Let’s start with the absolute monster of the cherry world: Washington State. This place doesn't just grow cherries—it manufactures them in quantities that would make a fruit fly weep with joy. They produce roughly 60% to 70% of all sweet cherries in the United States. That’s not a state; that’s a cherry empire.
Why Washington? Because they have perfect weather—cool nights, warm days—and a lot of volcanic soil that makes trees go, “Oh, this is nice.” It’s basically the luxury spa of cherry growing. The cherries from there are so big and sweet, you half expect them to talk in a Hollywood accent.
And here’s the wild part: They do this all with a labor force that climbs 50-foot ladders and picks cherries by hand. It’s like Cirque du Soleil, but with more sweating and a higher risk of pie ingredients hitting your head. Respect the ladder climbers.
