WENATCHEE, WA - That long-awaited moment has arrived: Skylar Rae® cherries are back. With harvest now in full swing for CMI Orchards, consumers are eager to secure “The Sweetest Cherry You’ll Ever Eat™”.

“Skylar Rae cherries are extra special, from their remarkable origin story to their unique flavor and crunch,” says Sarah Barkley, Domestic Sales at CMI Orchards. “Bursting with super sweet flavor and juice, and delivering a satisfying texture, they’re far superior to any other cherry.”

The sweet, crunchy, bi-colored cherries are hitting shelves for a profitable short season. As CMI Orchards reported, while a January cold snap initially impacted bud development for higher elevation orchards, the mild winter and consistently warm temperatures that followed delivered an exceptional bloom, resulting in Skylar Rae cherries of top-notch quality.

Skylar Rae cherries were discovered by the Toftness family in 2004. Grown by selected growers in the US, Chile, New Zealand, and Australia, Skylar Rae cherries are set for further expansion, skyrocketing in popularity and increasing in volume.

“Skylar Rae cherries sometimes develop a unique bronzing, giving the appearance of a sun-kissed tan,” adds Troy Toftness, Co-Owner of the Skylar Rae brand and Tip Top cherry variety. “This ‘caramel glow’ is a hallmark of their supreme sweetness, indicating the cherries have absorbed ample sunshine—a sure sign of the sweetest cherries on the tree.”

The top priority when developing these top-tier cherries is always flavor, as the grower allows the fruit to ripen on the tree until it achieves the perfect flavor. This short video explains the variety’s caramel glow feature, including visual examples of how to hunt down the extra sweet ones.

“Cherries inspire excitement year after year, coveted for their limited availability and summer seasonality,” Sarah concludes, “and Skylar Rae are only around for a few short weeks each year—so get them while supplies last!”

Take hold of increased cherry sales with the help of this beloved variety! And keep reading ANUK as we bring you the latest industry news.