Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Up North Blog | Cherry Republic
Left Continue shopping
Your Order

You have no items in your cart

Our Favorite Recipes

Up North Blog

Easter dessert ideas on a wooden cutting board: sliced Cherry Coffee Bundt cake and Black Forest Fluff pound cake

Easter Dessert Ideas: Cherry Cakes for Spring Celebrations

Celebrate spring with Easter dessert ideas that feel bright, shareable, and just a little special. Cherry cakes bring the ruby-red hue and sweet and tangy flavor—whether you’re hosting brunch, finishing dinner with dessert, or sending a treat to family and friends.

Read more
A bowl of yogurt topped with granola, strawberries, blackberries, and dried cherries, with a hand holding a spoon above it, next to a larger bowl of granola on a wooden table

11 Delicious Things to Do With Dried Cherries

Wondering what to do with dried cherries? Explore delicious recipes that use this versatile pantry staple in baked goods, salads, snacks, and more. These easy ideas show how dried cherries can add texture and a pop of fruity flavor to everyday dishes.

Read more
Bless the Buds and Blossoms 2026 Campaign 

Bless the Buds and Blossoms 2026 Campaign 

Thank you for showing interest in joining our Bless the Buds and Blossoms Campaign.  It doesn’t require much, just understanding our situation and sending all the cherry farmers and their families some good energy.  And with all that good energy and understanding swirling around the north, it just may turn our farmers' and cherry processors' fortunes around.   
Hey, just so you know—Cherry Republic is going to be fine.  We have the back-up plans in place to come out in decent shape no matter what the weather tosses us in 2026.  I’ll tell you about some of Cherry Republic’s special 2026 cherry plans in future Orchard Reports.  No need to waste a bit of worry on Cherry Republic—just do what you always do with us: enjoy. 
Here is the issue though:  For the last two years, our winters have been just warm enough that the cherry trees bud and blossom a tad earlier in the spring, yet we still have the challenging cold spells in late April and May that freeze the vulnerable early buds and blossoms.  Let’s pray for cold these next few weeks, which is thankfully predicted by the weathermen and women, because the colder the winter stays into the spring, the better for the trees to produce blossoms later in May, shortly after the frost season.    
For much of the 2026 winter, it has been wonderfully cold and snowy, which has kept our trees happily and safely dormant.  Unfortunately, we had a warm several days with a day that reached 61 degrees.  We never know exactly how much a few warm days and nights will affect the crop, but there isn’t a farmer or person in the cherry industry who is sleeping soundly right now. If you add a few other challenges beyond frost, like a new pest attacking the cherries, and labor shortages and having lost some national accounts due to the instability of our cherry crops.  It all means a downsizing is happening in the cherry industry across the north.   
In this challenge, some farmers have shrunken down their cherry orchards.  The farm in the photo above is just two miles from my house.  He was so intent on pulling his cherry trees, he used two excavators instead of just one. You can see the black patch on the left of the photo where he created a pile of the limbs and burned them.   
It isn’t pretty to hear about, but that field will be beautiful this summer and with just half his orchard, this farmer can spend twice as much time with his family.   
But it would be nice for this farmer and all farmers to be excited about a sweet and beautiful cherry crop this summer.  And just like many of our customers taking a moment to bless the blossoms and buds in spring of 2013, which helped bring on a good crop later that summer, let's all join in Blessing the Blossoms with the trust and belief that the same thing can happen this year.  
And while you are blessing those blossoms, take a moment to bless your family, your work, your neighbors, and everyone in your lives.  It makes a difference.   

Bless you.   
Sincerely, all my blessings to you and your family, 
Bob Sutherland
Read more
Clear wine glass with red wine on a wooden table

What Goes with Cherry Wine? Food Pairings That Just Work

Cherry wine spans sweet, semi-dry, and everything in between—making it surprisingly more versatile at the table than most expect. Discover which foods pair best with fruit-forward wines, along with occasion-ready combinations for weeknights, date nights, celebrations, and other special moments.

Read more
Chocolate-covered cherries in white paper cups on a glass platter atop a wooden table

Cherry-Filled Valentine’s Day Treats They’ll Love at First Bite

Valentine’s Day treats don’t have to be over-the-top to feel personal. Cherry-forward favorites keep it warm and easy—chocolate-covered classics, tangy gummies with a little bite, and snack boxes for couch dates or long-distance surprises. Hand one over in person, or send it to their doorstep. Either way, it won’t last long.

Read more
A bowl of chocolate-covered cherries from Cherry Republic

Why Michigan's Chocolate-Covered Cherries Are Worth Returning To

Michigan’s chocolate-covered cherries have repeat appeal for a reason. From their tart cherry tang to their luscious chocolate coatings, this article explores why Michigan’s favorite fruity confection delivers a better bite. The Mitten State’s cherry treats are so easy to enjoy that it’s hard to settle for anything else.

Read more
A Valentine’s gift box wrapped in brown paper with a bright red ribbon on a dark surface

Best Valentine’s Gift Boxes Filled with Cherry Favorites

This Valentine’s Day, last-minute gifts just won’t do. Show your love with Valentine’s gift boxes filled with Cherry Republic favorites—thoughtfully curated for partners, friends, and family. Perfect for when you want your gesture to feel sweet, meaningful, and genuinely heartfelt.

Read more
31 Days of Giving: Agriculture, Food & Community

31 Days of Giving: Agriculture, Food & Community

We at Cherry Republic appreciate our customers' support and interest in helping farmers survive and thrive in their careers.  There are lots of organizations in northern Michigan working to help our northern Michigan farmers thrive (or at least make a decent living doing this fundamental work that we all depend on).  These are the groups Cherry Republic has chosen to support with our 2025 31 Days of Giving:
 
Crosshatch     
Groundworks 
Leelanau Conservancy             
Lively Farms/Neighborfoods    
Little Traverse Conservancy 
Legacy Conservancy 
GTR Land Conservancy            
Leelanau Hort Station                
Cherry Marketing Institute     
Michigan Farmers Union          
Grow Benzie    
Bluebird Farm, Empire               
Michigan Farm2Neighbor       
Read more
Sparkling wine being poured into a glass at a holiday table with red candles

Sip-Worthy Cherry Wine Gifts to Toast the Holidays in Style

Gift-giving calls for something a little more memorable than your classic cabernet or chardonnay. This guide explores cherry pours with vibrant color, fruit-forward flavor, and just enough zing to stand out, helping you choose memorable wine gifts for everyone on your holiday list.

Read more
31 Days of Giving: Environment

31 Days of Giving: Environment

For the past 25 years, Cherry Republic has focused our giving on protecting Michigan's environment. To those organizations working to protect our groundwater, lakes, air, and land. It's truly about supporting good people doing good things and over the years, we've become friends with these hard workers fighting for everything we love about Michigan.  

This week, Cherry Republic proudly gives our largest checks to the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Our President, Bob Sutherland has been a board member for 10 years and loves their work balancing out how our state officials are influenced.  We also give a large check to For the Love of Water.  FLOW is focused on protecting our ground water, our lakes, our rivers from agricultural run-off, from PFAS, and the hundreds of other threats the Great Lakes basin, the largest resource of fresh water in the world, face each day.  A third large check goes to the Legal Team working to stop Line 5.  This terrible threat to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is stuck in the courts; we want to make sure the legal team has the resources to win.

A goal of Cherry Republic's is to be consistent.  Once we find a strong organization working in Michigan, we send consistent checks year after year.  There are 18 organizations receiving checks again in Cherry Republic's 2025 31 days of Giving Program.  

"Please, anyone, everyone, consider giving to these terrific organizations working to protect and even improve the quality of life in our great state." - Bob Sutherland

 Here are the organizations:

Michigan League of Conservation Voters    
Michigan Environmental Council    
National Wildlife Federation    
Little Traverse Lake Association    
Glen Lake Association    
Citizens Climate Education    
Great Lake Business Network    
Flow    
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Alliance    
Leslie Science and Nature Center    
Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council    
TART Trails    
Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes   
Michigan Climate Action Network    
Stop Line 5 Legal Team     
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear    
Circle of Blue  
Read more
31 Days of Giving: Those in Need

31 Days of Giving: Those in Need

--On the Second week of December, Cherry Republic gives to--

Last week, Cherry Republic gave to organizations working toward ending the housing crisis in Michigan.  This week, we are focusing our donations on helping our most vulnerable and strengthening the network of organizations that are there to help families caught in a challenging moment.  

Years ago, when Cherry Republic didn't have much money to donate, we focused our giving on the environment.  It was important, because it didn't feel like any companies were giving to protect the wilds.  Today, thanks to so many customers that support our programs, we have much more in our pool of money we've raised over this year.  We are able to give to more causes-- a big one today is helping those in need. 

This week, Cherry Republic gives to those families in our community that need a helping hand.  Here is a list of the organizations that are making a difference here in Michigan.  The average donation is $6,500 and there are 22 different organizations.  Please consider joining us with a contribution to one of these organizations below.  

-Bob

5 Loaves 2 Fish    
Goodwill of Northern Michigan    
Empire Area Community Center    
Leelanau Christian Neighbors    
Women's Resource Center    
Grow Benzie    
Washtenaw Camp Placement Association    
Glen Lake Community Schools Boosters and Foundation    
Norte    
St Phillip Neri Catholic Church    
The Leelanau School    
Traverse Health Clinic    
Northern Michigan Supportive Housing    
Helplink
City Rescue Mission of Saginaw    
Community Action House    
Friendship Community Center    
Seeds   
Justice and Peace Advocacy Center    
Youthwork Core    
Lift    
Village Focus  
Read more
Gift box wrapped in brown paper and twine, decorated with evergreen sprigs and red berries

14 Holiday Food Gifts Made with Michigan’s Finest Cherries

Nothing suits the holidays better than food gifts, especially when they’re packed with Northern Michigan’s tart cherries. From sweet treats and savory bites to festive gift boxes, these cherry-filled holiday gifts bring joy, nostalgia, and big flavor to every celebration.

Read more
564 results