The Hallmark Cherry

Our Cherries are all picked by hand. To ensure quality and freshness we consistently test for the natural sugar levels, firmness and temperature. The timing we pick has to be just right.

 Every decision made throughout the whole growing, harvesting and marketing process is about maximising freshness, crunchiness and the flavour of the Cherry.
 
Our Cherries are a delicate piece of fruit that has been nurtured from our tree to your table, delivering the best eating experience to the Consumer.

The Hallmark Cherry Harvest

Our Cherry harvest runs for the duration of November, December & early January.

Our Cherries are picked starting early in the morning, they are hydro-cooled and refrigerated to 4-8 Degrees Celsius within one hour of harvest, to seal the freshness.

Our Cherries are packed throughout the day in modern post-harvest cooling and food safety accredited packing facilities.

Our Cherries are further cooled, transported overnight and distributed in the early hours of the morning to ensure our Cherries are received fresh by you.

Only Cherries of the finest quality and freshness are selected for the Hallmark Cherries box so that when the box is received by you (the Consumer) the Cherries are fresh, crunchy and delectable to eat.

"The stem of a Cherry dictates the shelf life of the Cherry, so a good healthy green stem is its own inbuilt nature’s date stamp." - Lucinda Burgess

Cherry Product Care

Once you have received some of our premium Hallmark Cherries be sure to use the guide below to care and further prolong the life of your Cherries.


Storage for Fresh Consumption

Cherries need to be kept in cold storage (1-2 degrees Celsius) immediately after purchase.  
Storing your Cherries in the coldest part of your fridge with the bag we provided and only washing your Cherries prior to eating is preferable. If they are washed prior to them being put in your fridge it is important to dry them thoroughly with a paper towel. The Cherries will soak up moisture causing them to swell and split if left wet. Leave the stems attached until just prior to consumption, as the stem denotes the freshness of the Cherry. Storing as indicted above will help to prolong the shelf-life of your Cherries.


Storage for Use Later/ How to Freeze Cherries

Cherries are always best eaten fresh, there is however the ability to freeze them to use them at a later date. Freezing them does alter the texture and are therefore not eaten as they were fresh. Frozen Cherries are ideal for Ice-creams, Smoothies, Desserts, Pies, Jams, Chutneys and other similar recipes for blending or baking at a later stage. Freezing them is the best way to preserve the flavour without the help of sugars and additives.

Cherries can be stored frozen for up to 4-6 months, if stored correctly. First, wash the Cherries in cold water. Gently remove the stems and pits. Dry the Cherries with paper towel. Then freeze the Cherries whole, in a single layer on a baking sheet. This prevents the Cherries freezing in one big clump. Once frozen, the individual Cherries can then be transferred to store for longer in a freezer safe container or freezer safe zip- lock bag. It is important to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Lastly label each bag or container with "Hallmark Cherries" and the date and store in the freezer.

Cherry Nutrition and Health Benefits

Our Cherries are sweet and bursting with nutritional health benefits. Cherries are naturally rich in antioxidants vitamin C, potassium and fibre. Cherries are one of nature’s super foods.

1 cup of our Cherries per day is a recommended daily amount and will provide the following health benefits:

• Antioxiadants – prevents damage caused by free radicals and assisting in the prevention of the onset of several chronic diseases.
• Melatonin – assists in regulating sleep cycles.
• Anti- Inflammatory – aids in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and gout.
• Fibre – promotes digestion, lowers cholesterol, prevents constipation and aids in weight loss.
• Potassium – helps the heart and kidneys functioning well and supports the body’s digestive and muscular systems.
• Vitamin C – boosts immunity and protects us from bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and allows the body to absorb iron.