Saturday, June 18, 2011

Cherries the birds didn't get


Thanks to blogging friends, I was prompted to take notice and learn about my food today. Strawberry Lady suggested we eat cherries, so naturally I took a picture first. The Rainier cherries I bought at a roadside stand this week in the land where we also grow asparagus, artichokes -- and yes, strawberries! -- were selling for $6 for a large basket, the same as Bings.

But in Japan, they have been known to pay for Rainiers (gulp) $5 per cherry...? And birds eat as much as a third of the crop before it's picked, so they also must think they are pretty special.

Now I'm glad I bought the Rainiers and got such a good deal. The small hut with the big signs was just off a four-lane highway, and the trucks carrying all our luscious California produce were speeding by. As the wind blew me across the dirt toward the fruit it took all of one second for my hair to become a tangled web across my face, but I found my mouth and sampled both cherries -- and that's how it all happened.

I bought strawberries, too, Mags, but in this case,

They can't compare
To the Rainier rare.

10 comments:

Pom Pom said...

I bought a small bag of Rainers, ate them all, and now must go back to the market to get more so I can join the cherry eating party Mags speaks of!

magsmcc said...

The cherry party could well be the three of us! But at least I'm in excellent company!! 5 each??? Oh my!

Jeannette said...

First fruits...they are so lovely.

Gumbo Lily said...

They really are beautiful cherries. I haven't seen the Rainier cherries yet. I suppose the trucks haven't gotten here yet from California!

Jody

Martha said...

Mmmm...I love cherries. I saw a program on PBS of Chinese having such issues with bees pollinating, that they have people pollinate by hand with a feather! No wonder good fruit is so expensive.

P.S. We are home from our trip west..."Grand Canyon or bust." We are talking about our next trip through Death Valley, perhaps...in a year or two.

Leslie said...

Yum! And what a pretty bowl. I miss roadside fruit stands. We used to have one down the highway from here but not any more.

elizabeth said...

beautiful! I've heard about the bee pollination problem that Marfa speaks of too...

Kassianni said...

cherries are one of my favourite fruits. but I don't think I've ever tried this variety. hm.. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on some this season.

no spring chicken said...

How very interesting, trying to eat cherries through a web of hair! I think I'll just eat mine at home... :)

Blessings, Debbie

Anita said...

I love cherries...makes me want to run up to the fruit and vegetable stand and buy some.