Cherry takes over as brands bet big on summer’s juiciest flavor, fueled by seasonal nostalgia and consumers’ craving for bold, familiar tastes. Companies across the United States spotlight the fruit in their seasonal rollouts, aligning their launches with a mix of emotional connection. Together, these efforts reflect a larger movement across the industry that sees cherry not just as a flavor trend, but as a centerpiece for a resonant and seasonally driven innovation.
While cherry was once mostly reserved for desserts and pie fillings, it has evolved into a beverage aisle mainstay when brands recognized its ability to reflect comfort while tapping into broad market appeal. Here’s how cherry’s seasonal timing, flavor versatility and brand-driven momentum have turned it into a defining flavor of the season.
A fruit made for the season
Cherries peak in the summer, both in harvest and in cultural presence. They’re abundant just as the weather heats up, bringing with them a built-in sense of occasion that consumers and brands look forward to. Reflecting this ripe opportunity, reports state that cherries are approaching the 2025 season with strategic precision and optimism.
According to Lon Hudson, national sales director of FirstFruits Farms, the company is preparing for what he describes as “another great cherry season.” He added, “Washington state is estimating 20-plus million 20-pound equivalent cartons this season, so this crop is expected to be larger than last year’s and one of the largest crops in the last 10 years.”
FirstFruits Farms’ confidence underscores a strategic alignment between agricultural output and market opportunity. With one of the largest cherry crops in a decade on the horizon, the company is primed to meet rising demand and help drive cherry’s retail presence at a time when the flavor is poised to dominate.
The comeback of a cult favorite
Coca-Cola has brought back Cherry Coke, and with it, a wave of nostalgic energy. Cherry Coke first hit shelves in 1986 and quickly gained a devoted following, but it was quietly discontinued in 2018. Now, nearly 40 years after its original debut, it’s making a selective return. This time, only at supermarkets in the Kroger Family of Stores, tapping into a longing for simpler times with a formula that still feels classic but relevant.
Dunkin’ offered Arctic Cherry Dunkin’ Energy as a limited-time spring release in 2025 ahead of summer, pairing cherry flavor with guarana-derived caffeine, B vitamins and a sparkling energy base. Though Arctic Cherry Dunkin’ Energy was available only for a limited time, it exemplified how major brands are experimenting with cherry-flavored functional beverages to capture interest in the growing energy drink category.
Slice Soda, meanwhile, continues its comeback with a blend of nostalgic branding and health-conscious innovation. Originally launched in 1984, the brand has been reimagined by Suja Life to deliver real fizz and classic flavor without the high sugar content. Its Cherry Cola flavor is a fresh release for summer, and will be available at Sprouts this June 2025, with broader rollout plans starting in July.
Ben & Jerry’s, on the other hand, continues to benefit from the ongoing popularity of Cherry Garcia, one of its most iconic and long-standing flavors. Its enduring appeal not only keeps the brand relevant year-round but also reinforces how legacy products can bridge generational tastes by tapping into nostalgia and seasonal flavor trends.
Why cherry? Why now?
Summer is peak cherry harvest, and consumers are naturally in sync with that rhythm. Pinterest planted the seed early in its December 2024 trend forecast, anticipating cherry’s rise before the season even began. The predictions are playing out in cafes, kitchens and cocktail bars across the country.
“We’re primarily seeing cherries being used as an on-trend cake or dessert topper for decoration,” said Andrew Freeman, founder of the San Francisco-based creative agency Carbonate, in Better Homes & Gardens. While cherries can certainly shine in savory dishes, like sheet pan dinners, crostinis, whole grain salads and pan sauces, Freeman says it’s their aesthetic and nostalgic appeal in sweets that’s really catching on. He also expected fresh cherries to appear on menus in May or June, much like pumpkin flavors dominated fall.
George Duran, a celebrity chef based in New York City, also sees the trend showing up in beverages. “Small coffee shops are embracing the cherry trend with unique creations,” he says. “While I haven’t sampled all of them, the buzz suggests that cherry is becoming a favored addition to milk-laden coffee menus nationwide.” Duran adds that cherry is also finding its way into the bar scene. “From cherry-infused mojitos to cherry bourbon sours, mixologists are showcasing the fruit’s versatility and appeal.”
Taken together, cherries’ presence in drinks and desserts, and even in some savory settings, makes their seasonal momentum feel less like a passing fad and more like a strategic takeover. Its versatility across formats also demonstrates why brands are treating it not just as a trend, but as a flavor anchor for summer dessert innovation.
The final pop of the season
Cherry’s resurgence is a calculated move in a summer market hungry for standout flavor moments. The evidence is stacking up across the food and beverage space, from social media buzz to product rollouts. Brands are putting cherry front and center, not only because it resonates emotionally but because it drives seasonal engagement when timing matters most. For now, all signs point to cherry holding onto its crown as the flavor of the season.
Jennifer Allen is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her work appears in dozens of publications, including MSN, Yahoo, The Washington Post, and The Seattle Times. These days, she’s busy in the kitchen developing recipes and traveling the world, and you can find all her best creations at Cook What You Love.