February is National Cherry Month, and you may be thinking
to yourself, really, February? Although February brings cold winter days, it is
rooted in numerous historical events that pertain to our beloved super fruit.

In February 1912, twelve varieties of cherry trees were
shipped from the city of Yokohama, Japan. Upon arrival in Seattle, they were
transferred to Washington. D.C. and planted along the Potomac Tidal Basin on
March 27th. These three thousand cherry trees were a gift of friendship to the
People of the United States from the People of Japan.

Another reason February is fitting is George Washington’s
Birthday (Presidents’ Day). But what does George Washington have to do with
cherries? For those that don’t know, little George used a hatchet to cut down
his father’s favorite tree, which happened to be a young English cherry tree.
George’s father suspected he might be the culprit and that George would fess up
if asked, so it did not come as a surprise when George replied, “I cannot tell
a lie, I chopped down the cherry tree.”

Talk about seriously having to “cherry” the hatchet, huh
George?

Although February is National Cherry Month, here at Cherry Central we “pick” reasons to celebrate cherries every month of the year.