Cherries Are The Pick Of The Season

Summary: In the summer, life is a bowl of cherries. The long, warm days have produce sections brimming with big, juicy, sweet cherries.

In the summer, life is a bowl of cherries. The long, warm days have produce sections brimming with big, juicy, sweet cherries. To promote the nutritional benefits of fresh produce, there's the Pick of the Season, a public health initiative spotlighting seasonal fruit and vegetables, with recipes this quarter for cherries, a produce selection that travels from the great Northwest right to you. Besides the great taste, cherries are also low in calories-only 90 calories for 1 cup-and contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol. However, they pack in some great nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber and potassium. So whether they're Bing or Rainier, this beautiful fruit is a crowd pleaser. Delicious in a recipe or by the handful, for dessert or a midday snack, you can enjoy cherries all season long and beyond. There are so many ways to add cherries to your favorite recipes, like in cherry-stuffed grilled chicken, cherry and hazelnut salad, cherry clafouti and this cherry smoothie: Cherry Smoothie 1 cup light vanilla yogurt 3/4 cup pitted fresh or frozen sweet cherries 1/2 cup drained canned mandarin orange sections (canned in juice, no sugar added) 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 4 ice cubes Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass; serve immediately. POINTS