2024 Fresno area of California Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Fresno area of 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 any state, nor even every 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.

Fresno County

• Mountain Brook Ranch - apricots, cherries, blueberries, boysenberries, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, porta-potties are available, picnic area, weddings and wedding parties
  17971 Auberry Road, Clovis, CA 93612. Phone: 559-299-8141. Email: bhook45@hotmail.com. Open: If Mother Nature allows we should be opening up around Mothers Day or a tad before, depending on the weather, Always call first for opening info before coming up to the ranch. Directions: From the intersection of CopperAuberry road. Go north on Auberry road about seven miles and we are on the left hand side. We are two miles above the rifle range and two miles below the The Roadhouse bar and the Valero gas station. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 559-779-4443. Fax: 559-297-4665. . To our U-pick customers: Always call first to see if the u-pick orchard is open, usually the weekend after we open the fruit stand. See their website for hours and availability. We are looking forward to having lots of our main variety Brooks and Tulare cherries this season. We will also be having a excellent boysenberry crop, both at the fruit stand and u-pick, along with blueberries and lots of apricots. What's new? We will be selling our very own frozen pomegranate juice and dried chili peppers to spice up your cuisine!. From the intersection of Copper/Auberry road. Go north on Auberry road about seven miles and we are on the left hand side. We are two miles above the rifle range and two miles below the The Roadhouse bar and the Valero gas station. Pomegranates: October 12 to October 27; Cherries from the middle of May to the middle of June or so; Fresh Vegetables also. We also have apricots, blackberries and pomegranates. We also have a road side fruit stand on our ranch where the public has the opportunity to buy fresh cherries and other delicious fruit throughout the season. Hope to see you soon!!!.

Inyo County

• Apple Hill Ranch - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, apricots, beans, beets, blackberries, boysenberries, carrots, cherries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, figs, grapes, herbs or spices, melons, nectarines, pears, peas, peaches, peppers, plums, pomegranates, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, yellow), rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Fresh eggs, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, farm animals, birthday parties
  475 Sierra Grande, Bishop, CA 93514. Phone: (760) 937_0413. Email: rdevore@schat.com. Open: Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4:30 pm, cherry season 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: When traveling from Bishop Go past the Bishop Country Club on highway 395 south And about 3 miles turn right on Gerkin Road When you reach Wilkerson Turn on Sierra Grande Go to the top of the road Turn left at the Iron Gate Come on up to the house. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Apple Hill Ranch . cherry season starts Memorial Day. Peaches June 30; Apples July 30; All veggies July 15/ raspberries June 30. We Are USDA Certified Organic for all crops! USDA-NOP national Organic Standards California Registration # 99-0008.

Kings County

• Genesis Organic Farm - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, apricots, blackberries, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, flowers, peaches, persimmons, plums, pumpkins, Other fruit or veg, farm animals
  7595 Central Valley Highway, Hanford, CA 93230. Phone: (559) 410-3607. Email: jeannie@genesisorganicfarm.com. Open: Fruit picking is by appointment only; Please call to schedule appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We are certified organic for all crops! We grow many varieties of Stonefruit, Pluots, Apriums, Colorcots and Pluaries. Some are rare and quite unusual in limited supply. Get on our mailing list to get current info on what is harvesting. All of our fruit is Certified Organic through CCOF. Beginning in Fall 2019 we will open the Worlds First Cucamelon Maze. (UPDATED: May 14, 2019)

Merced County

• Riverdance Farms - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, blueberries, cherries, lavender, other berries, pecans , persimmons, walnuts, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
  12230 Livingston Cressey Road, Livingston, CA 95334. Phone: 209-761-0081. Email: RiverdanceFarms@gmail.com. Open: This years event will be held Memorial Day weekend, May 27th-29th. Directions: The farm is located two miles from CA Highway 99 and two miles from Santa Fe Avenue, along the Merced River and across the river from McConnell State Park. The neighbor\'s mailbox nearest the farm gate has an address of 11801 Livingston Cressey Road which works better for Mapquest or Google Maps. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Riverdance Farms Facebook page. . . Please watch for updates or call Cindy or email for more info or to make an appointment. Cherries May 30 through ~ June 14; Blueberries May 30 through June 28; Depending on weather and crop maturity these dates May change to a week earlier or later; Persimmons, Pomegranates and Walnuts are available in October, November and pre-picked in December; Pecans are ready for harvest in mid November. The farm is located two miles from CA Highway 99 and two miles from Santa Fe Avenue, along the Merced River and across the river from McConnell State Park. The neighbor's mailbox nearest the farm gate has an address of 11801 Livingston Cressey Road which works better for Mapquest or Google Maps. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, October, November. We are certified organic for all crops! Fall pomegranates and organic oat hay & almond firewood year-round. They host you-pick days during the annual festival: TYou are welcome to visit our Farm's Annual Pick and Gather Festival. We invite the whole family out to the Merced River for Memorial Day fun! Look forward to seeing you out there! This annual farm festival gives the whole family an opportunity to pick and taste the river valleys' best organic fruit. Outdoor activities will include Kids Science, Hay-Bale Rides, Camping, Swimming, Nature walks, Crafts, Fishing lessons and more. On Saturday: in addition to the u-pick blueberries and cherries , there is live music & art, kid's activities, local and/or organic food, workshops, wagon rides, wine and food tastings, farm animals, nature displays and crafts. Future plans are to offer flowers, stone fruits, pumpkins and Christmas trees on a you-pick basis. Click here for our Facebook page.

 

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. Leave early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. 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. 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. 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. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting cherries
4. 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