Cherry Season is a short window usually beginning in early June and going to early July; however, the PYO window can be anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the crop. Watch the website!

Rules

• Do NOT throw the berries.
• Children must be monitored at all times.
• As with other fruit, sampling is OK, but gluttony is theft.  We want you to know what you are picking, but please do not eat more than a few. 
• Do not wander to other fields.  Only pick the fruit that is advertised as being ripe.
• It is OK to sit a short while and enjoy our farm.  But please understand that we are not a park, and need to cover our costs by selling food.

How to Pick the Best Berry!

When picking sweet (Bing type) cherries:

• Color: Choose cherries that are deep dark red or almost mahogany, as darker cherries are usually sweeter and riper.
• Firmness: Pick cherries that feel firm and plump, not soft or mushy.
• Stems: Cherries may last a little longer if picked with the stem. But it doesn’t make much difference.
• Skin: Avoid cherries with wrinkles, splits, or rot, and choose ones that are smooth and shiny.
• Size: Larger cherries are often sweeter and juicier because they had more time to mature on the tree.

When picking Montmorency (sour) cherries:

• Color: Pick cherries that are bright to deep red, since fully red fruit is ripe and ready to harvest.
• Firmness: Choose cherries that feel firm but still slightly tender, not hard or mushy.
• Stems: Many Montmorency cherries are harvested without stems, so focus more on fruit quality than the stem.
• Skin: Look for cherries with smooth, shiny skin and avoid any with splits, wrinkles, or bruises.
• Ease of Picking: A ripe Montmorency cherry will come off the tree easily with a gentle pull.

After Picking Care

• Keep Them Cool – Cherries should be cooled as soon as possible after picking, ideally placed in a refrigerator within a few hours to slow down spoilage.
• Don’t Wash Right Away – Only wash cherries right before eating or using them, because extra moisture during storage can cause them to spoil faster.
• Store in Refrigerator – Keep cherries in a breathable container or loosely covered bowl in the fridge, where they can stay fresh for about 5–7 days.
• Remove Damaged Fruit – Sort through your cherries and remove any soft, bruised, or moldy ones, since they can cause the rest to spoil more quickly.
• Keep Stems On (If Present) – If the cherries still have stems, leave them attached, as stems help the fruit stay fresh longer.

How to Freeze Your Cherries

1. Sort the cherries, remove any soft, bruised, or damaged cherries so only the best fruit is frozen.
2. Wash and dry them, rinse them under cool running water and spread them over a towel until they are completely dry.
3. Remove the stems and pit, if you plan to use them for baking and cooking later.
4. Pre-freeze on a tray, spread the cherries in a single layer on a baking sheet so they are not touching.
5. Allow them to freeze until they are completely frozen, around 2-4 hours.
6. Transfer them to a freezer bag or air tight container.
7. Label and store them for up to 10-12 months!