Cherries

Most traditional cherry cultivars require pronounced dormancy, so only a handful of test plots in higher elevations show sporadic fruiting. These experimental efforts yield small quantities of fruit, typically consumed fresh by local enthusiasts. In contrast, coffee cherries (the fruit of the coffee plant) are widely grown, though they are not the same as sweet or sour cherries. Owing to the inherent climate mismatch, cherries remain a hobby-level venture on Hawaiʻi Island with minimal impact on overall fruit markets. Prospects for expansion remain low unless breeding programs develop reliably productive, ultra-low-chill cultivars.