Cherry Day
Cherries are versatile
Cherries can be turned into many different recipes. You can make jam, barbeque sauce, pastries, pies, cola, ice cream, and much more. Grill them, dry them, or juice them. No matter what, they are always delicious.
They’re nutritious
No one really loves taking their vitamins, right? Well, sneaky cherries are filled with vitamins A, B, C, and E. Together, these vitamins help blood circulation, hair growth, stress management, and reduce cancer risk to mention a few.
They are historic
Cherries have been around for centuries. The earliest information about cherries was written by Greek author Theophrastus in the book “History of Plants” in 300 B.C.
Social Media Tips for National Cherry Day
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