Food and Health Communications

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Cherry Messages

When you see cherries in the grocery store it is usually a great sign! It means the summer growing season is here. These red beauties keep well in the refrigerator, are always grabbed fast when simply served in a bowl, and travel well. If you have a pitter it is easy to cook them, too, when they get a little past their prime. Here are the social messages for cherries now that May is almost here. They are from Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD.Cherries are stone fruits, similar to plums, peaches and nectarines. They are also known as “drupes”.A one-cup serving of cherries gives you 90 calories and 3 grams of fiber as well as anthocyanin, a powerful anti-oxidant linked with cancer and heart disease reduction.Anthocyanin in cherries also helps reduce inflammation.Cherries have a low glycemic index value compared to other fruit.Cherries are primarily grown in the US in Michigan, California, Oregon and Washington.Use cherries as a healthy snack, chopped into salads or cooked into a sauce for beef or pork.