Last week, I was strolling through a neighborhood farmer’s market when I came upon a display of cherries. Knowing that the only cherries being sold in Edmonton are from California, I gave the display my full attention.

Although the fruit was dark and ripe looking, the stems were drying and turning splotchy brown. The cherry attendant, a young 20 something lady, was explaining to a prospective customer that the cherries came from a farm south of Oliver. Of course that caught my ear, and I said to myself, yes, a farm some 1000 km south of Oliver in a location called California!

I could have taken the attendant to task, but I always think that it is up to the buyer to educate oneself as to what is right or wrong. Scolding the attendant will not stop the lies, but lack of buyers might.

Today I was in a one of the larger grocery store chains. The display of California cherries was impressive. The fruit was purple, well sized, and the stems were fresh and green. All the bags were marked “California” or “USA” grown, no mistaking there.

I wanted to buy some to see what the flavour was like but fresh cherries give me cankers. I will wait for the Okanagan cherries and suffer through the cankers then.

As a child, I could eat cherries all week long and be canker free, and maybe into the second week suffer bouts of diarrhea. Today, the cankers come first and the diarrhea is lurking around the corner if I don’t heed the canker warning.

I’ve discovered the best way to enjoy cherries is dried. I’ll buy a big bag from a local grower and eat them all year. I’ve not tried them in oatmeal but I bet they would be better than raisins.