2024 Northwest Michigan Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Northwest Michigan 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.

Antrim County

• Farmer White's - Sweet and tart cherries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, plums, 30 varieties of apples, pumpkins, gourds
  11373 U.S. 31, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-632-1500. Email: farmerwhite624@hotmail.com. Open: Staffed farm stand 8 am to 8 p. Directions: 11373 US 31, two miles south of Elk Rapids on the east side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Farmer White's Facebook page. or 231-264-5313. Email . Also, frozen pitted tart cherries including new varieties Gingergold and Honeycrisp, sweet corn, garden vegetables, pumpkins, gourds, dried cherries, cherry concentrate, jams, jellies, and unpasteurized apple cider. Integrated Pest Mgmt. m. July-Aug.; 9 am.-6 p.m. Sept.-November 1. Some u-pick; call ahead for availability.
• Friske Orchards Farm Market - U-pick strawberries, cherries, peaches, and apples
  10743 N. US-31, Ellsworth, MI 49729. Phone: 231-599-2604. Email: info@friske.com. Open: Staffed farm market open 8 am to 6 p. Directions: 10743 N US-31 at Atwood, 10 miles south of Charlevoix just north of C-48 intersection. Cafe, bakery, old fashioned general store, climate-controlled fruit stand, . Click here for a map and directions.
  Friske Orchards Farm Market Facebook page. . Email . m. Monday to Saturday, year round. 8 am to 7 p.m. July-Labor Day. Christmas room, Country Haus gift and home December or shop. Orchard playland and barnyard animals. Monthly special events. Also prepicked Asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet and tart cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, raspberries, apples, cider, cherry juice and concentrate, dried fruits, jams, jellies, butters, syrups, and honey. U-PICK APPLES Starts Saturday in mid September; Macintosh and Honeycrisp only; then Gala and Ida Red to start later towards end of September.Integrated Pest Mgmt. (UPDATED: September 20, 2019, JBS)
• Good Nature Farms - cherries, peaches and apples
  Creswell and Mclachlan Road, Kewadin, MI . Phone: 231-264-5300. Open: July-October, 8 am to 8 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick . Take US-31 N out of Traverse City. Go N past Elk Rapids. From the stop light in Elk Rapids, we are 8.5 miles on US-31 across from green road sign saying Creswell and Mclachlan Road. We are on the left.
• King Orchards - sweet and tart cherries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples
  4620 N M-88, Central Lake, MI . Phone: 877-937-5464. Click here for a map and directions. . U-pick sweet and tart cherries (we pit too.) U-pick peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, tart cherry juice concentrate, sweet corn, fruits and vegetables in season and unpasteurized cider. Opening with strawberries in June, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 p.m. Sun. 12-6 p.m. through Thanksgiving. 2 locations: 1) 9 miles N of Elk Rapids on US-31 and 2) 3-1/2 miles NW of Central Lake on M-88. Our harvest season begins with cherry u-pick and raspberries at the beginning of July and ends with u-pick apples in the fall. We strive to provide the best orchard u-pick experience possible, offering a wide range of u-pick fruit throughout the summer and fall months. At King Orchards, we strive to make a fantastic apple picking experience for everyone. We grow dwarf apple trees and prune them specifically for u-pick apples to make it easy for people of all ages to pick. As of 9/19/14, we have Gingerold, McIntosh, Gala, and Honeycrisp apples to pick at our M-88 market. We will have many more varieties as we move into fall. We also have all these apples as well as Bartlett pears and Castelton plums available in both of our farm markets. Our 2nds on apples are slowly coming in and will be abundant in the next few weeks. We also will have Stanley prune plums coming soon. U-pick raspberries are at their peak in the fall. Both of our markets offer pick your own raspberries. They are great for freezing this time of the year- just lay out on a cookie sheet or put in a baggy in a single layer for individually frozen raspberries.
• Morrison Farms - cherries,
  11575 Elk Lake Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: (231) 342-8941. Email: markmorrisonfarms@gmail.com. Open: April through October Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4:00 pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, PayPal, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . (ADDED: July 09, 2020)
• Royal Farms Inc. - apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours, winery
  10445 N. US 31, Ellsworth\/ Atwood, MI 49729. Phone: 231 599-3222. Email: royalfarms@torchlake.com. Open: May 4th to Memorial Day weekend: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm Memorial weekend to Labor Day weekend: Monday to Saturday 8am 7pm and Sunday 8am to 6pm Labor Day weekend to October 31st: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm Sunday 9am to 5pm November to December 24th: Monday 9am to 6pm CLOSED Tuesday and Wednesday Thursday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm. Directions: Royal Farms is located on US 31, approximately 10 miles south of Charlevoix. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Royal Farms Inc. Facebook page. . . . Call for picking dates on fruit, corn maze is open September-October. Welcome to our environmentally friendly Farm! Royal Farms is a boutique like farm market that specializes in fresh quality fruit, vegetables, cherry products, Montmorency and Balaton Cherry juice concentrate, flowers, gifts and more. They feature an in house pastry chef, with lots of pastries, pies and goodies to choose from. Royal Farms is verified with the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). (UPDATED: May 01, 2018)

Benzie County

• North Star Organics - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, cherries, restrooms, farm animals
  1139 Forrester Road, Frankfort, MI 49635. Phone: 231-352-4865. Email: northstarorganics@live.com. Open: hours, days and dates. Directions: From US 31 North, turn west on River Road. Go 3 miles to Forrester Road and turn south. Go to 1139 Forrester Road. From Frankfort, head towards Elberta on M22. Before bridge, turn East on River Road. Go approximately 3 miles and turn south on Forrester Road \(only road on right\). North Star Organics is first house on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  North Star Organics Facebook page. . . 9am to 7pm every day starting in mid July and goes thru late July or early August; Please call ahead for details, First come/first serve basis. Click here for current open From US 31 North, turn west on River Road. Go 3 miles to Forrester Road and turn south. Go to 1139 Forrester Road. From Frankfort, head towards Elberta on M22. Before bridge, turn East on River Road. Go approximately 3 miles and turn south on Forrester Road (only road on right). is first house on left. Cherries: early to mid July through end of July. We are certified organic for all crops! You pick your own cherries, we supply gallon plastic bags or bring your own containers. Sweet and tart cherries available. We hope to have pitters available for sale this year.

Charlevoix County

• Raker's Cherry Orchard - Black Sweet Cherries.,
  13041 Richardson Rd., Charlevoix, MI 49720. Phone: 231-547-8997. Open: usually early July for about 3 weeks. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . In Season, they have several varieties of You Pick black sweet cherries, pails provided. 8am till 6pm daily while in season. Note that Richardson Rd. is actually on the Charlevoix/Antrim County line about 10 miles South of Charlevoix. The orchard is just West of US-31 so it is very easy to find if you are driving North from Traverse City or South from Charlevoix or Petoskey. A visitor writes on May 17, 2013: "Picking black sweet cherries at the Raker Orchard is a real treat. A visit here can be fun for the entire family. The hosts are wonderful people and will provide you with picking pails and short walking directions to the best trees. The trees are usually loaded with cherries and if you arrive early in the picking season you can fill a small pail in a matter of minutes without climbing a ladder. The orchard is well maintained by mowing and general spray practices are used. The orchard owners are Roy and Vera Raker and they are prepared to provide you and your family with an enjoyable orchard experience. Bring the kids and Grandma and Grampa too. "

Grand Traverse County (including Old Mission Peninsula)

• Gallaghers Farm And U-Pick - you-pick cherries
  7237 E. Traverse Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: 231-357-7916. Open: 9 am to 6 pm daily during the cherry season. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: cash or credit cards. . In 2021, cherries were $3.00/lb. sweet cherry U-Pick next to the Gallagher Farm Market. They offer several varieties of dark sweet and light sweet cherries. Their farm is a great place for all ages to come out and pick their own cherries. (ADDED: April 26, 2022, JBS)
• McManus Southview Orchards - cherries,
  313 Garfield Road North, Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: 231-946-5867. Open: 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: 5 miles south from airport road on Garfield Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Sweet Cherries are usually read to pick from July 16 to August 6; Tart Cherries from July 26 to August 1.
• Orchard Hill Farms - apples, cherries, pumpkins
  6578 M-72 E, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-267-9087. Email: dhoxsie@charter.net. Open: July-Oct, daily 9 am to 6pm. Directions: Exit @ Grayling from I-75 go W to Kalkaska and continue 14 mi. to our market. Operating for 40 years, our freshly baked pies daily. Autumn brings u-pick apples & pumpkins along with wagon rides to the orchard Fri-Sun during the months of Sep & Oct. . Click here for a map and directions. .
• Rennie Orchards - apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, pumpkins, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, U-pick and already picked, farm market, porta-potties are available, picnic area, petting zoo, birthday parties
  11221 Munro Rd, Williamsburg, MI 49690. Phone: 231-264-8387. Email: Rennieorchards@charter.net. Open: 7days a week 8am to 8pm. Directions: From Traverse City: 12 mi. N on US-31 to Angell Road; turn right - 2 mi. to Munro Road. Left on Munro Road 1 mi. Farm on left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Discover.
  Rennie Orchards Facebook page. . Cherries July thru August 10am to 8 pm. 15 varieties of apples, honeycrisp, gala, jonagold. Other Fruits and Vegetables; U-Pick or We Pick: Apricots from the last weekend of July to August 6th. Peaches-from September 7th to September 16th. Pears Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou September 12th; we pick the pears then store them in the cooler until gone.generally through mid-October. Gourds and squash; during October. Pumpkins -we offer great pumpkins in all shapes and sizes during October. Other Fruits and Vegetables U-Pick or We Pick: Apricots from the last weekend of July to August 6th; Peaches from September 7th to September 16th; Pears: Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou:September 12th; we pick the pears then store them in the cooler until gone, generally through mid-October; Gourds and squash-during October; Pumpkins: we offer great pumpkins in all shapes and sizes during October.
• Santucci Farm - cherries
  11789 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: 517-974-7233. Email: santuccifarms@yahoo.com. Open: During the season 9 am to 6 p. Directions: From T.C. take Center Road all the way out to Old Mission Peninsula, after a few miles you will see a white barn with a cherry painted on it and a dirt lot. There will also be signs posted just before you reach the farm. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. Santucci Farm . Crops are usually available in July, August. m. We have very easy picking from our large dark sweet trees. These trees are loaded !In 2020, We have lots of light sweet available, too. $1.75 per pound. Mention you found us on PickYourOwn.org and receive 10% off. (UPDATED: July 21, 2020 JBS)
• Shangri-la Too - apples, cherries, raspberries (red),
  12602 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: 231-499-0106. Email: santucci.louis@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, There are reports they have closed; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were every day during the harvest from 9 am until dark. Directions: Located on center road which is M37 north. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . We are . We are 7 miles down the peninsula. Right after Chateau grand Traverse winery we are the first big white house on the right if going north. We have a large fruit stand out front with two cherries on each side. Strawberries are sold from mid June to mid July; Raspberries are from Mid July through August; Apples from October through November; Check on all fruit. pick your own cherries, raspberries and apples.
• Wilson Orchards - cherries
  575 Wilson Road, Traverse City, MI . Phone: 231-946-3607. Open: Call before you go see the note from a visitor below; July 3-July 20, 9 am to till. Click here for a map and directions. . Call before you go (see the note from a visitor below); July 3-July 20, 9 am to till. If making special trip for cherries, call ahead. From Traverse City: US-31 N/M-37 N to M-37N (Garfield on right and M-37 N on left.) Follow M-37 N to Wilson Road (approx. 4 miles) Turn left on Wilson Road to top of hill at 575 . Follow Cherry U-Pick sign. Enjoy picking cherries on a Centennial Farm with views of East and West Grand Traverse Bay. Eight varieties of sweet cherries are available during early harvest. Tart cherry harvest follows. Tart varieties include the popular Montmerency and the new Balanton from Hungary which produces a rich red juice. A visitor writes on September 23, 2014: "The lady who owned/ran Wilson's died this fall. She was checking her mailbox and somebody ran into her with their car. Please check with them and see what/if they're doing next year. We don't go enough to know, although we live not far from there. Thanks!"

Leelanau County

• Gallaghers Farm Market - corn maze, cherries, pumpkins, mixed vegetables
  7237 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: 231-947-1689. Email: M77@aol.com. Open: June 15-October 31, 8am-8pm. Directions: 3-12 mi. W of Traverse City on M-72. Home baked goods, local fruits and vegetables in season, homemade jams, jellies, local wines, cherry products, honey, maple syrup, corn maze and petting farm. . Click here for a map and directions. . SLAM . 3-1/2 mi. W of Traverse City on M-72. Home baked goods, local fruits and vegetables in season, homemade jams, jellies, local wines, cherry products, honey, maple syrup, corn maze and petting farm.
• Hallstedt Homestead - Uses integrated pest management practices, cherries, porta-potties
  8227 N. Matheson Road, Northport, MI 49670. Phone: (317) 440-9273. Email: hhcherries@gmail.com. Open: Typical season is mid - July to early August, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm to 5pm. Directions: From Traverse City: North on M22 to Lee Mann Road, turn left onto Lee Mann. Go to Matheson Road. Turn right onto Matheson, We are on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx.
  Hallstedt Homestead Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (317) 525-7659. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We use integrated pest management practices. (ADDED: July 21, 2019)

Manistee County

• Calvin Lutz Farms - cherries, strawberries
  8576 Chief Road, Kakeva, MI 49645. Phone: 231-889-5594. Email: fhaven@t-one.net. Open: May 10am to 5 pm Monday thru Saturday June thru October 8am to 6pm Monday thru Saturday - 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Directions: US 31, 14 miles north of Manistee, Michigan. go east on 9 mile road to Chief road, 3 miles, go south on Chief road 12 mile to farm on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Fax: 231-889-5845. . US 31, 14 miles north of Manistee, Michigan. go east on 9 mile road to Chief road, 3 miles, go south on Chief road 1/2 mile to farm on right. Asparagus May to June, Strawberries June to July, Sweet cherries July to August, Peaches August, Garden vegetables August to October, Pumpkins Squash October, Christmas trees and Wreaths November to December. The ONLY pyo crops offered are Strawberries, Sweet Cherries. (UPDATED: May 23, 2016)

 

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