Show your love with Michigan cherries

Kendra Wills<willsk@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Support local businesses while celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Does your loved one have a passion for all things local? Michigan cherries are available year round and make delicious Valentine’s Day treats. Our state leads the nation in tart cherry production, which is the most common type of cherry needed for baking. Northwest Michigan is the hub of Michigan’s cherry production. Traverse City is the home of the National Cherry Festival every July and many local businesses offer a wide variety of cherry products including some unique items like cherry sausage, barbecue sauce and even mustard.

Cherry Republic is a popular destination. You can find all kinds of cherry products on their website from salsas to sauces and dried cherries to candies of all kinds. Products can be shipped to any location. Michigan Awesome is another retailer that offers a wide variety of Michigan cherry products that can be ordered online.

If you have a talent for baking, MyNorth.com has a Cherry, Cherry, Cherry pie recipe that uses both sweet and tart frozen cherries. In addition, Michigan State University Extension’s Michigan Fresh campaign has a Michigan cherries fact sheet with two recipes: cherry syrup and cherry freezer jam. Midwest Living magazine published a list of their 25 favorite cherry recipes, which include cherry chip cookies, cherry crisp and cherry smoothies.

Thanks to Cherry Capital Foods, Inc., Michigan cherries will be used to celebrate Valentine’s Day in schools all across the state during the week of February 12, 2018. Schools are encouraged to purchase frozen cherries to make smoothies, dried cherries for topping on yogurt or oatmeal or for baking. This toolkit provides schools with ordering information and marketing materials.

Do not let the winter months go buy without seeking out Michigan foods like cherries. They shouldn’t be hard to find and your purchase will support local cherry producers and processors. 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?


New Commissioner School 2024

Register Now

Mindfully Feeding Infants & Toddlers Lunch & Learn 11.25

Register Now

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • community food systems,
  • economic development,
  • food & health,
  • greening michigan,
  • msu extension,
  • product center
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).