What is a Double Cherry?

A double cherry is a cherry that consists of two fused cherries. This occurs when there are two full cherries that are connected. Another common occurrence is when one full cherry is connected to a small, raisin-like fruit. This second example is referred to as “spurring”. In both cases, the fruit is still good to eat.

Here is a better visual description of the difference between double cherries and spurs.

Other terms you might have heard mentioned to describe this type of fruit include: spurs, twin cherries, siamese cherries, conjoined cherries or fruit doubling.

What Causes Double Cherries to Form?

The fruit doubling is caused by environmental stress. After cherry season each year, the flower buds for the next season are formed. (To learn more about flower bud formation, see the Fruit Trees in Bloom post.) If the summer temperatures get too hot during the flower bud formation period, then this can lead to deformities in flowering and result in double fruiting. Studies have shown that problems arise once temperatures get greater than 86°F (30°C). Another factor is the cherry cultivar that is being grown, as some are more susceptible to double fruiting and spurring in higher temperatures.

Are Double Cherries Safe to Eat?

Yes. All forms of double cherries or spurs are safe to eat. For the cherry spurs, when the adjacent fruit is so small that it is basically just the seed, just remove and discard that portion and eat the regular cherry.

Where are You Most Likely to Find Double Cherries?

It is not common to find them in packs at traditional grocery stores (e.g., Costco, Safeway, Walmart), which are referred to as primary markets. You will maybe find a few random ones because most of the double cherries get sorted out during the packing process and are sent to a secondary market. These include produce markets, farmers markets, and also some smaller grocery chains (e.g., Cardenas Markets).

This can result in significantly higher production costs during warmer years, as workers need to spend more time sorting out the double cherries and spurs during the packing process.

Can I Use a Cherry Pitter with a Double Cherry?

Yes! Just remove the double cherry or spur, so there is only one seed and use it as you normally would. I have this cherry pitter that removes the seed from four cherries at a time, and have had zero issues with double cherries or spurs.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like reading:

• Why Are Cherries So Expensive?
• Fruit Trees in Bloom
• Harvesting and Packing Stone Fruit

Resources:

Haug, M. “Cherry.” UC Davis Fruit & Nut Research & Information Center. 2018. Web. 28 Apr 2018.

Schapiro, M. “Uncool Cherries.” KQED Science. 28 Sep 2012. Web. 28 Apr 2018.

Wenden, B., Campoy, J.A., Jensen, M. and Lopez-Ortega, G. “Climatic Limiting Factors: Temperature.” Cherries: Botany, Production and Uses. Ed. Jose Quero-Garcia, Amy Iezzoni, Joanna Putawska, Gregory Lang. Boston: CAB International, 2017. 166-188. Web. 28 Apr 2018.