06/08/2025
Remember the Black Republican cherry tree? Every year I tend to post about it. It’s a tree that was planted by my dearest old neighbor Wally Wollam, in 1965 I think. He planted, pruned and tended it, and he told us its story.
It was produced around 1860 in Oregon and named by the breeder to show his Abolitionist beliefs. The fruit of the Black Republican is small, firm, and deep purple in color, with an intense and delicious black cherry flavor, sweet and rich with a hint of almond. It was a very important commercial cherry in the Pacific Northwest and also one of the parents of the bing cherry, which is more common the find these days. But nothing surpasses the flavor of the Black Republican cherry!
Over the years, and after we lost Wally, the tree has mysteriously shifted into my yard. The new owner doesn’t seem to notice and I feel like it’s Wally’s hand at work! 🥰 And so I love this special cherry tree and spend hours picking and pitting the abundant crop she gives me every year. Then I use them for all my black cherry jams, including 2 Cherries Jam, a mixture with the Montmorency pie cherry tree that I also have growing at the Farmlet.
This year I’m selling containers of both (Montmorency will be ripe in a week) on the FarmStand or in the Farmlet fridge. Come and get them! The black cherries are great for fresh eating or pit them and make some jam! The Montmorency are great for pies as well as jam.
PS I use a large paper clip for pitting and it really goes fast. If you have any questions just send me a message💚