Cherries are stone fruits that develop on trees belonging to the Prunus genus, which is the same classification that includes plums, peaches, and almonds. The journey of this fruit from a delicate spring blossom to a sweet or tart summer treat is highly dependent on specific environmental conditions. These trees have precise cultivation requirements that limit where they can be successfully grown. Understanding the climatic needs of the trees helps explain the global geography of cherry production.
The Difference Between Sweet and Tart Cherry Trees
The cherries found in markets are primarily sourced from two distinct species that have different uses and growing tolerances. Sweet cherries come from the species Prunus avium, which typically yields a larger fruit with firm flesh and a higher sugar content, making them ideal for fresh consumption. These trees are generally less hardy, requiring a more temperate climate to thrive.
Tart or sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) contain higher levels of organic acids. Because of their intense flavor profile, these cherries are predominantly used for processing into pies, preserves, and juices. Prunus cerasus is known to be more resilient to cold weather and can tolerate harsher winter conditions than the sweet cherry variety.
Essential Environmental Requirements for Cultivation
A successful cherry harvest relies on the tree receiving a specific period of cold temperatures during the winter, a requirement known as chilling hours. Cherry trees must accumulate between 700 and 1,200 hours of temperatures roughly between 32°F and 45°F (0°C and 7.2°C) to properly break dormancy and ensure uniform flowering. If the trees do not receive sufficient chill hours, flowering can be erratic, leading to poor fruit set and reduced yields. Sweet cherries often require less chilling than the tart varieties, which sometimes need over 1,200 hours.
The trees need moderate temperatures throughout the growing season. A major risk to the crop is a late frost that occurs after the buds have swelled or the blossoms have appeared. Conversely, excessively high summer temperatures are also detrimental, as they can cause the fruit to develop improperly, leading to deformities like “twin fruit” that have no commercial value.
Cherry trees require full sunlight for optimal growth and fruit development. The soil must be deep, fertile, and, most importantly, possess excellent drainage. Cherries are highly sensitive to root diseases, meaning that standing water or heavy, waterlogged clay soil will quickly kill the tree. Commercial orchards seek well-aerated soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
Leading Global Cherry Growing Regions
The historical origin of the cherry is traced back to Western Asia, particularly the area between the Black and Caspian Seas (Anatolia), which provided the ideal climate for the wild Prunus species to thrive. This region, including modern-day Turkey, remains a powerhouse in global production.
Turkey is often cited as the world’s largest producer of cherries, benefiting from a climate that meets the tree’s precise needs. Other leading global producers include the United States, China, Uzbekistan, and Chile. Chile plays a particularly important role in the global supply chain, using its Southern Hemisphere location to provide fresh cherries to Northern Hemisphere markets during their winter season.
In the United States, sweet cherry cultivation is concentrated in the western states that receive the necessary winter chill but avoid late spring frosts. Washington State is the largest US producer, followed by California and Oregon, which together account for the majority of the nation’s sweet cherry output. Tart cherry production is dominated by the Midwest, where the climate is slightly colder and better suited for the hardier Prunus cerasus species. Michigan is the primary source for US tart cherries, often supplying nearly three-quarters of the country’s processed crop.