Why We Use Montmorency and Balaton Tart Cherries

Montmorency and Balaton cherries can make a great addition to your day. Not only do they taste great, but they are also available all year round from Cherry Bay Orchards in dried form and in our tart cherry juice concentrate.

The Montmorency cherry is one of the most common tart cherries, while the Balaton cherry is considered a newer type of tart cherry and receives its name from a lake in Hungary. There are a number of reasons why Cherry Bay Orchards uses these cherries in our product offerings, including:

• Availability: According to the Department of Agriculture, Michigan produces 70 to 75 percent of the tart cherries grown in the United States. While Montmorency cherries are harvested in the summer, at Cherry Bay Orchards we are pleased to offer cherry concentrate and dried fruit all year long made from our local cherry orchards.
• Nutrition: Naturally low in fat and sodium, cherries offer valuable vitamins and nutrients. Since we don’t add sugar to our concentrated cherry juice, our products are considered all-natural.
• Taste: Tart cherries have a juicy and acidic background that some prefer to eat right in their natural, unprocessed form. Those who prefer little less tartness will find our sweetened dried fruit to be a great snack. The quality taste of our products make them great ingredients in recipes.

Michigan: Cherry Growing Experts

Cherry Bay Orchards is a cooperative of growers, processors, and marketers with a wealth of tart cherry experience. We have thousands of acres in Northern Michigan that produce more than 25 million pounds of Montmorency tart cherries a year. Processed in our own facilities, we follow strict procedures to make our products safe and taste great.

Cherries: A Smart Snack

Sweet cherries have their place in the summer as a pleasant tasting fruit, however, in terms of benefits, we consider the tart cherry to be more versatile. The wider availability of tart cherries also makes it easier to incorporate in your day. Whether you add dried cherries to a salad, or swap blueberries for our kosher certified tart cherries in your favorite recipe, our products have the wholesome goodness you would expect from a “super fruit.”

Add a Pop of Red into Your Day

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests incorporating a variety of colors into your diet. This can help you receive the assortment of nutrients and vitamins you may need for a balanced diet. When you need a pop of red, we suggest drinking cherry juice made from our concentrate, available in Singles to Go or in a bottle. You can also try eating dried Balaton or Montmorency tart cherries as a snack or as part of a recipe.