Rainier

Rainier is a premium yellow-blush sweet cherry developed in 1952 at Washington State University by Harold Fogle, a cross of Bing and Van, named for Mount Rainier. It is one of the most prized dessert cherries, commanding high prices for its beauty and flavor. The large fruits have thin golden-yellow skin with a bright red blush and firm, pale yellow flesh that is exceptionally sweet with low acidity. Rainier is self-unfruitful and needs a pollinizer such as Bing or Van; it also serves as a good pollinizer itself. The delicate skin bruises and cracks easily and birds heavily favor the yellow fruit, so protection is often needed. It thrives in climates with warm dry summers and adequate winter chill.