The blushing Rainier cherry is a local favorite here in Washington state, and I finally bought a bag to try. They are definitely sweeter than Bings and tasty enough, but I missed the tang and went back to the (cheaper) red standby the next time I shopped. The Seattle Times printed a detailed history of the Rainier in its Sunday magazine recently and I also found a shorter but also informative Seattle PI article from 2001. A cross between two varieties, a Bing and a Van, the Rainier was created by Harold Fogle at WSU in 1952 with delicate hand pollination. About 200 seedlings resulted from the cross and the standout “white” colored one was a sweet surprise coming from two dark red parents. It’s a picky variety to grow, showing its bruises easily. Much of the crop is sent to Japan where it commands steep prices, as much as 85 cents per cherry, which makes the U.S. $2-$3/pound premium over Bings rather more palatable.