The Story of Tart Cherries

The Story of Tart Cherries: A Look at Their History, Flavor, and Tradition

Tart cherries have been part of American food culture for generations. Known for their bright red color and distinctive flavor, these cherries have long been enjoyed fresh, dried, and in juice form. Their culinary versatility and rich heritage have made them a staple ingredient in many homes and recipes.

Interest in tart cherries expanded in the mid-20th century, when stories began circulating about people incorporating cherries more regularly into their meals. One frequently retold account is from the 1950s. A doctor who shared his personal experience of eating cherries and choosing to explore them further. His curiosity eventually led him to conduct a small informal survey of people who enjoyed cherries as part of their everyday diet. His write-up appeared in Prevention Magazine and helped bring wider public awareness to cherries at a time when little was known about them outside of baking and cooking.

As attention grew, researchers became more interested in the fruit itself — not for medical purposes, but for understanding its place in American agriculture and food culture. This curiosity led to several early nutritional studies examining cherries simply as a fruit: their color, their natural compounds, and how they fit into a typical diet. These studies focused on the nutritional makeup of cherries, much like studies performed on blueberries, grapes, and other deeply colored fruits.

Tart Cherries in Modern Food Culture

Today, Montmorency tart cherries — especially those grown in Michigan — are widely appreciated for a variety of reasons:

  • Their bright, bold flavor

  • Their deep red color

  • Their popularity in pies, sauces, snacks, and beverages

  • Their long agricultural heritage in the Great Lakes region

Tart cherry juice concentrate, dried cherries, cherry capsules, and cherry powders have become common ingredients in kitchens across the country. Many people enjoy adding them to smoothies, trail mixes, baked goods, or simply as a flavorful drink.

Fresh tart cherries remain a seasonal favorite, particularly during the summer harvest. Michigan has become known for producing high-quality tart cherries, and their availability has helped support local growers and family farms for generations.

Cherry Products You Can Enjoy Year-Round

Traverse Bay Farms offers a wide range of cherry-based foods crafted from Montmorency tart cherries:

Make sure to check out our website to see all of the Montmorency, Michigan cherry products we offer. Learn how to buy 100% pure tart cherry juice.

Learn more about Cherry Juice Health Benefits Ranked

 

Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program — Frequently Asked Questions

The Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program (also called "Join the Club") is a free customer loyalty program at traversebayfarms.com.

Members earn points for creating an account, making purchases, following Traverse Bay Farms on social media, and referring friends, then redeem those points for money-off discount codes at checkout.

Below are answers to the most common questions about how to join, earn points, and redeem rewards.

Joining the program

Is the Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program free to join?

Yes. The Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program is completely free.

There is no membership fee and no purchase required to join — you simply create a free account at traversebayfarms.com to start earning points.
How do I join the Traverse Bay Farms Rewards Program?

Joining takes three steps:

(1) Sign up by creating a free account at traversebayfarms.com,
(2) earn points every time you shop and through other rewarded actions, and
(3) redeem your points for exclusive discount rewards.

You can join by clicking "Join Now" on the rewards page. Existing customers can click "Log In" to access their points.
Do I get points just for signing up?

Yes. When you create your free Traverse Bay Farms account you earn a one-time welcome bonus of 25 points. This is credited automatically once your account is set up.

Earning Points

How do I earn points at Traverse Bay Farms?

You earn points at Traverse Bay Farms in several ways:

- 100 points for creating an account,
- 1 point for every $1.00 you spend,
- 100 points on your birthday, 25 points for visiting the Traverse Bay Farms Facebook page,
- 50 points for sharing the Traverse Bay Farms website on Facebook,
- 10 points for following Traverse Bay Farms on Instagram,
- 200 points for each friend you successfully refer.
How many points do I earn per dollar spent at Traverse Bay Farms?

You earn 1 point for every $1.00 you spend at Traverse Bay Farms.

For example, a $50 order earns 50 points. Points from purchases are added to your rewards account automatically.
Do I get birthday points from Traverse Bay Farms?

Yes. Traverse Bay Farms rewards members with 100 points on their birthday each year. Add your birthday to your account profile so the points can be applied.
Can I earn points by following Traverse Bay Farms on social media?

Yes. Traverse Bay Farms gives points for social actions:

- 25 points for visiting the Traverse Bay Farms Facebook page,
- 50 points for sharing the Traverse Bay Farms website on Facebook,
- 10 points for following Traverse Bay Farms on Instagram.

These are typically one-time bonuses per action.

Redeeming Points

What rewards can I redeem my points for?

Traverse Bay Farms members redeem points for money-off discount codes at checkout. The reward tiers are:

- 350 points for $10.00 off,
- 700 points for $20.00 off,
- 1,050 points for $30.00 off.


You choose the reward you want when you have enough points.
How many points do I need for a discount at Traverse Bay Farms?

At Traverse Bay Farms,

- 350 points gets you $10.00 off your order,
- 700 points gets you $20.00 off,
- 1,050 points gets you $30.00 off.

You can save your points until you reach the reward tier you want.
How do I redeem my Traverse Bay Farms points?

Redeeming points is easy. Click "Redeem My Points" in the rewards panel and select an eligible reward (for example, $10.00 off for 350 points). You'll receive a discount code — copy that code and paste it into your shopping cart during checkout. The code is also emailed to you for convenience.
Where do I enter my Traverse Bay Farms reward code?

Paste your reward discount code into the discount-code field in your shopping cart during checkout at traversebayfarms.com.

The same code is emailed to you, so you can also copy it from your email if you check out later.
How do I check my Traverse Bay Farms points balance?

Log in to your Traverse Bay Farms account at traversebayfarms.com and open the rewards panel to see your current points balance and the rewards you can redeem.

Referring Friends

How does the Traverse Bay Farms refer-a-friend program work?

With the Traverse Bay Farms referral program, you give friends 10% off their first purchase of $30.00 or more, and you earn 200 points for each friend who makes a successful referral purchase.

Share your referral link from your rewards account to get started.
How much is a Traverse Bay Farms referral worth?

Each successful referral earns you 200 points at Traverse Bay Farms, and your referred friend gets 10% off their first order of $30.00 or more.

Referral points can be combined with your other points toward reward tiers ($10, $20, or $30 off).