It’s time to bust out your best lattice work for pies, butter-cutting prowess for cobbler, finest bakeware for clafoutis, and your well-loved cherry pitter because picture-perfect Maryhill cherries are back in season.

Head to your local New Seasons Market to pick up a bag of this year’s sweet-tart and juicy Maryhill cherries, straight from Gunkel Orchards, a fourth generation family farm about 100 miles east of Portland in Goldendale, WA. Maryhill grows an enticing array of cherry varieties, from deep red Bing and Brooks cherries to the colorful Chelan and Rainer cultivars.

Gunkel Orchards has been sustainably growing, harvesting and packing their hand-picked and tree-ripened cherries along the breathtaking Columbia River since 1936. Their candy-sweet stone fruit is a crave-worthy favorite, thanks in large part to the unique split of land their orchards call home; sandy soil, low rainfall, warm, desert temperatures, and gusting Columbia Gorge winds all converge to provide the best growing conditions for those legendary cherries, peaches, nectarines, and more. 

Once you’ve brought your cherries home, simply rinse with cold water and enjoy them by the handful, or take a spin through the New Seasons recipe catalogue for inspiration. There, home cooks and bakeres will find both sweet and savory recipes, from crunchy, no-bake cherry almond coconut bark and patio season Rainier cherry mojitos to spicy cherry salsa and potluck-ready walnut quinoa salad with cherries. 

Don’t know where to start? Try New Seasons’ sweet-meets-savory “Cherries as Olives” recipe, where fresh, stemmed and pitted Rainier cherries are marinated with orange and lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, garlic, sherry vinegar and olive oil. After soaking overnight, let your marinated cherries come to room temperature before serving with a fresh-baked baguette, creamy, soft cheese from our cheese counter (ask your local cheesemonger for the best pairing!), cured meat and crunchy, salt-roasted almonds. 

Whether you’re baking a festive summer pie, zesting up your favorite recipes, or simply packing up a perfect summer picnic, Maryhill cherries are sure to delight. But these toothsome fruits are only in season for a limited time — don’t expect them to be around in a couple months! Visit your local New Seasons Market today to get a taste of cherry season, while supplies last.