Scofield Fruits: The Best Source for Tart Cherries in Loveland, Colorado

Tart cherries, often called sour or pie cherries, are a treasured seasonal treat in Loveland, CO. With their bold flavor and incredible versatility, they remain one of our most in-demand offerings.

At Scofield Fruits in Loveland, Colorado, we provide the freshest Montmorency and Balaton tart cherries to our community. Whether you are a baker, home canner, or someone looking for a natural health boost, our high-quality cherries are the perfect choice.

Montmorency Tart Cherries: A Classic Favorite

Montmorency cherries are the most widely grown variety of tart cherries in the United States. They are known for their bright red skin and vibrant tartness, making them ideal for classic cherry pies, jams, and preserves. Their tangy flavor contrasts beautifully with sugar, making them a preferred choice for traditional and modern recipes alike.

Many customers enjoy Montmorency cherries for their distinct taste and culinary adaptability. When baked into a pie, their tartness balances the sweetness of the filling, creating a flavorful and satisfying dessert. Additionally, their acidity makes them an excellent choice for making juices, sauces, and even wine.

Balaton Tart Cherries: A Bold Alternative

Unlike Montmorency cherries, Balaton cherries have a darker red hue and a richer, slightly sweeter taste. Originating from Hungary, they are commonly used in European cuisines, particularly in Hungarian and Eastern European dishes. Their deep flavor profile makes them an excellent choice for fresh eating, baking, and preserving.

Balaton cherries are less commonly available in the United States, making them a unique offering at Scofield Fruits. Their intense flavor is perfect for making cherry-based desserts, sauces, and even savory dishes. If you are looking to try a new variety of tart cherries, Balaton cherries offer a unique and delicious alternative.

Health Benefits

Beyond their culinary uses, tart cherries are widely recognized for their numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that incorporating tart cherries into a balanced diet can provide several advantages:

• Rich in Antioxidants: Tart cherries contain high levels of anthocyanins, which help reduce inflammation and combat oxidative stress in the body.
• Improved Sleep Quality: Montmorency tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. Consuming tart cherry juice has been linked to better sleep duration and quality.
• Exercise Recovery: Athletes often use tart cherry juice to aid muscle recovery and reduce soreness after intense workouts.
• Heart Health: Regular consumption of tart cherries has been associated with reduced risks of heart disease and diabetes due to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Culinary Uses of Tart Cherries

Tart cherries are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Their bold flavor complements both sweet and savory dishes, making them a valuable ingredient for various culinary applications:

• Baking: Tart cherries are essential for pies, cobblers, muffins, and other desserts that require a balance of sweetness and acidity.
• Preserves and Jams: Their natural tartness makes them ideal for homemade preserves and jams, which pair well with toast, pastries, and cheeses.
• Beverages: Tart cherry juice is both a refreshing drink and a beneficial supplement for its health properties.
• Savory Dishes: Chefs and home cooks alike use tart cherries in sauces and glazes for meats like pork, duck, and chicken, adding depth and complexity to their dishes.

A Historic Crop: Loveland, Colorado

Loveland, Colorado, was once home to the largest cherry orchards west of the Mississippi River. In the early to mid-1900s, the area’s cool climate, fertile soil, and reliable irrigation made it ideal for growing fruit, especially tart cherries. Orchards stretched across the landscape, with rows of cherry trees dominating the foothills and valley floors.

The crown jewel of Loveland’s cherry industry was the Spring Glade Orchard, located just west of town. At its peak, Spring Glade was the largest tart cherry orchard west of the Mississippi River, producing more than $1 million worth of cherries annually, an extraordinary figure for the time.

Cherry harvesting was a community-wide event. Local families, migrant workers, and even schoolchildren participated in the harvest each summer. Canneries and packing houses in the area processed thousands of pounds of tart cherries every season, many of which were shipped nationwide for pies, preserves, and commercial baking. Fun fact – members of our own family worked in the orchard and cannery.

However, this golden era of cherry production began to fade in the 1950s and 1960s. Several key challenges contributed to the decline:

• Late spring frosts frequently damaged the cherry blossoms, reducing yields and threatening harvests.
• Urban expansion and rising property values made farming less feasible near city centers.
• Labor shortages and increased production costs created economic pressure on orchard owners.
• More profitable crops, such as corn and hay, replaced cherries in many areas.

By the 1970s, tart cherry production had nearly disappeared from Loveland. The once-bustling orchards were gradually replaced by housing developments and other forms of land use. Although a few widely scattered trees remain, large-scale cherry growing in Loveland became a thing of the past.

Keeping the Tart Cherry Craze Alive in Loveland

At Scofield Fruits, we are committed to preserving the legacy of tart cherries in Loveland. While we can no longer grow them locally, we honor their history by sourcing the best tart cherries from our neighboring state of Utah.

Utah is now one of the leading tart cherry producers in the country. Its high elevation, cool nights, and dry climate are ideal for growing Montmorency and Balaton cherries. We work with experienced Utah growers who share our dedication to quality and sustainability.

By bringing these cherries to Loveland, we help keep the tart cherry tradition alive, offering the same flavor, quality, and satisfaction our community has enjoyed for generations.

Ordering Fresh Tart Cherries from Scofield Fruits

At Scofield Fruits, we take pride in providing Loveland and the surrounding Northern Colorado communities with the highest quality tart cherries. Our cherries are available for a limited time each year, ensuring freshness and peak flavor.

We begin taking orders around June 1st for Montmorency and Balaton cherries. Customers can select from multiple quantity options, including 8-pound, 27-pound, and bulk orders of 600 pounds or more. We also offer both pitted and un-pitted options to meet different culinary needs.  Get on our Fresh Tart Cherries List today to be notified when we start taking orders. 

Pickup Details

Please note that our fresh tart cherries are available for pickup only at our Loveland fruit stand. We do not offer shipping for fresh cherries. To ensure optimal freshness, all orders must be collected within a designated three-day window. After fresh cherry orders are fulfilled, we also offer frozen tart cherries in 8-pound buckets or 2-pound bags for the remainder of the season.

Stay Updated

Because fresh tart cherries are only available for a short time each year, we encourage customers to join our Fresh Tart Cherries List. By signing up, you will receive timely notifications about ordering and availability, ensuring you do not miss out on these seasonal treasures.

Scofield Fruits is committed to providing high-quality, locally sourced tart cherries to the Loveland community. Whether you are an experienced baker, a health-conscious consumer, or someone who simply enjoys the taste of fresh cherries, our fruit stand is your trusted source for premium tart cherries. Experience the difference that fresh, locally grown fruit can make in your culinary creations.