When antioxidants are far outnumbered, free radicals can attack the body’s fatty tissue, protein or even DNA. Once compromised, the body becomes more susceptible to various diseases over time, such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, to name a few. Sweet cherries are rich in polyphenols and vitamin C, which have powerful antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that eating them can increase antioxidant capacity and reduce oxidative stress, bringing the body back into a healthy balance.

Come midsummer, Door County’s cherry trees burgeon with abundant fruit, heralding the arrival of everything cherry. In this idyllic, sweet-scented realm framed by the shimmery blue waters of Lake Michigan on one side, Green Bay on the other, chefs, bakers, vintners, mixologists, brewers, and other culinary artisans get to work, concocting some of the planet’s most exquisite examples of summer yumminess.