I was an American kid from the deepest suburbs and, in those days at least, American kids from the deepest suburbs got a lot of candy. And canned food rather than fresh. The first time I had fresh pineapple, I said "ugh" because it didn't taste like canned pineapple, which I was used to. (That one I got over, soon enough.) So yes, I knew berry and cherry flavors from candy before I could try the fruit - which for a long time I avoided, thinking I'd hate it.

You're probably right about it being specifically American flavors. I think I've had red "Swedish fish" and not minded them at all.