Cherry industry debuts True Tart certification

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. — The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB) has unveiled the official True Tart certification mark design and has opened the program to qualifying industry participants.

The CIAB said the True Tart certification mark is designed to function as an endorsement mark to provide a consistent signal for products that meet the program’s defined standards.

The certification mark also is intended to help processors bring clarity, consistency and integrity to how US grown Montmorency tart cherries are represented in the marketplace.

“Nearly 98% of US grown tart cherries are Montmorency — and with True Tart, we’re bringing clarity to that in a consistent, visible way,” said Amy Cohn, president of the US Tart Cherry Industry. “The True Tart mark is designed to take the guesswork out of the label — signaling that a product contains a meaningful level of US grown Montmorency tart cherries and meets a defined, verified standard.” 

The program establishes minimum inclusion thresholds to prevent minimal or token use, requires clear identification of US grown Montmorency tart cherries in ingredient statements, applies product specific stock-keeping unit level approval through a structured review process, and supports consistent and transparent use of the certification mark across product formats, the CIAB said.