What Kind of Fruit Is a Cherry?

A cherry is the kind of fruit with a single seed.  The seed is sometimes called a stone or pit.  Let's learn more about cherries, their characteristics, classifications, and uses.

Since a cherry is the kind of fruit with a stone, it is called a stone fruit. 

• Stone fruits are called drupes. 
• Drupes have an outer skin, a fleshy part under the skin, and a shell that is hard with a seed inside. 
• This hard shell, or stone, comes from the ovary wall of the flower. 
• Some single seed fruits which have a hard seed coat are not drupes because the stony structure is the seed coat, not the ovary wall. 
• Some of the plants that make drupes are: mango, olive, most palms (date, coconut, etc.), pistachio, and all the members of the genus Prunus. 

So, what type of fruit are cherries:

• A cherry is a small, fleshy fruit with a single seed which distinguishes it from other fruits like berries which have numerous seeds. 
• Cherries are in the family Rosaceae, which is a large family of plants that includes roses, apples, strawberries, almonds, peaches, and hawthorns. 
• Cherries are in the genus Prunus, which is the largest genus in the Rosaceae family. 
• Members of the Prunus genus include cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and almonds.  

In summary, a cherry is a small drupe from the Rosaceae family and is in the genus Prunus.  Another answer is that cherries are a sweet and sour kind of fruit.  They are also a summer fruit, ripening in the months between May and July.  There are many varieties of cherries but two are most commonly eaten: sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) and wild cherries (Prunus avium).  

Origin and History of Cherries

You may also want to learn the history of cherries:

• The word “cherry” is “cerise” in French, and “cereza” in Spanish.  These all come from the Latin “cerasum” which refers to the area in Greece from which the cherries were first exported to Europe.

• Wild cherries are found throughout Europe and were first cultivated in Rome around 72 BC.  The five countries in the world that produce the most cherries are: Turkey, United States, Iran, Italy, and Russia.

Medicinal Uses of Cherries

Cherries are red because of their anthocynanins, which are also called flavonoids. These color cherries are good for reducing pain and inflammation.  They are also anti-oxidants which are nutritious and have anti-aging properties.  Cherries reduce both the triglycerides and cholesterol level in the blood and can be beneficial for treating cancer.

Cherries can be a good laxative and can cleanse the gall bladder and liver.  They help your body get rid of toxic wastes and has a wonderful effect on the glandular system.

Here is a list of the nutrients in one pound of cherries:

• Calories = 286
• Protein = 5.3 g
• Fat = 1.2 g
• Carbs = 71 g
• Calcium = 90 mg
• Phosphorus = 78 mg
• Iron = 1.6 mg
• Vitamin A = 450 IU
• Ascorbic acid = 41 mg
• Small amounts of thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin

Cherries can be found in many food dishes from cobblers to the top of a sundae.  Other places you can find them are: jam or jelly, fruit salad, ice cream, soufflé, pie, cake, compote, and tart.  

Facts About Cherries

You may also be interested in some other facts about cherries:

• Cherries do not ripen after harvesting and only stay fresh for a few days.
• Cherries should be bought with the stem attached.  Look for a bright red color and cherries which are plump and firm.
• Michigan produces 75% of the tart cherries in the U.S.  Traverse City is called the Cherry Capital of the World.
• The term “in cherry condition” refers to something that is new.  This comes from the fact that cherry trees are the first to ripen.