Bing Cherries Delivery or Pickup

Bing cherries are a large variety of cherries. They are smooth, shiny, and have a deep red or maroon color. This type of cherry is firm, crunchy, and juicy and makes for a delicious snack. When people think of cherries and their characteristic flavor and texture, they usually think of the sweet and tangy Bing cherry.

The Bing cherry is a member of the Prunus genus and is a direct descendant of Prunus Avium, or wild cherry. It's considered a stone fruit because of its singular seed, which is the same type of fruit as apricots, plums, and peaches. This sweet and flavorful fruit is the most cultivated of all cherry varieties in the world. It was originally grafted from the heirloom Black Republican cherry tree, which is presently not typically grown for its fruit but is used as a pollinator for other cherry trees.

Cherries are native to China. Historical records show that they may have first been cultivated as far back as 4000 B.C. Bing cherries are not as old as their original ancestor, though. In 1875, they were created by Seth Lewelling, who owned a family orchard in Willamette Valley, Oregon. He named this new aromatic fruit after a Manchurian Chinese immigrant named Ah Bing. Bing managed the orchard for the Lewelling family, and it's believed he may have been involved in grafting the first ever Bing cherry tree.

Bing cherries are typically available at grocery stores, supermarkets, roadside stands, and farmers' markets from mid-spring to mid-summer. You can still find them growing in the Willamette Valley and all along the Pacific Coast from Washington to California.

Bing cherries can be prepared and served in various ways, from canning and freezing to baking and eating as-is. They pair well with spices like vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. They are an excellent complement to peaches, dark chocolate, almonds, and apricots. Bing cherries taste delicious with herbs, like basil and cilantro, and creamy cheeses, such as Burrata and Mascarpone.

When choosing Bing cherries from the grocery store or a roadside stand, be sure to look at the cherry's stem and skin. If the cherries are fresh, the stems will be green and not broken. If there is no stem, you'll want to check the fruit itself. It should be smooth and shiny with a bright red to deep burgundy color.

Just like any other fruit, Bing cherries can go bad. Whether you're shopping for cherries at the store or checking to see if the cherries in your refrigerator are still good enough to eat, you'll want to look at the stems and the skin. If the stems are brown, dry, or brittle, they are probably on their way out. Odds are if the stem is rotting, then the inside of the fruit is probably rotting as well. If you can't tell if the fruit is bad simply by looking at the stems, then turn your eye to the fruit. If it looks dry, has wrinkled skin, or has any dents or gouges, this probably means it is rotten.

The next time you want some Bing cherries for baking a pie or simply as a sweet summer snack, let Instacart shoppers select them for you. Simply open your Instacart app, add Bing cherries to your cart, choose your delivery time, and complete your purchase. It really is that easy!