Mariano's cherries are going up to $4.99 a pound starting 8/10.

If it's any consolation I was in Europe last week and produce prices there are considerably higher than they were pre-COVID.

I went to the Wilmette Jewel on Green Bay about 6:30pm yesterday, and they still did not have the three pound packages of cherries. They instead had bags of cherries for $2.99 a pound, and so I bought two pounds of cherries. I did not see anybody in produce to ask if they had any in back. I did not go to customer service to get a rain check, because they probably are not going to carry them any more since they are not on sale.

NFriday wrote:I went to the Wilmette Jewel on Green Bay about 6:30pm yesterday, and they still did not have the three pound packages of cherries. They instead had bags of cherries for $2.99 a pound, and so I bought two pounds of cherries. I did not see anybody in produce to ask if they had any in back. I did not go to customer service to get a rain check, because they probably are not going to carry them any more since they are not on sale.

I talked to the produce manager at Highland Park's Jewel. There were issues with supply of the plastic containers. I could take up to three pounds in plastic bags for the price of $1.99 per pound. When the price rang up for $2.99 at self-check out, the employee adjusted it down to $1.99 per pound.

Regards,
Cathy2

I did not think the cherries I got at Jewel last night were as good as the ones I got last time anyway, and so I would not have wanted three pounds of them anyway. I have lots of peaches I bought at the farmers market, some blueberries, half of a tropical melon, and two mangos left over from a few weeks ago, and so I did not need the third pound of cherries. Those are probably going to be the last cherries I buy until next year.

This is SO anecdotal but I don't think anything will ever top the 2020 PNW dark sweet cherry crop quality-wise. That was a year during which, for whatever reasons, the cherries were consistently sensational for a relatively long stretch. It felt virtually can't-miss. It didn't matter where I bought them, they seemed to be outstanding everywhere we shopped. Large, dark, firm fruit that was nicely balanced between sweet and acidic.

I thought last year was a major step down from 2020 with lots of small, sour, soft fruit. This year has been better than last but still pretty inconsistent. After some early ups and downs, our last few bags from Jewel have been very good. Hoping this portends a strong and plentiful end to the season.

=R=

I continue to be encouraged that the end of the sweet cherry season will be a strong one. Not inexpensive but the 2-pound pack of Nature's Candy-brand sweet cherries at Costco ($7.99) are outstanding, some of the best I've had this year. Very firm, with a great balance between sweet and tart. I really want to go back and grab some more but we're very long on cherries right now and I'm not sure I can get through what we already have on hand while they're still in good shape.

Ah, seasonality. I love you and hate you all at once!!

=R=

I was in Aldi's today, and their cherries were $3.69 a pound, and Target's cherries were $8.69 a pound. I was also in the Evanston Chicago Ave Jewel store this evening, and all their Western cherries were $1.99 a pound. The sign said the sale price was good through 8/16. I don't know if that price is only good for that location or not, because the sale flyer said they were on sale for $4.99 this week.

I freeze a lot of cherries, some whole, some pitted, and make thick cherry syrup to freeze. Pitting 2 lbs at a time is a chore, but I'm glad to have them in the winter.

I haven't had such good luck freezing Rainier cherries, though. They turned an unappetizing brownish color when frozen. Maybe it would have helped if I'd blanched them before pitting and freezing.

$1.99/ lb @ Woodman’s

Dave148 wrote:$1.99/ lb @ Woodman’s

Did you buy any? If so, how were they?

=R=

Here is Arizona, Frys (Kroger) has advertised $1.99/ lb cherries three of the past five weeks. However, I have NOT been able to find any in stock.

Until today. The cherries were NOT from Washington nor California. Instead, they were from British Columbia.

jlawrence01 wrote:Here is Arizona, Frys (Kroger) has advertised $1.99/ lb cherries three of the past five weeks. However, I have NOT been able to find any in stock.

Until today. The cherries were NOT from Washington nor California. Instead, they were from British Columbia.

Still the PNW (or near enough), though, right? Did you buy any? If so, how were they?

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Dave148 wrote:$1.99/ lb @ Woodman’s

Did you buy any? If so, how were they?

=R=

Sorry, no. I don’t care for cherries.

Hmm, Woodman's Kenosha they were 3.99/lb last night. But different Woodmans often have different prices. And the excellent Big Smile peaches were down to 99 cents, so those filled my fruit needs.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

jlawrence01 wrote:Here is Arizona, Frys (Kroger) has advertised $1.99/ lb cherries three of the past five weeks. However, I have NOT been able to find any in stock.

Until today. The cherries were NOT from Washington nor California. Instead, they were from British Columbia.

Still the PNW (or near enough), though, right? Did you buy any? If so, how were they?

=R=

In total, I bought 12# and kept 2# for the house. The cherries were plump and juicy with no bad cherries. They had a great taste. Honestly, I would have frozen some of the cherries but I still have 8# of canned cherries in my pantry from 2021.

We do not get a lot of Canadian produce down here as the bulk of our berries are from Mexico except for California strawberries. We also get a lot of produce from Chile but not so much during the summer months.

I was at the Jewel on Chicago Avenue in Evanston last night to get some more $1.99 cherries, and I found out that they had gone up to $3.99 a pound. I ended up getting two pounds anyway. These are probably the last cherries I am buying this year. They are supposed to be $3.99 a pound this week too.

Earlier today, Jewel in Highland Park 'had' NW cherries for $3.99/pound, except they had no stock. WF in Deerfield had stock but for $7.99/pound.

=R=

Just got bing cherries for $1.99 at Fresh Farms in Wheeling. Good supply, all bags looked good, tasted a few at home before popping the rest in the fridge. I should have gotten more.

Katie wrote:Just got bing cherries for $1.99 at Fresh Farms in Wheeling. Good supply, all bags looked good, tasted a few at home before popping the rest in the fridge. I should have gotten more.

Oh it is Tuesday, I wonder if this price will stick until tomorrow morning.

Cathy2 wrote:

Katie wrote:Just got bing cherries for $1.99 at Fresh Farms in Wheeling. Good supply, all bags looked good, tasted a few at home before popping the rest in the fridge. I should have gotten more.

Oh it is Tuesday, I wonder if this price will stick until tomorrow morning.

Iirc, that's the cheapest price there all season. I don't think I've seen them there for less $2.99/# all season and even that was only for a single week.

=R=

I was in Jewel this evening, and they had lots of $3.99 a pound cherries at their Green Bay Wilmette store. Neither Jewel or Mariano's has cherries on sale this next week.

Cherries at Jewel are now $4.99 a pound, and they are the same price at Aldi's. The cherries at Aldi's are Canadian from BC.

Cherries are currently $4.99 a pound at both Walmart and Mariano's.

Cherries are going to be $4.88 a pound starting 8/31 at Jewel.

I saw 4.79/lb at Aldi and 3.99/lb at Garden Fresh Mundelein yesterday. The cherries were pretty small and dried up looking at both.
Bought some Thursday at Price Chopper in Kansas City, nice big Canadian cherries at 4.99/lb. $6+ of cherries lasted 3 days for one eater, a spendy treat.

$6.99/# at Sunset in Highland Park today. $7.99/# at WF in Deerfield yesterday.

=R=

$8.99/# at Fresh Farms Wheeling. Did not buy.

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They are $4.88 a pound at Jewel, and they are from Canada. They are not the best cherries I have had, but they are okay. I spent $13 on cherries yesterday.

I was at the Jewel on Chicago Ave. in Evanston today, and they had Washington cherries for $5.99.