Did you know.... The most popular sweet cherry isn’t named for its breeder.⁠ ⁠ This iconic fruit was developed at pioneering nurseryman Seth Lewelling’s Oregon nursery and named in honor of his longtime foreman, Ah Bing, a Chinese horticulturist who managed Lewelling’s orchards for more than 35 years and supervised a crew of roughly 30 workers.⁠ ⁠ Bing worked with Lewelling on the cherry that would bear his name — a cross between Royal Ann and Black Republican cherries, released in 1875. With its deep red color, rich flavor, and ability to withstand shipping, the Bing helped transform the Pacific Northwest into a major fruit-growing region.⁠ ⁠ But there’s another chapter to Ah Bing’s story. In 1889, after traveling to China to visit family, he was barred from returning to the United States under the Chinese Exclusion Act.⁠ ⁠ More than 150 years later, the Bing remains America’s most popular sweet cherry — though few people know the story behind its name.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Writer: Ann Amato (ann.lov...