I bought some Spanish cherries yesterday from the Sainsburys
They were in a punnet not loose so that meant I couldn't taste one before buying them.
Usually when I buy fruit if I can I will always try one just in case they are tasteless or sour
Anyway I tried them today and they were tasteless, I was so disappointed as they looked lovely all dark red, large and shiny.

Then I thought of Annie, she was an old lady I visited every weekend.
Annie was 99 when she died just days short of her 100 birthday, she was born 12.12.1912.
I hope if I reach that age I will be as alert as Annie her mind and brain where so sharp.
We did The Daily Star crossword each weekend which she loved doing, she had her dictionary ready to look up words we didn't know the meaning of.
One thing she did say to me that I had forgotten was "Maddie never buy cherries that aren't Turkish they are the best cherries money can buy."
So the next cherries I buy will be Turkish. and as I eat them think of the lovely Annie) who I do miss a lot.

Ahh nice story. I love good cherries to a completely unreasonable degree. Now I will be looking out for Turkish ones and when I find some and bite into their sweet, juicy, deliciousness I will think of your Annie and smile.

I hate it when you buy fruit and it's crap, I'm not cheeky enough to eat some on the way round, I'd probably get done for shoplifting.

After hearing Anton Mosimann say that is what he did. I thought good idea, so whenever I can that is what I do.
You know the bags with some kind of zip on that grapes are in sometimes, welI I undo those and try a couple one is sometimes not enough.
Another thing I do is to give the apples a goodsniff, if there is no smell I don't buy.

And the staff don't ever tell you not to? I swear I'd get told off if I tried to.

I had the crappiest plum I've ever had this morning, I hate those tesco ripen at home packs!!

It's the same with most stone fruit these days and don't get me started on avocados never ripening properly then going off.

Best cherries I used to have were on the market stalls, no idea where they were from mind.

No problems at all even though I have been seen they just turn a blind eye, I have seen other customers do this so maybe it is an accepted thing now, try before you buy. I say.
I would never pick up an apple, orange, pear etc to try just the small loose fruit.
Same with tomatoes, I always buy the loose ones , you can sniff them and feel if they are to soft.

A couple of weeks ago I bought two bags of small Gala apples from Tesco, which I assumed were part of this new policy to sell odd-sized fruit and veg that was previously rejected. They seemed a bargain at only 60p a bag, upon which was the promise that they were as succulent and tasty as their normal range. They were inedible; yet another case of fruit being picked about a month before it is fully ripe and stored for months on end in some kind of a gas cloud. Part of me wonders if they do this deliberately to put people off buying anything other than their premium ranges.

I eat a lot of cherries and they vary a lot throughout the year. A couple of weeks ago there were some excellent Chilean ones, at the moment they are mostly from NorthWest USA and a bit bland. Turkish ones will start in a couple of weeks, then British ones will be available about Wimbledon time, depending on the weather.

What do you reckon Annie would vote on Turkey joining the EU and GB remaining/exiting?

i always leave my avocados on my kitchen window sill until i want them and i swear they never fail to ripen.

I wouldn't presume how she would vote,
Sorry I can't answer your question.

I cannot remember the last time I had a peach, nectarine or cherry bought in the UK that tasted of anything and don't get me started on strawberries! Thankfully our neighbour grows these and often hands us a bowl of them - they are so tasty and bring back wonderful memories. I am definitely going to grow my own when I get the chance.

The best fruit I have ever had was from an organic fruit stall at a farmer's market in Santa Cruz - the fruits were HUGE, we bought peaches and pears - they were dripping with juice, so tasty. Ridiculously expensive though!

I'm the same. I love all fruit but I would say cherries are my absolute favourite. I could quite easily buy a large bag of cherries and eat them all myself.

You can get good fruit but only when it is authenically in season - so French peaches are good in July, English Victoria Plums are good in September, Turkish figs in October etc etc.

Maddie , love your cherry anecdote so I will try Annie's tip and buy some Turkish cherries.

I will compare them with British variety cherries which will be available late summer and let you know.