Cherries are small, round fruits that grow on pretty trees that burst into beautiful pink and white flowers every spring. They are usually bright red and often come in pairs hanging from long, green stems, which makes them fun to dangle over your ears like little earrings! Be careful when you eat them, though, because each cherry has a hard pit inside that you should not swallow. There are two main types of cherries: sweet cherries that you eat fresh, and sour cherries that are perfect for baking into pies.
Cherry trees are one of the first fruit trees to bloom when spring arrives, and they need cold winters to grow well. Japan is famous for its gorgeous cherry blossom trees, and every spring millions of people have picnics under the blooming trees to celebrate! A single cherry tree can grow about 7,000 cherries each year, which is a lot of fruit from one tree. Birds love cherries too, so farmers sometimes cover their trees with nets to make sure there are enough for us to eat. Cherries are packed with vitamins and healthy things that help your body feel great, and they taste amazing in pies, jams, and ice cream!
