Although cherry trees originated in
Asia Minor, the cherries you find in
grocery stores are most likely from Europe or the United States. Most cherries not grown for agricultural reasons tend to be
sour and
bitter. However, cherry trees are still very popular in home-orchards.
While dealing with the seeds and the stems of each cherry can be a pain in the posterior, the nutritional benefits more than make up for the inconvenience. The National Food Safety and Toxicology Center says tart cherries have anthocyanins that prevent colon cancer. Therefore, eating cherries can actually help in preventing pains in the posterior!
Why cherries are used in gambling casinos is also an interesting story. To avoid lawsuits, slot machine manufacturers disguised their machines as gum machines. If a player won a jackpot, it would appear that the prize would be a pack of gum in the flavor of the winning pull. The concept stuck and the cherry is still a symbol of wealth and good luck.