Cherry Fest is in full swing around here! We love celebrating all things cherry, especially when they’re at their seasonal sweetest. You too can join in on our cheery cherry festivities by picking up cherries for $2.99 a pound when they go on sale this Friday. (It’s a one day only sale, so make sure you stop in on Friday, July 8^th to catch this deal!)

$x.xx = amount of savings will vary

How do you pick the best cherries? Here are some tips that we like to follow:

• Check the stems—fresh cherries have green stems
• Give them a feel—cherries should be firm, no soft spots or bruising
• Look for the good color—ideally deep, bright red to mahogany
• Give them the once over—fruit should be free of insect damage and pitting (little indentations caused by dehydration)
• Give them a taste—be sure the amount of sugar in the fruit is high (also called the Brix Test)

If you love cherries like I do and just can’t get enough, check out these recipes to plan a meal featuring cherries in every dish—perfect for a cherry-themed summer dinner party! Extra sweets: For a no-heat dessert treat, try this No-Cook Cherry Vanilla Pudding with Lemon Wafers. And we would be completely remiss if we didn’t mention a classic cherry pie! Still can’t get enough cherry goodness? Find more cherry recipes here. What will you do with your cherries this summer?