Monday, July 26, 2010

Cherry Capital

Traverse City calls itself the "Cherry Capital." Even the airport (a few short runways for tiny planes and private jets) is called the Cherry Capital Airport. The northwest corner of Michigan is the headquarters of cherry production in the state, and more specifically tart cherries. We produce 75% of the nation's tart cherry crop and also a significant part of the sweet cherry crop. Basically, cherries are a big deal here and we passed countless cherry orchards on our way up Old Mission Peninsula.

Traverse City even has the National Cherry Festival every summer to celebrate all things cherry. We were there for the cherry festival three years ago. It's a very cute summer festival with golf tournaments, activities for kids, an air show, cherry pie eating contests, cherry pit spitting contests, and of course a parade featuring the Cherry Queen!


You can buy just about anything with cherries on it up here. Literally anything.


This is from The Cherry Stop, where you can buy clothing and household items with cherries on them, cherry lotions and bath products, and of course a variety of cherry food things. They also have a cherry wine tasting room.


Cherry Republic is a company that produces an enormous variety of cherry food things. Cherry jams and jellies mixed with every other fruit you can think of, cherry barbecue sauces, cherry salsas, cherry peanut butter, dried cherries with or without chocolate... lots of stuff.


If you're coming to Traverse City, come hungry!

6 comments:

EconomicDisconnect said...

If I am in the right mood, I will suffer the lactose consequence of eating some of my favorite ice cream: Ben and Jerry's CHERRY Garcia! Maybe two times a year!

Looks like you are having a great summer.

au soleil levant said...

Funny, my brother is lactose intolerant too but he can eat ice cream without too much of a problem. I bet Cherries Moobilee from Moomers would tempt you to brave lactose intolerance too!

Anonymous said...

I had no idea there was a "cherry city"! That's pretty cool actually. I love cherries... one of the rare fruits I like.

au soleil levant said...

I don't think I knew that you don't like fruits. Do you like vegetables? I've been having a hard time making myself eat most veggies since transplant, not sure why.

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Oh wow!! The Mooers is just PERRRRFECT for you!! heheh!!! When you come to visit-- I'm breaking out the ice cream maker and I'll make you your fav. flavour!!

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Oops.. I meant Moomers... : )