Cherry season is quite short in our region but you can enjoy cherries year round with this product from Vinegar Hill / Delhaven Orchards. The cherries are grown in Blenheim (southeast of Chatham) and are processed at Delhaven’s site. The fruit is pitted and packed into pails and is available fresh for a short time; the rest of the pails are frozen so you can enjoy them year round! Pick up your pail of sweet or sour cherries and get ready to make wonderful pies and jams or top your ice cream with this tender fruit.

$17 will get you a pail that has 10 pounds of cherries preserved in 1 pound of sugar. Delhaven also packs cherries For diabetics (currently sold out) with 11 pounds of fruit that has been sprayed with ascorbic acid:

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is the most effective agent in preventing darkening of fruit. Not only does it preserve natural color and flavor of fruits, but it adds nutritive value as well.

Cherries have fallen into favour recently for the spotlight that has been put on their disease-fighting antioxidants. Hector of Delhaven says that this is an agricultural highlight for the region and that the increased interest in cherries has been a “good thing”.

Did you know… this “Antioxidant Super Fruit” is packed with beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries) vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate.

Right after cherry season starts (mid-July to the beginning of August), you can get Delhaven’s cherries at selected Zehrs/Real Canadian Superstore. Year-round you can get the pails of pitted cherries at Schinkel’s in Essex or go directly to Delhaven (they’ve got loads of other local food in their store too!).

Delhaven Orchards
8182 Talbot Trail, Blenheim
(519) 676-4475
http://www.delhaven.com/
Winter Hours: 8 to 5 Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday)

Delhaven Orchards, Vinegar Hill, cherries