International Cherry Pit Spitting Day

International Cherry Pit Spitting Day takes place on the first Saturday of July each year, celebrating the peak of cherry season. This lighthearted event brings people together to compete in spitting cherry pits as far as possible. Beyond the competition, the day is a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of dishes, desserts, and drinks made with cherries.

History

Cherries have been enjoyed as food since ancient times. The Romans and Chinese dynasties regularly included these small red fruits in their diets. In the 1600s, European settlers brought cherry trees to North America, and by 1852, cherry farming took off in the United States when Peter Dougherty planted cherry trees on Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula. The Midwest’s climate proved ideal for cherry production, leading to a thriving industry.

Traverse City Canning was one of the first companies to process cherries on a large scale. In the 1890s, merchants from the Balkans and northern Italy popularized dessert cherries by adding liquor to them, inspiring a similar treat in the U.S. by 1896, though with less alcohol and more almond flavoring.

International Cherry Pit Spitting Day originated in 1974 when Herb Teichman organized a pit-spitting competition on his fruit farm in Eau Claire, Michigan. The event quickly became an annual tradition, with participants testing their skills in cherry pit propulsion.

Interesting Facts

• The world record for cherry pit spitting is 100 feet 4 inches.
• During the 20th century, Great Britain lost 90% of its cherry orchards due to wartime agricultural shifts.
• Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher, recorded one of the earliest mentions of cherries in his book History of Plants in 300 BC.

How to Take Part

Celebrate International Cherry Pit Spitting Day by visiting a U-Pick farm in Michigan, Oregon, or California, where you can harvest fresh cherries. Enjoy a cherry-based dish or drink, or participate in the Cherry Pit Spit Championship. Whether for fun or competition, the day is all about embracing the joy of cherries.

When is International Cherry Pit Spitting Day in 2025?

International Cherry Pit Spitting Day is observed on the first Saturday of July each year.

Observations