When Do Cherries Ripen in Shaanxi? A Complete Guide to the Picking Season

Cherries in Shaanxi generally ripen and reach the market in early May, and the season usually lasts only about one month. Cherries have a bright, dazzling appearance, beautiful and translucent, red as agate and yellow as congealed fat, and the fruit is rich in sugar, protein, vitamins, and various elements such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Cherries ripen early and have the reputation of being the “first fruit of early spring.”

The main cherry-producing areas in China include Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and others.

1. Zhejiang Province is one of the places of origin of Chinese cherries, now mainly distributed in Xiaoshan, Tonglu, Lin'an, Yuyao, Xinchang, Shengxian, Zhuji, Jinhua, and other counties and cities. The main varieties include Jianzui cherry, Duanbing cherry, Duanbing Daguo, Changbing cherry, and Changbing Xiaoguo.

2. Shandong Province is one of the main producing areas of Chinese cherries, with production areas mainly distributed in Fushan, Laiyang, Pingdu, Lashan, Anqiu, Zhucheng, Wulian, Yingnan, Linyi, Feixian, Pingyi, Tengxian, Zaozhuang, Laiwu, Tai'an, and other counties and cities. The main varieties include Laiyang short-stem red cherry, Pingdu long-stem red cherry, Laoshan short-stem red cherry, Anqiu cherry, Zhucheng yellow cherry, Tengxian large red cherry, and Dawo Louye.

3. Chinese cherries are found in the suburbs of Nanjing, Zhen'an, Lianyungang, and other cities in Jiangsu Province. The main varieties include Dongtang cherry, Chuisi cherry, Xiye cherry, and Yinzhu cherry, among which Dongtang cherry is renowned through the ages for its large fruit and excellent flavor.

4. Henan Province is also relatively rich in Chinese cherry resources, distributed in multiple counties of Xinyang, Zhumadian, Nanyang, Zhoukou, Xuchang, Luoyang, Xinxiang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, and other cities, with relatively concentrated areas in Lichuan, Lushi, Xin'an, Luoshan, Zhenping, Xinyang, Neixiang, Xiping, Suiping, Queshan, Zhengyang, Pingyu, Biyang, Shangcai, Xinzheng, Xiuwu, Huaiyang, the suburbs of Zhoukou, and the suburbs of Zhengzhou, and other counties and cities.

5. Chinese cherries in Shaanxi Province are mainly distributed in Lantian, Shangzhou, Danfeng, Shangnan, Zhen'an, Hanzhong, Xixiang, Zhenba, and other counties and cities. The main varieties include Shangxian sweet cherry, Lantian agate cherry, Luonan sour cherry, and Zhenba large yellow cherry.

6. Chinese cherries in Sichuan Province are mainly distributed in Luzhou, Xuyong, Jiangjin, Xichang, the suburbs of Chongqing, and other counties and cities. The main varieties include Dahongpao cherry, Waizui cherry, Zihong cherry, Zhusha cherry, Tudinghong cherry, and the Xuyong selected superior single plant.

7. Taihe County in Anhui Province is a famous producing area of Chinese cherries, with main varieties including Dayingzui, Huangjin cherry, Jinhong cherry, Yinhong cherry, and Xinghuang cherry.