The northwest corner of lower Michigan is a huge producer of cherries. The entire countryside is covered with orchards and many farmers grow sour – not sweet – cherries. They're the kind you put in pies and jams, not directly in your mouth.

Smack dab in the middle of cherry country, Justin Rashid's American Spoon Preserves takes the local crop and turns it into what's probably the best sour cherry preserves I've ever had. Each jar is about two thirds sour cherries and a third cane sugar. That's a respectably high percentage of fruit and it shows in the flavor. Still, it's almost worth it just to buy a jar of these for the aroma. I wish someone would turn this into a perfume.

Zingerman's Food Tours is visiting Northern Michigan (Traverse City area) in May, 2013. Join us for a behind-the-scenes insiders' journey to traditional food makers like this.