2024 Southwest Colorado Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Southwest Colorado 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Delta County

• Camelot Farms - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, cherries, herbs or spices, lavender, pears, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), tomatoes, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  15911 Black Bridge Road, Paonia, CO 81428. Phone: 970 527 3194. Email: toniharmony@yahoo.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Their website and Facebook pages are gone or outdated - I presume they have closed. Directions: If you are coming from Carbondale you well be taking a left off of Highway 133 onto Black Bridge Road Then your first Right on Black Bridge Road it\'s a long Driveway. If you are coming from Delta it will be a Right hand turn onto Black Bridge. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Alternate Phone: 970 309 3183Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me. Monday through Sunday 8 am to 8 pm July 1st Through November 7thIf you are coming from Carbondale you well be taking a left off of Highway 133 onto Black Bridge Road Then your first Right on Black Bridge Road it's a long Driveway. If you are coming from Delta it will be a Right hand turn onto Black Bridge We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We have a country farm market with fruit, flowers, vegetables, jams, fruit butters, local jewelry, and much more.
• Delicious Orchards - Certified organic, U-pick organic fruit: cherries, apples, peaches, apricots, pears, nectarines, raspberries, grapes, winter squash, apple cider, hard cider
  39126 Hwy. 133, Hotchkiss, CO 81419. Phone: (970) 527-1110. Email: info@bigbs.com. Open: Daily, 8 am to 6 pm Also Wine tasting, local produce, cheese, gifts, deli, campground, picnics. Directions: Located in the North Fork Valley of Colorado, one mile west of Paonia on CO Hwy 133. Click here for a map and directions. . Varieties to pick include: Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonathan, Macintosh, Winter Squash, Peaches, Tomatoes, Basil, Pears, Raspberries, Grapes. Our high elevation, Rocky Mountain water, cold nights and warm days produce some of the finest fruits in the world! Big B's produces a full line of organic and local juices and ciders from Western Slope fruit at our manufacturing plant located in the town of Hotchkiss. We're happy to answer u-pick questions during the fruit growing season, get you registered for camping, or introduce you to our award winning hard ciders. You can enjoy a meal in the cafe and try out our famous tree swings in the courtyard (at your own risk, of course!) offers free live music regularly throughout the summer with outdoor BBQ's. (UPDATED: October 25, 2019, JBS)
• Full Spectrum Farms - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, cherries, corn (sweet), nectarines, peaches, plums, summer squash, Fresh eggs
  16877 Grange Road, Paonia, CO 81428. Phone: (720) 256-3364. Email: info@theyakboys.com. Open: Wednesday 7 am to 7 pm Sundays 2 pm to 7pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Cherries - Late June/Early July Most others August - October, Pears, Plums, Nectarines, Peaches, and many types of Apples, and they all vary; If you want something specific, we can help plan specific peak times;. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified OrganicSeveral cats roam the property, please no other pets. This farm has always used organic practices, since 1974 when it was formed, but we are working to get our organic certification over the next several weeks. (ADDED: June 03, 2019)
• Orchard Valley Farms and Black Ridge Winery - ORGANIC, raspberries, pumpkins, apples, pears, peaches, blackberries, cherries, grapes, farm raised Beef, Weddings, Farm Market, Wine Tasting Room
  15836 Black Bridge Road, Paonia, CO 81428. Phone: 970-527-6838. Email: kendal.butterfield@gmail.com. Open: 9 am to 6 pm, seven days a week, from Memorial Day to Halloween. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Orchard Valley Farms and Black Ridge Winery Facebook page. . We are open Map. We offer the finest organically grown apples, pears, peaches, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and vegetables in season. Pick your own produce, wander the gardens and orchard, visit our market and wine tasting room. Then picnic along the beautiful Gunnison River. We also have a tempting variety of gourmet products and gifts - vinegars, oils, salsas, jams and jellies, syrups, butters, mustards, chutneys, and honey. Orchard Valley Farms and Market and Black Bridge Winery Facebook page. U-Pick produce - from raspberries in June to pumpkins in October: We sell fresh from the fields in our market. Want even fresher? Pick your own produce. Our fruit orchards, berry patches, vegetable gardens and pumpkin patch give visitors a true farm experience. In season, check our Facebook page or get our e-news to see what's ready for picking. We furnish U-pickers with a wagon to fill with produce (or kids!) and a map of the farm. Their wedding venue gives you access to a riverfront wedding and vineyard reception, complete with views of the West Elk Mountains, luscious green grass, duck pond, bountiful fruit trees, rustic bridge, and lovely farm scenery. Our unique location is available for your dream rehearsal, ceremony, and reception! Here you have the freedom to make your dreams come true for your special day! Contact us for dates and prices: Kendal at 530-205-5409, or Jessi at 970-640-4346, jmheinritz@live.com. Black Bridge Beef - Alongside our orchard and winery, we raise beef. Our cattle are raised with the upmost care and consideration. Enjoy our home-grown, farm-raised beef. Beef is locally raised and sourced here in the North Fork Valley. Complete your dinner tonight with beef! Frozen ground beef, steaks and roasts available. Farm market with Fresh and sustainably grown fruit and produce, plus local to global artisan crafted foods and gifts are available in our Paonia, Colorado farm market and online store. Black Bridge wines are crafted from our West Elks estate grown vineyards or from full-flavored fruit from our orchards. Taste the magic in a glass and discover your favorite wines! Our wines are made in limited quantities and sell out, so we encourage you to stock up when you visit or join our Wine Club for deliveries to your door.
• Uncle Johnny's U-Pick Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, cherries, cucumbers, currants (red and black), grapes, peaches, peppers, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (Autumn, red), summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, picnic area, farm animals, weddings and wedding parties
  18561 Surface Creek Road, Cedaredge, CO 81413. Phone: . Email: 22arniebclarke@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, The now former owner says they sold the farm, and he expects the new owners will continue it as a U-Pick. Directions: from the stoplight in Cedaredge @main street and highway 65 turn east, travel 1 mile on east main to the rodeo grounds, turn north on surface creek road, go about 1-34 miles to 18561 surface creek road on the left hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Uncle Johnny's U-Pick Farm Email- 7 days a week 8 amto8 pm (by appointment) during harvest seasonfrom the stoplight in Cedaredge @main street and highway 65 turn east, travel 1 mile on east main to the rodeo grounds, turn north on surface creek road, go about 1-3/4 miles to 18561 surface creek road on the left hand sideWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certificationFree range pork is grown on a pre-paid reserved basis by 1/4-1/2 or whole pig. Custom Processing, using your cutting and packaging instructions is extra and will be scheduled when pigs are at their prime.

 

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