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

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Los Angeles 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.

Los Angeles County

• C & D Cherries - cherries, Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  40722 90th Street West, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-622-7061. Email: dascas@roadrunner.com. Open: They may have closed; their website is down as of April 2017; before that, last reported hours were Saturday and Sunday, from 7 am to 5 pm for the month of June to pick during the week, please call to set up an appointment. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 661-917-4348. .
• Cherry Hill Farm - cherries, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food, honey
  39300 Bouquet Canyon Road, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-268-4404. Email: cherryhillfamilyfarm@yahoo.com. Open: Our cherry season can run anytime from early May to early June; Please see our website for this years opening date and hours. Directions: From the 14 fwy exit Palmdale Blvd left. Palmdale Blvd will turn in to Elizabeth Lake Road Continue on for about 8 miles. Turn left on Bouquet Canyon Road. About 1 12 miles down, make a left onto a Rogers Creek Road. This is a dirt road. Our farm is 12 mile down on the right. Parking is on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Cherry Hill Farm Facebook page. . From the 14 fwy exit Palmdale Blvd left. Palmdale Blvd will turn in to Elizabeth Lake Road Continue on for about 8 miles. Turn left on Bouquet Canyon Road. About 1 1/2 miles down, make a left onto a Rogers Creek Road. This is a dirt road. Our farm is 1/2 mile down on the right. Parking is on the left. We have plenty of our own local honey for sale! Place your orders here on our website and we will ship it to you. (ADDED: April 27, 2016)
• Copelands Cherry Ranch - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, cherries, Honey from hives on the farm, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  9611 Leona Ave, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-270-1900. Email: copelandscherryranch@gmail.com. Open: Call or check website for opening Day in June and check for End of Season in July - Open daily 8am to 5pm during Cherry Season! Check ranch status at our website. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Copelands Cherry Ranch Facebook page. . Fax: 661-270-9300. . We are certified organic for all crops! Certified Organic by CCOF - USDA and CDFA. We typically open when the cherries are ripe in June. Please check back at the end of May for further updates. When we are open, you have the choice of picking yourself, or if you are short on time, purchasing some pre-picked cherries. Although, it doesn't take long to enjoy the moment and fill a bucket. Muscovy Ducks added to organic plan and organic duck eggs for sale! All natural raw Leona Valley Honey produced and sold here. (UPDATED: April 30, 2022, JBS)
• JLFarms - apricots, cherries, U-pick and already picked
  7651 East Avenue U, Littlerock, CA 93543. Phone: (661) 944-9903. Email: jlfarms77u@hotmail.com. Open: Typical season is from late May through June; open now, Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 3 pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 3 pm. Directions: From Los Angeles: Take the Golden State 5 Freeway, North to Antelope 14 Freeway \(To LancasterPalmdale\), take the Angeles Forest Freeway exit toward Pearblossom highway Stay straight on Pearblossom for 5 miles, turn right onto 138 Freeway, turn left onto 75th Street \(2.8 miles\), turn right onto E Avenue U. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . From Los Angeles: Take the Golden State 5 Freeway, North to Antelope 14 Freeway (To Lancaster/Palmdale), take the Angeles Forest Freeway exit toward Pearblossom highway Stay straight on Pearblossom for 5 miles, turn right onto 138 Freeway, turn left onto 75th Street (2.8 miles), turn right onto E Avenue U. Rainier will be ready to pick on June 8; Already-picked apricots around June 11. (UPDATED: June 05, 2019)
• Leona Valley Organics - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, cherries, Turkeys, Fresh eggs, porta-potties are available, farm animals
  39300 Bouquet Canyon Road, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-270-0990. Email: lvorganics@yahoo.com. Open: Call for farm hours or visit their Facebook page - they may have closed down, gone out of business: their website is gone and their facebook page has not been updated in years; if you have any more recent information please write me. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. Leona Valley Organics Fax: 661-270-1304. . healthy, free range, organic eggs.
• M and M Peach Ranch - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, cherries, peaches, U-Pick and already-picked produce
  48745 Three Points Road, Lake Hughes, CA 93532. Phone: 661-724-1398. Email: mmpeachranch@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021: they did not offer PYO peaches in 2019 or 2020; call for farm hours or visit their Facebook page; if you have any more recent information please write me; their last reported hours were Friday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm; Monday to Thursday, by appointment only. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  M and M Peach Ranch Facebook page. . Cherries: June; Ryan's Sunday Peaches: September Last Chance Peaches: Late September through October. Our peaches are cling-free! We are certified organic for all crops! OTCO Certified Organic. (UPDATED: April 30, 2018, JBS) A visitor writes on May 31, 2016: "I looked on their FBook page and the wall is sparse, last update from last year- just like you mentioned. However, I noticed on the left-hand-side column an area for Visitor Posts where the wall comments from visitors go. Anyway, M&M replied to a few inquires about when they will open and they stated that the earliest they will be open for picking is in August 2016. YAY!! :) I hope that helps. thank you for your site. I will be adventuring with the family this weekend. "
• Rancho Lorena - cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, U-pick and already picked, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available
  32810 165th Street East, Llano, CA 93544. Phone: 661 944-1341. Email: blalockj@msn.com. Open: Seasonal Cherries in late May, only for a couple of weeks, then peaches August 1 to September 15 on Weekends only, call for hours. Directions: From Antelope Valley \(Palmdale, Lancaster\) From Freeway 14, East on Highway 138, turn right on 165th Street East, 2 miles to 32810 165th Street East. From Victorville From Freeway 15, West on Highway 18 to West on Highway 138, turn left on 165th Street East, 2 miles to 32810 165th Street East. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . From Antelope Valley (Palmdale, Lancaster) From Freeway 14, East on Highway 138, turn right on 165th Street East, 2 miles to 32810 165th Street East. From Victorville From Freeway 15, West on Highway 18 to West on Highway 138, turn left on 165th Street East, 2 miles to 32810 165th Street East.
• The Cherry House - cherries, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, picnic area, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  10600 Leona Ave, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-622-4480. Email: info@upickcherryhouse.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021: Call before you go - their website is down - they may have closed. Directions: Located off highway 14, near Palmdale, CA. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard. . from the second weekend in June and open until we are sold out; Please check our web site for current availability; Daily Hours are as follows: Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm, Saturday from 8am to 5pm, Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Also includes Bright Ranch and Rhodes Orchard, purchased by. U-Pick Cherries are typically from the end of May through mid June or until sold out. Pumkin Patch in Mid October. is available for Weddings, Birthdays, fund raising and any other special event that will fit on our 20 acres (UPDATED: April 30, 2018, JBS)
• Villa del Sol Sweet Cherry Farms - cherries, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area
  6989 Elizabeth Lake Road, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: . Email: info@upickcherries.com. Open: Wednesday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm; call us in May for our opening and picking dates 2017: Opening Day Tuesday May 30, 2017, from 7 am-5 pm; After that, Wednesday thru Friday 8-5 and Saturday and Sunday 7am-2 pm Expect to have cherries for about 4 weeks. Directions: 14 Freeway to Palmdale Blvd., west til it turns into Elizabeth Lake Road. At corner of Elizabeth Lake Road and Godde Hill Road. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Villa del Sol Sweet Cherry Farms Facebook page. We have UPICK only. We do not sell commercially at all. The Farmer works all year on his crop Watering, Pruning, Maintaining all Systems and Fertilizing. So we have a $6 per person minimum purchase requirement. Whatever you pick you purchase. We do NOT allow eating the Cherries while picking in the orchard.A visitor writes on May 27, 2017: "We had fun walking through the trees and admiring the crop. It was fun to see all of the different varieties and how they grew. Picking was easy and we had a large amount before we knew it. Also got some amazing honey. I look forward to visiting, but some years the crops are limited due to weather, so go early, don\'t miss out. They have different varieties of sweet cherries. Bing, Rainier, Brooks and Tulare., !"
• Windy Ridge Cherries - Cherries, apples, peaches, pears, and plums
  9811 Leona Avenue, Leona Valley, CA 93551. Phone: 661-270-9106. Email: wrcherries@antelecom.net. Open: Update 41515: The cherry crop looks good and we anticipate opening the weekend of June 6th or June 13th. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions.
  Windy Ridge Cherries Facebook page. . Update 4/15/15: The cherry crop looks good and we anticipate opening the weekend of June 6th or June 13th. Thank you for visiting our web site and check back for exact opening date. Click here for a map. You are welcome to call to find out about cherries, weather and orchard opening dates. We will look forward to your visit. Click here for a link to our Facebook page High atop a ridge in beautiful Leona Valley is a family-owned immaculate cherry orchard with delicious Bing and Rainier cherries growing on dwarf trees. The trees are trimmed to 7 feet so all the cherries are within easy reach from the ground. For children this is ideal and little ones love picking cherries. We grow a variety of other delicious fruits, apples, peaches, pears, and plums that ripen from July through October. Come enjoy fresh picked fruit, our picnic area, and lovely Leona Valley. Specific dates will be posted on this web site. (UPDATED: April 30, 2018, JBS)

 

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