The sweet cherry (Prunus avium) breeding program at the Geneva Experiment Station has been seeking better adaptation to New York's climate. Reliable cropping is essential for successful orcharding with this weather sensitive crop. Our tests spanning parts of the professional careers of three faculty and two senior research technicians have provided the basis for the release of 'Royalton' in 1991. This variety is patented and marketed nonexclusively by the Cornell Research Foundation.