Northwest cherries are back in Malaysia with a unique sweet-sour juicy taste, with a great burst of flavour. Known as the “Diamond of Fruit,” growing these cherries is a 12-month affair whereby the work starts in winter before they grow into clusters of delicious snackable fruits in the summer.
The highly acclaimed term ‘Diamond of Fruit’ is based on its nutritional value, cherries have a high content of potassium, Vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties that help in preventing or reducing the risk or severity of several chronic inflammatory diseases. More importantly, they are sodium free. This fruit is also known to have antioxidants, namely the cancer-preventing anthocyanins that can be highly beneficial for one’s health.
Northwest cherries follow a long-haul process to guarantee only nutritious and top-quality cherries make it into your home. A campaign, “Cherish the Moments” was launched by the Northwest Cherry Growers to mark the start of the harvest season in late June of 2022 and is expected to last until mid of August. As its name implies, the campaign aims to encourage the public to cherish precious moments with loved ones while devouring this highly nutritional and flavourful fruit. From bringing comfort to soothing the soul, this fruit can be enjoyed with friends and family for any occasion including birthdays, get-togethers, or even picnics.
Small but mighty, this brightly coloured power fruit is truly unlike any other. We had the opportunity to sample top-quality cherries from dark to white varieties that reached our doorstep within 48 hours from harversting! Cherries are best eaten fresh on their own or accompanied by ice cream or yoghurt. If you enjoy baking, it’s a great time to make a cherry pie or crumble.
Sweet cherries are grown all over the world, and the best varieties of cherries are handpicked by growers to produce the best quality yield. Dark cherry varieties such as Chelan, Lapin, Skeena, Santina, and the world-famous Bing are available throughout the season and interchange as the season progresses, while the white varieties such as Early Robins and Rainiers are available from June to July.
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“There is no denying that the Northwest Cherries are of high quality and hold great value due to their limited availability. Given the weather complications of snow during spring this year, the early growing regions were impacted thus resulting in a lower volume of cherries than usual. However, the good news is that the quality of cherries has been one of the best in years. Not only are they being larger in size but are sweeter, juicier, more succulent and crunchier” shared Ms Retna Malar, a market representative for Northwest Cherries in Malaysia.
“Not everyone is able to get that second bite of the cherry so don’t miss out on this opportunity to get a hold of them before it’s too late” Retna added.
Northwest cherries are sold widely at major supermarkets such as AEON, Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer, Ben’s Independent Grocers, Cold Storage, Mercato, QRA, Lotus’s, Giant, Aeon Big, and TF Value-Mart, NSK, and other independent retailers. Northwest Cherries are also sold at night markets in Malaysia and are frequently labelled as USA / Washington Cherries. Apart from that, they are also sold online on Lazada, Shopee, and Hantar Fresh.
These cherries can be stored in your freezer after washing, pitting, and placing them in freezer bags. Cherries can be kept frozen for as long as 6 months. You can then enjoy frozen cherries in desserts or simply as a healthy indulgence.
To find out more, head over to Northwest Cherry’s website.
