2024 Niagara area of Ontario Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Niagara area of Ontario 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 province or region 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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Niagara (Grimsby, Jordan Station, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland)
20 Valley Harvest Farm - sweet cherries, pie or sour cherries, Local honey from within 50 miles, farm market, concessions or refreshment stand, school tours, group reservations 4235 15th Street, Jordan, ON L0R 1S0. Phone: (905) 562-5272. Email: 20valleyharvest@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm while sweet cherries and sour cherries are in season; The season begins in July but the dates depends on Mother Nature, so please check our website to see if the fruit is ripe for harvest. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, ApplePay, CashApp. 20 Valley Harvest Farm Facebook page. We have maple syrup that is produced from within 100 miles Click here for our Instagram page. With over 1500 trees to choose from, we have ample cherries for everyone!Our sour cherries are Montmorency variety. They are different (less sour) than the Morello variety of sour cherries, which are grown in Persia. Also try our local honey, maple syrup, jam, juice, and yummy treats! Save 10%* on u-pick by subscribing to our newsletter Locals save 15%* on u-pick with valid photo ID Indigenous persons save 15%* on u-pick with status card *coupons cannot be stacked(UPDATED: July 17, 2023) (ADDED: April 27, 2016)
Cherry Avenue Farms - Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Pears, Blue, Yellow and Red plums 4303 Cherry Avenue, Lincoln, ON L0R2C0. Phone: 905-562-5481. Email: IMremraf@aol.com. Open: July-October, Monday-Saturday 8 am to 7 pm, Sundays and Holidays 8 am to 6 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash and debit cards. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Their website has directions to the farm, a picking schedule, which includes variety and approximate ripening time, pricing and FAQ's. The quality and quantity of our fruit is largely effected by weather conditions, so please check back often to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. In 2019, Cherries are $2.50 per pound, with a minimum purchase of $5 per person, age 4 and up. The reason for the minimum purchase is so that guests do not go into the orchard just to eatCherries are our first crop, and are usually available for 2-3 weeks in July only. We have a few sour cherry trees, but they get picked very quickly. Yellow plums, peaches and apricots usually start in late July. (UPDATED: July 11, 2019, JBS) Comments from a visitor on March 27, 2010: " Restrooms, picnic tables, tractor rides into fields, cash only (require a minimum purchase of $3/adult and $1/child age 6-12 (under 6 no charge). Bed & Breakfast may possibly be open summer 2010. The farm is beautiful and large, easily located off the QEW. The staff was friendly and pre-picked baskets were available as well. "
Duffin Farms - apples, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, rhubarb, and pumpkins, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises) 1541 Rice Rd, Fonthill, ON L3B 5N5. Phone: (905) 892-5387. Email: duffin@live.com. Open: daily 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: 1541 Rice Road, Fonthill 3 driveways south of Highway 20. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. (UPDATED: June 29, 2018)
Life's A Peach Farm - cherries, U-pick and already picked, farm market 4435 Bartlett Rd, Beamsville, ON L0R 1B1. Phone: . Email: lifesapeachfarm@hotmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm. Directions: From Toronto QEW towards Niagara, exit at Ontario StBeamsville, right onto Ontario St, left onto South Service Road, first right onto Bartlett Road 4435 Bartlett Rd. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
Mathias Farms - PYO and already picked, apples, blackberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries, red raspberries, black raspberries, red currants, mulberries. 1909 Effingham Street, Ridgeville, ON . Phone: (905) 892-6166. Open: see their website or call. Click here for a map and directions. (ADDED: June 15, 2024, JBS)
Parkway Orchards - apples, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, plums, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand 15000 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-lake, ON L0S 1J0. Phone: 905 262 5097. Email: general@parkwayorchards.com. Open: PYO dates: Cherries - mid June to mid July; Peaches - mid July to early October; Nectarines - early September to mid September; Plums - mid August to late September; Apples - mid September to late October; Largely depends on the weather so please call ahead first. Directions: from the Q.E.W. coming from toronto: 1. take Glendale to Niagara-on-the-lake exit, 2. make a right onto Glendale, 3. then take a right onto York road to Niagara-on-the-Lake, 4. continue for several minutes until you get to the Niagara Parkway, 5. take a left onto the Niagara Parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake, 6. follow the windy road until it straightens out, 7. about 300 meters after you pass line 6 you will see our famous Farmer road sign on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates Points of interest: Our location sits between the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake along the parkway. There are many attractions near our farm such as many award winning wineries, historic buildings and galleries, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Whitewater jet boat tours, Butterfly Conservatory, Floral Clock and many others. There are beautiful and unique shops nearby in the old town of Niagara-on-the-lake as well as many biking and hiking trails and picnic areas right by the river along the parkway. .
Two Century Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, cherries, peaches, U-pick and already picked 400 Main Street West, Grimsby, ON L3M 1T2. Phone: . Email: twocenturyfarmgrimsby@gmail.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards.
Weiland Sweet Cherry Farm - cherries, , , ON . Phone: (905) 892-3744. Email: oscarjillweiland@gmail.com. Open: Daily during season approximately end of June until the end of July from 9 am to 7 pm daily; Please call ahead for hours of operation and availability. Directions: QEW exit 57, Vineland \(Victoria Avenue\) South on Victoria Avenue towards Niagara Escarpment, away from lake and continue south 15 km, Left \(east\) on Hwy 20 at lights, towards Fonthill. At first stoplight, Target Gas Station and Haist Street, turn left and go 1 km north and watch for signs. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude 43.05216502460; Longitude -79.29516632350. They have the large black cherry of the Cavalier variety at the end of June and the popular Bing and Hedelfingen varieties during t - truncated. . Click here for a map of the area. . Daily during season (approximately end of June until the end of July) from 9 am to 7 pm daily; Please call ahead for hours of operation and availabilityQEW exit 57, Vineland (Victoria Avenue) South on Victoria Avenue towards Niagara Escarpment, away from lake and continue south 15 km, Left (east) on Hwy 20 at lights, towards Fonthill. At first stoplight, Target Gas Station and Haist Street, turn left and go 1 km north and watch for signs. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude 43.05216502460; Longitude -79.29516632350. They have the large black cherry of the Cavalier variety at the end of June and the popular Bing and Hedelfingen varieties during the month of July. You can come to our farm anytime they are openNo appointment or pre-booking is required! When you come to the farm, they provide you with baskets, and basket harnesses. They also have ladders of various sizes placed throughout the orchard. You may use these at your own risk.(UPDATED: June 08, 2014, by JBS) (ADDED: Novermber 29, 2011, from publically available information)
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
Gently grasp the berry with your fingers and thumb, and
tug gently.
If it is ripe, it will easily come off in your hand, with the stem
attached.
Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 cherries.
Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the
picking process with both hands.
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:
Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden cherries ready for harvest.
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.
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:
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!
Get
there early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
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.
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
DON'T wash the cherries until you are ready to use them. Washing makes them
more prone to spoiling.
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).
Spread out: Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft
or rotting cherries
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.
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