2024 Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for cherries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have cherries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

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Contra Costa County

• AIRAYA U-Pick Farm - apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, pluots
  25221 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (408) 515-5878. Email: mnydam@airaya.com. Open: Late April through Mid August Thursday & Friday: 9 am to 4 pm; Saturday & Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm; closed on Monday-Wednesday. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  AIRAYA U-Pick Farm Facebook page. We highly recommend checking for updates just before coming out to the orchard. Occasionally we must close due to weather, muddy fields after a late watering day, or having to wait for more of the fruit to ripen(UPDATED: September 2, 2023, JBS) (ADDED: November 06, 2019)
• Bacchini's Fruit Tree - Sweet Red Cherries, White Cherries, White Peaches, Montmorency Cherries (sour), Olallieberries, Pluots, Plums, White Nectarines, Apricots, Loquats, Walnuts
  Corner of Walnut Blvd & Concord Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-3645. Email: info@brentwoodfruit.com. Open: 8 am to 4 pm, daily - make reservations here. Directions: Located in beautiful Brentwood, California. Click here for a map and directions. is a family operated Picked and U-Pick fruit stand. We are . Just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Growing premium quality fruits since 1945. Each year we are open during May & June to offer our fresh fruit, grown in our orchard, for you to pick!! FREE Parking. Pay for what you pick (see our tips). Low trees, Ladders not needed. Fruit Stand Hours 8 am to 5 pm. No Reservations needed. No pets/animals allowed in orchard. OK to "sample" fruit but this is NOT an all you can eat farm. Lots of good stuff coming! These should be ready sometime in May and June:White Peaches: Coming in 2021Sweet Cherries: Coming in 2021White Rainier cherries: Coming in 2021Olallieberries: Coming in 2021Pluots: Coming in 2021White Nectarines: Coming in 2021Apricots: Coming in 2021Loquats: Coming in 2021Raw Honey: Coming in 2021
• Bloomfield Cherries - cherries, restrooms
  501 Payne Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-550-5540. Email: Tom@BloomfieldCherries.com. Open: We open when the cherries ripen, usually the first or second week of May, and we will be open for approximately 4 to 5 weeks. Directions: See map. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Bloomfield Cherries Facebook page. Our business hours are generally Wednesday through Sunday, although if a lot of fruit is ripe at the same time, we will sometimes be open on Mondays and Tuesdays. The hours we are open is usually 8:30am to 5pm. These details will be updated once we open on our facebook page and our website's hours page.See our website for current hours
• Chavez U-Pick Cherries - cherries
  Marsh Creek Rd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 625-3994. Open: Call them; usually in June, most days are 8 am to 4:30 pm. Directions: Marsh Creek Rd between Walnut Blvd. and Sellers Ave. Click here for a map and directions.
  Chavez U-Pick Cherries Facebook page. Facebook page. (ADDED: April 29, 2015, JBS)
• Cherry Time - cherries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available
  1875 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 550-5539. Email: web@cherry-time.com. Open: See our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Cherry Time Facebook page. We open in early May, and are open for 4 pm to 6 weeksWe have 15 acres of cherry goodness. Cherry varieties include: Coral Champagne, Brooks, Chelan, Sweethearts, and Lapin. Call for seasonal pre-recorded updates.(ADDED: April 11, 2017)
• Dwelley Farms - apricots, cherries, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and chili peppers
  515 Delta Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-6508. Email: dwelleyfarms@gmail.com. Open: Thursday-Monday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Click here for a map and directions. Dwelley Farms. Also pre-picked nectarines, white peaches, white nectarines, and veggies. Honey and eggs also sold on site. Picnic area. Groups must call in advance. (UPDATED: April 27, 2015, JBS)
• Farmer's Daughter Produce - Cherries, Apricots, Many Varieties of Freestone and Cling Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, White Peaches and White Nectarines.
  Walnut & Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 634-4827. Email: hailey@farmersdaughterproduce.com. Open: Daily, weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm and weekends from 8 am to 6 pm early June to August. Click here for a map and directions. . Daily, weekdays from 8 am to 7 pm and weekends from 8 am to 6 pm (early June to August). Also Picked Daily Sweet White Corn and a Wide Variety of other Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
  Comments from a visitor on July 12, 2009: "I visited Farmer's Daughter Farm in Contra Costa County - Brentwood. The fruit there is pesticide free. A fact that would likely draw many more people out to the area. I know the regulations for organic farming are quite strict but if the website indicated if certain farms were pesticide free that would certainly draw more people out to the farms and the produce."
• Freitas Cherry Ranch - cherries
  555 Hoffman Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-5461. Email: freitasranch@hotmail.com. Open: Closed for 2018 season - We are disappointed to announce that we have made the difficult decision to not open for the 2018 season for u-pick cherries, Due to the dry winter, insufficient chill hours and an unfortunate spring storm that kept the bees in their boxes when the blossoms of the trees were screaming to be pollinated, our crop this season is not up to the standards we set for it, We plan on being back in force for the 2019 season, See you in 2019, then Weekends 8am to 5pm during season, - truncated. . Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate phone: (925) 634-9500 Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in May, JuneWe are one of the few ranches to feature Coral Champagne ! Come and pick fresh from the trees, we provide ladders and buckets. We accept cash only. In 2017, are $3.50 per pound.
• G and S Farms - cherries, pumpkin patch, pumpkins
  1151 Chestnut St, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 916-717-8143. Email: info@gsfarms.net. Click here for a map and directions. . Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday + Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. We do accommodate private groups and may have intermittent closures for our classroom encounters. G and S has THREE cherry orchard locations. Check in next spring when our Cherry U-Picks re-open! Each May, we welcome Bay Area families into our orchards for our Annual Cherry U-Picks. We will provide buckets and a beautiful crop of cherries for you and your family to pick yourselves! The U-Pick season, ranging from early May to mid June, has become a treasured tradition in the Brentwood farming community. We hope you will come spend a day in the sun, enjoying the natural beauty of a fruitful orchard in spring! Depending on their availability and ripeness, a few or all of these varietals will be available when visiting our U-Pick: Coral, Sweetheart, Lapin, Rainier, Brooks. In October, we welcome you to come join us at our seasonal U-Pick Pumpkin Patch! Bring your families, enjoy our fall activities and pick your favorite pumpkin right off the vine! Bring your classroom to the farm with our grade-appropriate education programs & field trips. (ADDED: October 04, 2019, JBS)
• Heritage Family Farm - cherries,
  2500 Concord Ave, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-642-7653. Open: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: From Downtown Brentwood go down Walnut towards Vasco Rd, turn right on Concord Avenue and we are about 1 mi down on the left a hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Cherries are available from approximately early May through mid June. Rainier cherries . In 2016, Cherries were $3.50 a pound and they seemed to be at the end of the season on Memorial Day
• Lopez Ranch - cherries, peaches, plums, and nectarines
  Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-4433. Open: permanently closed. Click here for a map and directions.
  Lopez Ranch Facebook page. UPDATE for 2021, Yelp says they are . Daily, call for hours. U-Pick and Fresh Picked Sweet Cherries,Utah Giants, Lapin, Coral, Sweethart varieties, White Rainier Cherries, Sweet White Peaches, Freestone Peaches, Plums and Nectarines. Farm Fresh Cage-Free Eggs. Our orchard is accessable from Walnut Blvd. Take Concord Ave to Orchard Ln. Open Daily during season for fruit and Eggs available year round
• Maggiore Cherry Ranch Camino Diablo - cherries
  2251 Camino Diablo Rd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-4176. Open: Daily: 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm weekends, during season. Directions: Located on Camino Diablo, a quarter of a mile from Vasco road. Click here for a map and directions.
  Maggiore Cherry Ranch Camino Diablo Facebook page. U-pick and picked Bing : Bing, Brooks & Corral Champagne. Estimated available mid May to mid June. Call first . This location has plenty of parking and contains the cherry varieties Brooks and Coral Champagnes. This location is their smallest and gets harvested pretty quickly, so get in early! Maggiore has Four Different Locations: WALNUT BLVD, SELLERS AVE, HOFFMAN LANE, and CAMINO DIABLO RD.
• Maggiore Cherry Ranch Hoffman Lane - cherries
  470 Hoffman Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-4176. Open: Daily: 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm weekends, during season. Click here for a map and directions.
  Maggiore Cherry Ranch Hoffman Lane Facebook page. U-pick and picked Bing : Bing, Brooks & Corral Champagne. Estimated available mid May to mid June. Call firstThis location has 3 varieties of : Coral Champagnes, Brooks, and Rainiers and a great view of Mt. Diablo, perfect for picnicking. Maggiore has Four Different Locations: WALNUT BLVD, SELLERS AVE, HOFFMAN LANE, and CAMINO DIABLO RD. (formerly Sharp Ranch)
• Maggiore Cherry Ranch Sellers Avenue - cherries, U-pick and already picked, restrooms
  3150 Sellers Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-4176. Open: Daily: 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm weekends, during season. Click here for a map and directions.
  Maggiore Cherry Ranch Sellers Avenue Facebook page. U-pick and picked Bing cherries: Bing, Brooks & Corral Champagne. Estimated available mid May to mid June. Call firstMaggiore has Four Different Locations: WALNUT BLVD, SELLERS AVE, HOFFMAN LANE, and CAMINO DIABLO RD. The Sellers Ave orchard has young trees just hitting the peak of production. The trees are smaller, so they may be easier to pick. Here they grow Coral Champagnes and Lapin varieties of cherries. Maggiore Ranch Facebook page. (formerly Laird's)
• Maggiore Cherry Ranch Walnut Blvd - cherries
  3017 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-4176. Open: Daily: 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm weekends, during season. Click here for a map and directions.
  Maggiore Cherry Ranch Walnut Blvd Facebook page. U-pick and picked Bing : Bing, Brooks & Corral Champagne. Estimated available mid May to mid June. Call firstMaggiore has Four Different Locations: WALNUT BLVD, SELLERS AVE, HOFFMAN LANE, and CAMINO DIABLO RD. This orchard is thier largest and most visited u-pick site, growing 4 firm dark cherry varieties; Coral Champagnes, Brooks, Lapins, and Bings. The allows for both early season and late season picking. Here they have a large parking area and easy access to local stores, gas stations and restaurants
• Mike's Upick - cherries, nectarines, peaches,
  3230 Concord Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-698-7459. Email: info@mikesupick.com. Open: We usually open in early-to-mid May every year, and stay open for 4-6 weeks; Once we are open, our business hours are generally: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Directions: hwy. 580 to Vasco road to Walnut Blvd. entering Brentwood. Right on Concord Ave. to Mike\'s u-pick. Click here for a map to our farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. We highly recommend checking for updates just before coming out to the orchard. Occasionally we must close due to weather, or muddy fields after a late watering day, or having to wait for more of the fruit to ripenhwy. 580 to Vasco road to Walnut Blvd. entering Brentwood. Right on Concord Ave. to Mike's u-pick. Click here for a map to our farmGenerally open (during the season) Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 9am to 2pm; Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm; closed on Monday and Tuesday. We have two locations, both in Brentwood. Visit the Our Produce page for maps to locate us. In general, our orchards are open for only 4-6 weeks a year, starting in May of each year. Mike's U-Pick Facebook page. White Peach end of May to beginning of June generally. White nectarines beginning of June. All depending on weather. For availability and ripeness call before 6 pm leave message. .s. Go to for dates/times. The ONLY pyo crops offered are Cherries, White peach White nectarines(UPDATED: December 29, 2023)
• Nunn Better Farms - cherries, corn (sweet),
  830 Sunset Road, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: 925-634-2148. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . mid-May to mid June each year, call or see their website -for current conditions and hoursU-Pick Cherries(late May-Mid June):Picked Corn(early June-Oct) Corn sold by the Box ONLY! Nunn Better Olive Oil year round; Call for availability.
• Papini Family Farms - cherries, u-pick and already picked
  2160 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 759-6735. Email: papinifarms@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2020, There are reports they have closed; can anyone confirm this? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were 9 am to 4 pm daily, from the end of May through July for Bing Cherries; Late variety Sweethearts and Lapins in July. Click here for a map and directions. North of Concord Ave on East side of street. We supply buckets for picking and boxes to take home. Ladders are available.
• Pease Ranch - cherries, tayberries, boysenberries, loganberries, and olallieberries, Picnic area
  Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-4646. Open: It is always best to call for hours before coming; typicall hours are Wednesday to Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM or until ripe fruit is gone each day; Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 4:30 PM or until ripe fruit is gone each day; we are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Pease Ranch Facebook page. We are exclusively a YOU-PICK Ranch. All of our trees have been pruned and kept low to the ground for convenient picking even for the little ones. Pease Cherry Picking Farm Facebook page. Our ranch has been created to allow a memorable and pleasurable outing for you and your family. At you can find Bing, White Rainier, Chinook, Early Burlats, Coral Champagnes, and vans just to name a few of our cherries. If berries are what you are after, you can U-pick Boysenberries, Olallieberries, Blackberries, and Loganberries
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Concord Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  22111 Concord Ave (HT #23), Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours; Available May - August. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Visit our website for directions and availability. Click here for a map and directions.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Creek Road - Apricots, peaches, cherries, mandarins, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  7700 Creek Rd, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. Spring White Peaches -Early May, Fay Elberta - July. Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Eureka Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  6600 Eureka Avenue, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours; May, June for U-Pick. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. . Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Peter Wolfe Ranch Payne Ave - Apricots, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, loquats, watermelons
  1164 Payne Avenue, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-1308. Email: peter@peterwolfe.com. Open: call for hours. Directions: Located in Brentwood in east Contra Costa County, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Click here for a map and directions. . ;Available May - August. Visit our website for directions and availability.
• Pomeroy Farms - Bing, White Rainier & Brooks Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches, Apricots
  Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-7712. Open: call for hours. Directions: west of Walnut Blvd. \(Vasco Rd.\). Also Bing and White Rainier Cherries on Payne Ave. east of Walnut Blvd; . Click here for a map and directions.
  Pomeroy Farms Facebook page. Phone: west of Walnut Blvd. (Vasco Rd.). Also Bing and White Rainier Cherries on Payne Ave. east of Walnut Blvd; click here for a map. Harvest starts approximately May 20 to June 15. Nectarines in June Springcrest & Flavorcrest Peaches, Patterson & Westley Apricots on the east end of Eureka Ave. May 20 to June 30. Walnuts & Walnut meats available.We offer a variety of u-pick cherries, peaches, nectarines and apricots. We have 3 yellow peach varieties Flavorcrest, Springcrest, Earlirich and Galaxy "UFO" White Peaches. Come Visit to Pick Your Fresh Fruit! We offer a variety of cherries including Bing, White Rainier, and Brooks cherries. In addition, we have the best peaches, nectarines and apricots around! Pomeroy Farm Facebook page. At each of the farms we also offer fresh picked walnuts that are shelled and packaged. The walnuts also come from my various orchards.
• RC U-Pick Cherries - cherries
  4401 Sellers Avenue, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 679-3011. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash, only.
  RC U-Pick Cherries Facebook page. . Alternate phone: (925) 699-4349. We have low trees for convenient picking. No cost to enter, no minimum purchase. We supply picking buckets. Free parking. You must buy what you pick Low Trees For Easy Picking. No Entry Fee Or Minimum Purchase. We Supply The Buckets For Picking. No food or animals are allowed in the orchard . (UPDATED: September 29, 2020 JBS) (ADDED: April 29, 2015, JBS)
• Salvador's Cherry Farm - U-pick Bing Cherries
  815 Hoffman Lane, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 634-1957. Open: Cherries usually available in May; Please call first; Our crop is small this year and we are anticipating selling out on Saturday May 24th our opening day. Directions: Located at Hoffman Lane Cross Street Byron Hwy. or Marsh Creek Rd. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Salvador's Cherry Farm Facebook page. Cherries usually available in May; Please call first; Our crop is small this year and we are anticipating selling out on Saturday May 24th (our opening day). Please come early to ensure you will be able to get some cherries!. This is a 10-acre Bing cherry orchard.
• Seko Ranch Cherries - cherries
  100 Eureka Avenue, Brentwood, CA . Phone: 925-634-3771. Open: call or see their Facebook page for availability and hours. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash or check only. Seko Ranch U-pick and picked Bing . Picked only: Burlat and Mono . Seko Ranch has been offering U-pick for over 30 years. We also have picked & sorted available for sale. Varieties available include--Burlats, Monos, Ranier & Bing. We are #26 in the Harvest Time Growers Assoc
• Three Nunns Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, melons, nectarines, other berries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (Spring, yellow), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm
  550 Walnut Blvd, Brentwood, CA 94513. Phone: (925) 550-1484. Email: Threenunnsfarm@gmail.com. Open: Call for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Three Nunns Farm Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (925) 550-0780. ^ Picking updates: Click here for picking updatesWe use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicFormerly called George's Roadside Berry Farm. (UPDATED: April 22, 2020) Another list of farms and farm stands in this area (not necessarily PYO)

 

Cherry

Cherry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

If you are about to pick cherries either directly from a tree, or from a local orchard or market, here's what you need to know to pick the best cherries.

Cherries are a fairly early crop, flowering soon after the last frosts in April and May, setting fruit in June, usually at the same time as strawberries in most areas (but check your area's harvest calendar and call the farm or orchard you are planning to go to a few weeks ahead).

Types of Cherries

There are two types of cherries: sweet cherries and sour cherries (also called tart or pie cherries). The difference is simple:

• Sweet cherries taste sweeter and are eaten fresh.
  
• Pie cherries are very tart and most people prefer to use them in pies, jams, preserves, jellies and butters, adding sugar to sweeten them.

See further down this page for a list of common cherry varieties and their uses. Washington State, California and Oregon are the primary sweet cherry growing states; they produce almost 90 percent the U.S.'s cherry crop. Michigan produces about 74 percent of tart cherry production. We have a master table of cherry varieties, sweet and sour (pie) in the order in which they ripen.

Cherry picking tips

• Pick ripe: Cherries, like peaches, continue to increase in size until they are ripe. They should be picked when they are of maximum size and full-flavored.
• But not under-ripe: Cherries picked before they are fully mature will not ripen off the tree.
• And not over-ripe: when they become soft, mushy or discolored.
• Pie or sweet: There are 2 main types of cherries: sweet cherries that taste sweet and tart when you eat them fresh, and sour (also called pie cherries) which are too tart for most people to want to eat fresh.
• For all varieties of sweet cherries, the darker the cherry is the sweeter it will be. If you like more sour cherries the lighter red and less ripe, the more tart it will be.
• Stem separation: Sweet cherries become firm when ripe (the stems usually stay attached when you pick a sweet cherry), and sour cherries part easily from the stem.
• Leave the stems on sweet cherries: Cherries that are to be shipped will keep longer if the stems are left attached. They will store in the refrigerator for two to three days.
• Appearance: Look for heavy, firm cherries with a shiny skin and fresh stem.
• But for immediate use, they can be picked with or without the stems.

How to pick the cherries from the tree

1. Gently grasp the berry with your fingers and thumb, and
2. tug gently.
3. If it is ripe, it will easily come off in your hand, with the stem attached.
4. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 cherries.
5. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
6. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the cherries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Cherries from your own trees, a market or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden cherries ready for harvest.
2. Avoid placing the picked cherries in the sunshine any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat.
3. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Cherries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three days, depending upon the initial quality of the berry.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Cherries are affected by weather (especially rain and cooler temperatures) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first! Always call before you go to the farm - Cherries are affected by weather (especially rain and cooler temperatures) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Get there early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Bring containers - Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Cherries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Cherries more than 3 inches deep will smush the lower cherries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Drinks and snacks - Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the cherries until you are ready to use them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Chill: Cherries are more perishable than blueberries or strawberries, so make a point of refrigerating them as immediately as possible after purchase. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze cherries! (Fresh cherries are highly prone to freeze damage).
3. Spread out: Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting cherries
4. Eat or freeze: Even under ideal conditions cherries will only keep for a few days in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, consume or freeze them as soon as possible after purchase.
5. See my How to freeze berries page. (Unless you're going to make jam right away)
6. Now, get ready to make Cherry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Cherry preserves instructions - illustrated and easy or cherry pie filling

Cherry Recipes, Canning, Jam, Jelly, and related resources

• Cherry preserves instructions - illustrated and easy
• Cherry jelly
• Cherry pie filling
• Cherry butter
• Cherry festivals
• Cherry pitters - reviews and where to get them
• How to pit cherries - several methods

Cherry varieties

For a master table of cherry varieties in the order in which they ripen, click here.

Sweet cherries:

 

• Bing cherries are deep red in color and sweet.
• Blackgold - very late mid-season. Good for eating fresh. Self-fertile.
• Brooks - a large, firm red cherry that tolerates hot climates. Sweet with both complex flavors and a sweet tart blackberry-like taste.
• Chelan - deep, mahogany red, heart-shaped, medium sized, sweet fruits, like Bing.  Sweet, between 16 and 18 % sugar.
• Coral Champagne - very large, red, super sweet fruit that is often preferred to Bing. Firm, but juicy flesh with a coral pink color center.
• Emperor Francis are White or Blush Sweet Cherries, Early season, perfect for canning, making jellies and jams, or making homemade maraschinos.
• Hartland, an early season dark cherry. A Windsor cross, it was developed in New York
• Hedelfingen is a later season sweet cherry. It has large, black fruit.
• Kristin cherries are a a mid-season cherry developed in New York.
• Lambert Cherry is a large, black, late harvest cherry of very good quality, compared to Bing.
• Lapins Cherry is a self-fruitful, large, dark red sweet cherry from Canada with firm, good flavor. Ripens a few days after Bing and needs only 400 chilling hours or less to produce fruit.
• Orondo Ruby - A ruby red color with some gold coloring, this is a sweeter, brighter variant of the Rainier cherry. Marcus Griggs of G&C farms found this in his Rainier cherry orchard. They have a brighter red color to them and a sweeter and a bit more acidic.
• Rainier cherries are golden yellow with a pink or red blush. Rainier cherries are large and sweet.
• Royalton cherries are large, dark cherry mid-season cherries
• Sam - early ripening, large, black sweet cherry. Ripens 11 days after Vista.
• Skeena cherries are a late ripening variety. They are dark red, firm and juicy.
• Somerset cherries are medium sized, later season cherries that are dark and firm.
• Sonata - Very large, black, and moderately sweet fruit. Self-fertile.
• Staccato cherries are a deep purple-red and also a late season variety. Staccato cherries are large and one of the sweetest varieties.
• Stella are a large, sweet, dark-red fruit that ripens in mid-season
• Sweetheart cherries are a large, bright red late-season variety, medium sweetness
• Sunburst - large, firm fruit. Old productive variety. Self-fertile.
• Symphony - bright red, medium-sweet very large fruit. Late season. Self-fertile.
• Tehranivee - mid-season cherry developed in Ontario, Canada. Cracking can be a problem. Self-fertile.
• Ulster - medium-sized, firm, dark cherry, Ripens about 2 days after Vista.
• Vandalay - Large, red fruit with an unusual kidney shape. From Canada. Self-fertile.
• Viscount - medium-large, firm, good, dark red cherries. Late season ripening.
• Vista - the cherries are very dark, almost black. Large excellent-quality fruit. Mid season, ripens around the last week in June.
• Viva - dark red, 3/4 inch fruit from Canada. Ripens around July 4.
• White Gold are a blush cherry of moderate to large size.

Pie, Sour or Tart Cherries (all different names for the same thing!)

• Balaton Ujfeherto Furtos is a Hungarian sour cherry with firm fruit that is suited to picking by hand and eating fresh. Red skin and flesh. Ripens about 7 to 10 days after Montmorency
• Danube Erdi Botermo has dark red fruit with a unique sweet-tart flavor. Delicious eaten fresh or in baked goods. Ripens about 1 week before Montmorency.
• Dark-juice-tarts has juice that is red rather than clear in color.
• Jubileum - new, from Hungary. Very large with a dark red flesh. Sweet for a tart cherry, not quite as tart as Montmorency.
• Meteor - Medium-sized fruit with an odd shaped pit. Ripen s3 to 7 days after Northstar.
• Montmorency, the most commonly grown, traditional cherry for pies, baking and canning. Ripens around the last week of June to the first week of July.
• Morello Sour Cherry is a late-ripening tart dark red to nearly black cherry used for cooking, and sometimes eaten fresh when fully ripe. Fruits in warm climates ( 500 hours or fewer chilling hours below 45 F) Self-fruitful. USDA
• Northstar - Medium-sized, dark red fruit.
• Surefire - A new late blooming variety from Cornell. Bright red, medium sized fruit.

Cherry Facts and Tips

• Cherries come in many colors besides red: there are also dark red (almost black), yellow, blush (mixed) and gold cherries.
• Cherries are a very healthy food; they are high Vitamin C and naturally have no fat, cholesterol or sodium. They are also a good source of ivitamin A, calcium, protein, and iron.
• Cherries are an antioxidant-rich foods.
•  One cup of cherries is less than 90 calories and 3 grams of fiber.
• One cup of cherries has 260 mg of potassium which plays a key role in muscle, heart, kidney, and nerve cell functions.
• Cherries are high in fiber. Half to one pound of cherry fruit per day can provide twenty to thirty grams of fiber which is adequate for an adult daily nutrition requirement.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Cherries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze cherries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The cherries will keep for many months frozen without air. See my How to freeze berries page
• Anthocyanins in cherries are what give the fruit its red color and help protect the heart and surrounding tissues
• Some research has found eating cherries to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and gout

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers