The Bing is the most popular cherry with consumers and the most dominant variety in the industry. It has red/mahogany-colored skin and flesh. The stone is relatively small, while the fruit itself is relatively large, crisp, firm, very sweet and juicy. Rivermaid Trading Company’s Bing crop is harvested in its Lodi, California orchards.
The Brooks variety is a large form red cherry with a red skin and a reddish-pink flesh. It is sweet, rich and well balanced with a firmness close to that of the Bing. It is very tolerant of hot climates, which is why it is the first Rivermaid Trading Company variety to ripen in California’s Southern Central Valley.
The Coral cherry has a similar sweetness to the Bing. It is a lower acid cherry with a dark flesh. Like the Bing, The Coral can also be quite large relative to other varieties. The California Coral season is approximately the same as the California Bing, Chelan and Garnet season.
This cherry is recognizable by its golden/pink blushed skin color. It’s a finely textured variety with firm, clear flesh and colorless juice. The Rainier offers consumers a firm cherry that has a very sweet, delicate flavor. Like the Bing, Rivermaid Trading Company’s Rainier crop is harvested in its Lodi, California orchards.
The Chelan is a medium sized cherry with a mahogany red skin and medium to dark flesh much like the Bing. The Chelan is not quite as sweet as a Bing but it is an excellent eating cherry. It is harvested approximately the same time as Rivermaid Trading Company’s California Bing.
The Tulare cherry is another early season variety that ripens a week to ten days before the Bing. It has a dark red color and sweet flavor yet does not have the firmness of the Bing. Like the Brooks, the Tulare is a hot retail item that builds consumer interest in cherries just before the Bing harvest.
Harvested during the early part of the Bing Season, Garnets are an excellent eating, medium sized cherry. They have a mahogany red skin like the Bing yet the flesh is not quite as sweet as the Bing.
Growing Region: Sacramento River Delta, California, Lake and Mendocino Counties, Northern California, Rogue River Valley Oregon and The Hood River Valley, Oregon
Flavor Profile: The Bartlett has the quintessential pear flavor. It is considered the sweetest and juiciest of all the pears. It is the most popular variety in America
Ripening: Sometimes the Bartletts in grocery stores are green. Green Bartletts will change to yellow as they ripen at home when left at room temperature. Do not refrigerate until your Bartletts are at the ripeness you desire
The Bartlett is perfect to eat out of hand. It’s also good for fruit salads or slicing into lettuce salads with crumbled blue cheese. The Bartlett is an excellent pear for canning and cooking.
Growing Region: Sacramento River Delta, Lake and Mendocino Counties California, Rogue River Valley and The Hood River Valley, Oregon
Flavor Profile: Beneath the russet skin is a sweet-spicy flesh that is tender and crunchy
Ripening: The Golden Bosc is a firmer pear. Allow it to ripen at room temperature. It is ready to eat when it gives to gentle pressure at its neck and when you see its stem begin to shrivel at its base
The Golden Bosc is ideal for baking, poaching and cooking. However it is also excellent eaten sliced with strong cheeses and wine.
Growing Region: The Sacramento River Delta, California, Lake and Mendocino Counties, California
Flavor Profile: The beautiful Rivermaid Red Pear has the same flavor and texture as the Bartlett
Ripening: The skin of the Rivermaid will display and brighter and brighter red color as it ripens. When it yields to gentle pressure, it is ready to eat
The Rivermaid Red is best eaten sliced and eaten alone or served with strong cheeses. The Rivermaid Red’s juiciness keeps it from being a good cooking pear
©2024 Rivermaid Trading Company