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There is something hard to  resist about cherries. The small red fruit is a popular seasonal food around the world. In northern areas, cherry trees are just beginning to produce flowers.
   Cherries are thought to be native to western Asia. There are two major kinds of cherries harvested in the world: sour and sweet.
   Sour cherries are not eaten fresh because they contain little sugar. Instead, they are processed to make prepared foods like jellies and pies and to make alcoholic drinks. The United States is a major producer of sour cherries. Among the states, Michigan is the top producer. Russia, Poland and Turkey are other important  cherry-producing nations.
   Sweet cherries contain much more sugar than their sour relatives and are usually eaten fresh. Washington State is the biggest American producer, followed by California and Oregon. The United States, Iran and Turkey are major producers of sweet cherries.  In the United States, production fell by twenty percent last year after a record harvest in two thousand four.
   Fresh cherries do not store well. They must reach the market as soon as possible. So they cost more than many other kinds of flesh fruit.
   Cherry trees are also valued for their springtime blossoms.  Cherry blossoms are popular in many parts of Asia and Europe.