May 15th 2012 Issue

Delicate cherry finds a niche

Producers found ways to handle the attractive and flavorful Rainier, so they could get it to market without bruising.

The blushed-yellow Rainier cherry was released by Washington State University more than 50 years ago with little thought of it becoming a premium fresh-market cherry. Rainier originated from a cross of Bing and Van made at WSU in Prosser by soft fruit breeder Dr. Harold Fogle. It was selected in 1954 and released in 1960. The fruit has a similar shape to Bing, but it is generally sweeter and larger, and the skin is yellow with an attractive red blush. However, it is extremely prone to bruising. Grady Auvil, orchardist at Orondo, Washington, planted some of the first Rainier trees […]

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