Abstract: A fruit slicing apparatus and process severs cherries or small fruits into two hemispherical sections without slicing the interior pit. A rotatably-driven transport wheel receives the fruit into a valley produced by a pair of resiliently deflectable gripping members. As the wheel is rotated, a pair of pincher plates press against the gripping members to engage the fruit in a secured position with respect to the gripping members. While the fruit is held securely in place, a fluid jet emits a fruit slicing fluid which slices the piece of fruit into two hemispherical sections while leaving the pit intact.