National Cherry Day
July 16
About National Cherry Day
National Cherry Day falls on Thursday, 16 July 2026. It is a British food day that celebrates the cherry while raising awareness of the steep decline in England’s cherry orchards. The day began as part of CherryAid, a campaign to protect and revive native cherry growing, and it now gives people a yearly reason to buy, cook and enjoy seasonal cherries.
How to Celebrate National Cherry Day
The whole point of the day is to get cherries onto your plate and into your shopping basket, so here are practical ways to take part:
- Buy British cherries – Mid-July is the peak of the English cherry harvest, so look for home-grown fruit at farm shops, greengrocers and supermarkets to support local growers directly.
- Bake a classic cherry pie – Few puddings say summer like a cherry pie or clafoutis. Use fresh stoned cherries while they are in season for the best flavour.
- Visit a pick-your-own orchard – Many Kent and Herefordshire farms open their gates in July. Picking your own is a cheap day out and shows children exactly where fruit comes from.
- Make cherry jam or compote – Preserving the glut means you can enjoy the taste of summer long after the season ends. A simple compote keeps for weeks in the fridge.
- Try a savoury cherry recipe – Cherries pair beautifully with duck, lamb and strong cheeses. A cherry salsa or a roast with cherry sauce shows off the fruit beyond pudding.
- Add cherries to breakfast – Stir fresh cherries through porridge, yoghurt or granola for an easy, colourful start to the day.
- Share the harvest – Drop a punnet round to a neighbour, take cherries into the office, or post your bakes online to spread the word about the day.
- Plant a cherry tree – The simplest long-term action of all. A garden cherry tree gives blossom in spring, fruit in summer and food for pollinators and birds for decades.
What is National Cherry Day?
National Cherry Day is an awareness day created in England to celebrate cherries and to highlight the loss of the country’s cherry orchards. It is aimed at home cooks, growers and anyone who wants to support British fruit farming. The day encourages people to buy seasonal cherries, cook with them, and think about where the fruit they eat is grown. Although it started as a British campaign, it has since grown into a wider celebration of cherries enjoyed by people in other countries too.
When is National Cherry Day?
National Cherry Day is held on 16 July each year. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday. The date was chosen deliberately because mid-July is the height of the English cherry season, unlike North America where cherries are usually harvested in June. The date has shifted slightly over the years: it was first marked on 19 July, moved to 18 July in its second year, and settled on 16 July.
The History of National Cherry Day
National Cherry Day was launched in England in 2008 by the British food writer Henrietta Green. It formed part of CherryAid, a campaign created to draw attention to the alarming decline of cherry orchards across England and Wales. Over the course of the twentieth century the country lost a huge proportion of its orchards, with some estimates putting the loss as high as 90 per cent. The result was that cherries became harder to find and increasingly had to be imported.
The cherry has deep roots in British growing, particularly in Kent, long known as the Garden of England, where traditional orchards once stretched across the countryside. As orchards were grubbed up for development or more profitable crops, the campaign argued that something culturally and environmentally valuable was being lost. Cherry blossom feeds early pollinators, mature trees support insects and birds, and the orchards themselves are part of the rural landscape.
What began as a focused awareness effort has gradually broadened. The day now serves two purposes at once: it reminds shoppers to seek out British cherries in season, and it gives cherry lovers everywhere an excuse to enjoy the fruit. If you like marking the seasons through food, you might also enjoy National Peaches and Cream Day, another celebration of summer fruit at its best.
Fun Facts About National Cherry Day
- England and Wales lost more than half of their cherry orchards over the twentieth century, with some estimates as high as 90 per cent.
- Kent is the traditional heart of British cherry growing and is still known as the Garden of England.
- The day moved date twice before settling on 16 July to match the British harvest.
- Cherries are a natural source of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep.
- There are two broad types of cherry: sweet cherries for eating fresh and sour cherries often used in cooking and baking.
- Cherry trees burst into blossom in spring, providing an early source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.
Why National Cherry Day Matters
The day matters because it links a small everyday choice, what fruit you buy, to a bigger picture of food security, farming and the countryside. Choosing British cherries in season supports growers and helps keep orchards in the ground rather than under concrete. Cherries are also genuinely good for you: they are rich in fibre, vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants, and have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties and natural melatonin content. Marking the day is a reminder that seasonal, local fruit can be both a pleasure and a sensible choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Cherry Day?
National Cherry Day is a British awareness day celebrating cherries and highlighting the decline of England’s cherry orchards. It encourages people to buy, cook and enjoy seasonal cherries.
When is National Cherry Day in 2026?
National Cherry Day is on Thursday, 16 July 2026. It is held on 16 July every year.
Who started National Cherry Day?
It was created in 2008 by British food writer Henrietta Green as part of the CherryAid campaign to protect and revive England’s cherry orchards.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best cherry bakes, recipes and orchard photos on social media with #NationalCherryDay and #NationalCherryDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to cook something with cherries while they are in season.
Related Awareness Days
- National Peaches and Cream Day – Another summer fruit celebration that pairs perfectly with cherry season.
- National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day – A day for fruit-based drinks falling just two days after Cherry Day.
- National Lollipop Day – A sweet treat day later in July for those with a fondness for cherry flavours.
Links
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