Cherry : Prunus avium ; Family: Rosaceae

The word cherry refers to a fleshy fruit (drupe) that contains a single stony seed. The cherry belongs to the family Rosaceae, genus Prunus, along with almonds, peaches, plums, apricots and bird cherries.

The word "cherry" comes from the French word "cerise", which comes in turn from the Latin words cerasum and Cerasus.

The Wild Cherry (P. avium) has given rise to the Sweet Cherry to which most cherry cultivars belong, and the Sour Cherry (P. cerasus) is used mainly for cooking. Both species originate in Europe and western Asia

Canned Cherries are red, tart, pitted cherries packed in water or syrup.If pitted, cherries are placed in water containing ascorbic acid to prevent stem-end discoloration. If canned unpitted, prick skins on opposite sides with a clean needle to prevent splitting. Cherries may be canned in water, apple juice, white-grape juice, or syrup.

Specifications: Cherries 54%, Syrup 46%

Quality: Bright, uniformly colored cherries that are mature.

The Food Standards for Canned Cherries, specify that "not more than 15 percent by count of the cherries in the container are blemished with scab, hail injury, discoloration, scar tissue or other abnormality. A cherry showing skin discoloration (other than scald) having an aggregate area exceeding that of a circle of 9/32 inch in diameter is considered to be blemished."
Canned Cherries Uses:

Cherry Fruits are naturally sweet and are low in fat and calories making them a great dessert or snack choice. Water-packed cherries are excellent in baked desserts like pies, cobblers, crisps, cakes, cookies and muffins.
Canned cherries can be used in dessert sauces for cakes, custards, ice cream and
Pan cakes.

Nutrition Information :

Cherries are part of the fruit group. Foods from the fruit group provide important
nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
Red cherries (Prunus cerasus) offer benefits for patients with autoimmune neurodegenerative and connective tissue diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Studies show that tart red cherries reduce pain and inflammation and also offer protection against cancer. These effects are caused by plant phytochemicals known as anthocyanins.