Cherry-picking -- from a bowl, a tree or a cake?

Solution 1:

You have your answer already, in your wiki quote. They are being picked from a tree. The fruits ripen at different times so you have to select only those that are ready, leaving the rest to continue reaching maturity. Modern usage of selecting the best is derived from that.

'In certain varieties of cherry tree the fruits ripens at different time - rather like strawberries - and it's necessary to choose between the ripe red fruit which are ready to eat and the green/'not yet red enough' fruit which definitely are not. Hence the term "cherry picking" means to choose the best from those on offer/available.'..............Phrase.org.uk