Usually ready around the end of June, beginning of July.

Benefits of Montmorency Cherries

Montmorency cherries contain vitamins, antioxidant compounds and fiber, which may help decrease the risk of a variety of serious medical problems. Also known as tart or pie cherries, Montmorency cherries are the most widely cultivated type of sour cherry in the United States. These cherries are available fresh during July and August, but are most often consumed canned, frozen or dried. Sour cherries like the Montmorency are a rich source of vitamins A and C.

In a study of over 600 people with gout, those who ate only a ½-cup serving of cherries a day, the equivalent of about 10 or 12 cherries, or consumed cherry extract, had a 35 percent lower risk of a subsequent gout attack.⁵ Those who ate more cherries, up to three servings in two days, had an even lower, 50 percent reduction in risk.

Gout occurs when the metabolic processes that control the amount of uric acid in your blood fail to do their job effectively. The stiffness and swelling are a result of excess uric-acid-forming crystals in your joints, and the pain associated with this condition is caused by your body’s inflammatory response to the crystals. Past studies have found:

• Eating two servings of cherries after an overnight fast lead to a 15 percent reduction in uric acid, and lower nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels (which are associated with inflammatory diseases like gout).

The researchers noted the study supports “the reputed anti-gout efficacy of cherries” as well as “evidence that compounds in cherries may inhibit inflammatory pathways.”