The Communist government of post-war Hungary implemented a rigorous selection process to determine the best sour cherry varieties for planting in the nation's collective farms, and Balaton emerged as the winner.

Her Hungarian counterparts wanted the cultivar's commercial name in America to reflect its Hungarian heritage; it was named after Lake Balaton because "about the only thing an American can pronounce [on a map of Hungary] is Lake Balaton.

"[1] The Balaton is a Morello-type sour cherry with a dark burgundy color throughout both the skin and flesh (in contrast to the better-known Montmorency cherry, which has light-colored flesh) and a sweet-tart flavor.

[4] The Balaton is more sensitive to winter injury than other sour cherry cultivars.

[4] Hungary receives a portion of the royalties charged on each Balaton cherry tree, some of which is shared with the cultivar's home village of Ujfeherto.