FSR May 2023

First Course

Cherry F ever Step aside blood oranges, another red-tinted superfood is gaining popularity across restaurant menus: tart cherries. As the demand for less sweet foods and beverages continues trending, the interest in sour flavors and concoctions is concurrently rising. Product innovation featuring tart cherries is up 94 percent in the past six years , according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database . For example, Ruth’s Chris Steak House recently integrated the ingredient into a limited-time menu offering featuring a filet with brussels sprouts, potatoes, and dried tart cher ries. The year-round availability in various forms—from dried to canned to frozen to juiced and more—only helps the superfruit’s case. Here are some facts and stats about the tart treat from Datassential : [ Tart cherries are nutrient-dense and are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and copper, and research suggests Montmorency tart cherry juice may help aid exercise recovery

[ U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries contain natural melatonin , so try mixing some tart cherry juice in your herbal tea before bedtime as a sleep aid [ More than 80% of operators agree that the bright ruby-red color makes tart cherries an appealing option to add color in dishes

[ 70% of the nation’s tart cherries are grown in Michigan , while other top cherry producing

states include Utah, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania [ 70% of foodservice operators and consumers agree tart cherries are versatile for a variety of dishes, beverages, flavor combinations and dayparts

[ 92% of consumers prefer U.S.-grown tart cherries ver sus imported cherries

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MAY 2023

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