Fruit
Chelan
B tier
Chelan is an early Northwest dark cherry selected to beat Bing to market with firm fruit that resists rain cracking better than many earlies. Size is medium-large; colour darkens quickly and flavour is clean sweet with a short, bright finish rather than deep mid-season complexity. Orchards around Washington’s Chelan district and similar climates use it to open local packs. Best as the first firm dark cherry of the regional season—fresh bowls, short-haul retail, and early farmers’ markets. Less iconic than Bing for pie folklore, but practical for growers managing labour before peak. Keep cold; early heat can push soft if left on the tree too long after colour.
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Washington State University released Chelan from Stella × Beaulieu for early crack-resistant fruit.
North-central Washington growers adopted Chelan to start the dark-cherry harvest.
Chelan filled early retail slots before Bing volume arrived from major districts.
Newer earlies competed, yet Chelan stayed planted where its window and tree habits fit.