One way or another, if you visit Door County you are likely to end up at Cherry De-Lite. If not, you’ll at least see, taste, or hear about their products. Our advice? Take the time to visit the shop.

It’s the kind of place that invites you to come and sit awhile. The Adirondack chairs strategically placed on the wrap around porch are your first sign that it’s OK to relax, unwind, and get ready to sample. There is a picnic table out front, an American flag, and a welcome sign. Inside, well, if you can make it with a cherry, they have it.

Cherry Jalapeño varieties of Cherry De-Lite. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

Dried cherries, perfect for snacking, salads, baking. Pie filling and frozen cherries to make your own treats. Cherry sprinkles. Chocolate covered cherries. Cherry juice. Cherry chutney, vinaigrette, preserves, BBQ sauce, mustard, horseradish, trail mix, and syrup. Hot fudge with bits of dried cherry in it, cherry jalapeno sauce, cherry soup, and cherry wine.

The president of Country Ovens, LTD—parent company of Cherry De-Lite—knows his cherries. Mike Johnson can tick off the health benefits, talking about cherries as a “natural source of melatonin,” and the cardiovascular benefits. He said cherries can help reduce inflammation, and ease muscle soreness post-workout. In fact, they’ve developed a performance sports drink in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin call Rapid Whey that offers pure, unsweetened cherry juice with whey to help with muscle recovery.

Mike Johnson, CEO, Cherry De-Lite. Photo: Paul K. Logsdon.

“The thing about cherries,” says Johnson, “is they go with just about anything.”

So, while the building may invite relaxation, no one is sitting under the cherry tree for long. This is a place where innovation and new ideas reign—and cherries are found in abundance.

Many Cherry De-Lite products can be ordered online. 

This is part of The Food Channel‘s coverage of Door County, Wisconsin, from a recent tour hosted by the Door County Visitor’s Bureau. Find other stories in the series here.

Travel accommodations and tour arrangements in Door County were provided by the Door County Visitors Bureau in conjunction with Geiger & Associates Public Relations.

Photos by Paul K. Logsdon.