If you’re guessing California, you’re wrong. (Sorry, sunshine state—your avocados are safe.) The real answer is Michigan. That’s right, the Mitten State. The place of lakes, cars, and that guy who eats a hot dog with a fork.
Michigan grows about 75% of all the tart cherries in the United States. I’m talking tens of thousands of tons. If you dumped all the tart cherries grown in Michigan into the Great Lakes, they’d turn them into a giant, sour Slurpee.
But Wait—There’s a Sweet Rival
Here’s where it gets tricky. There are two cherry species: sweet cherries (the ones you eat raw and pretend are healthy) and tart cherries (for pies, jams, and making your face pucker like you bit a lemon). Michigan dominates tart. But the sweet cherry crown? That goes to Washington State.
Washington grows more than half of the sweet cherries in the country. Think Bing cherries, Rainier cherries—the ones that cost $8 a pound and taste like candy. So Michigan is the Tart Queen, and Washington is the Sweet King. They’re like the Marvel vs. DC of fruit, but friendlier.
And California? It’s like the cool cousin who shows up with a bag of mixed cherries and says, “I’m from here too, guys.” It comes in third for both types. Still impressive, but no crown.
