Last updated: June 22, 2023
Ah, summer! Along with the heat and long days come some of my favorite sweet and juicy fruits of the year.
Right now, in July, we’re talking cherries.
Visiting a U-pick cherry farm can turn those delightful fruits into a whole experience.
Cherry U-picks are not just a great way to get the freshest local cherries (what could possibly be fresher than plucking the fruits right from the tree and popping them into your mouth while still standing on the ladder?).
They’re also a fun way to spend a few hours and show your kids where some of their food comes from.
Below I’ve assembled some tips for cherry picking that you can use whether you live in the Finger Lakes or anywhere else with nearby cherry orchards.
For some expert insight, I also spoke to Donnie Dalrymple, whose family has owned a fruit farm for many decades.
And if this post leaves you craving some cherries, you’ll find lots of great cherry picking farms in the Finger Lakes region. I’ve assembled a list for you farther down.
Feel free to let me know of favorite cherry orchards near you!
Cherry picking tips
How to prepare for cherry picking
Call ahead or check the orchard’s social media sites for the most up-to-date information on whether they’re open and what their current hours are.
While you’re at it, you can also ask:
- what varieties are currently ripe
- what form of payment they accept (some may only take cash)
- whether containers are available or need to be brought
- whether kids are allowed
- what the bathroom situation is
- what the current price per pound (or other unit like quart) is
- what form of pest management is used (very likely integrated pest management)
When is cherry season in New York?
In this part of New York, the cherry picking season falls roughly into the month of July, with some local and annual variation.
Depending on the crowds, the season lasts for about two to three weeks.
In Donnie’s area (Hector, NY), the season usually begins plus-minus a week around July 4th.
When should I go cherry picking?
It’s best to begin your cherry picking early in the morning.
“I always tell everybody if you can go out in the morning, it’s cooler, the fruit’s firmer,” Donnie says. On a hot day, if you’re packing cherries into a big bag, “it starts getting squishy.”
Weekdays also tend to be good for avoiding crowds, but it always depends on the weather.
What should I bring for cherry picking?
- A container: Donnie likes eight-quart cardboard boxes “if you can get your hands on one,” but other buckets or baskets will do just fine.
- Cash: Some farms only accept cash, though some may let you use a credit card. (Best to ask ahead, see above.)
- Comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking around the orchard over grass or other farm terrain and climbing ladders.
- Weather-appropriate clothing: Check the forecast. Wear something that you don’t mind getting cherry juice on.
- Insect repellent: Consider tick spray and other insect repellent, depending on the terrain.
- Sun protection: Bring sunscreen and maybe a hat.
- Snacks: Depending on how long you’re planning to be there, pack snacks and water.
What types of cherries can I pick?
There are lots of different types of cherries, but basically, you’ll find sweet and sour varieties. Ask ahead of time if you’re looking for something specific and you’ll be directed to the right section.
And don’t hesitate to sample the cherries right off the tree, Donnie says. Not only are there different varieties with slightly different flavors, but their sugar content and plumpness can vary from year to year, depending on growing conditions.
“You’ve really kind of got to try them,” he says. “You know, it would be like buying a car without test drive.”
What’s the right way to pick cherries?
It’s best to leave the stem on when you pick cherries.
“It takes longer to pick them that way, but picking them with the stems on, they’ll last two weeks in the fridge. Once you pull that stuff off, you break the integrity of the skin. It’s like bruising a banana. So take the time, pick them with the stems on and you’ll get your fruit to last a lot longer.”
When choosing the fruit, note that it won’t ripen further after picking. Look for firm, full-bodied, and nicely colored cherries for sweet varieties. Sour cherries are a little softer and juicy.
Don’t overstuff your bigger containers. “You can put 15 pounds of cherries in a quart container, but on a hot day you’re gonna start making jam in there,” Donnie says.
What to do after picking cherries
Immediately after picking, keep the cherries out of the sun and in the shade.
At home, wash your cherries in cold water and put them in the fridge.
If you choose to freeze them (probably best after pitting them), first place the cherries onto a cookie sheet until they’re frozen solid. Then gather them in a freezer bag or container, and they won’t stick and clump together.
“My kids would open up the freezer and grab a couple of them out of the bag and eat them just like hard candy,” Donnie says.
Of course you can also get fancy and can them in syrup or make jam.
Donnie’s favorite way of preparing cherries, by the way, is to bake them into scones — during cherry season, he does so two or three times a week. His trick: “You roll out the dough and then you kind of put them in the middle, because if roll them in with the dough, the whole thing turns into a big purple blob. Just fold them in the middle, then cut them into the triangles.”
Cherry picking with kids
Check with the cherry orchard whether they allow kids on the ladders. In any case, keep an eye on the little ones as they climb.
At one place I also noticed a bit of poison ivy in the field and on the trunks of a couple of trees, so look out for that.
A note for picking your cherries in 2023
If you’ve gone to get U-pick cherries in the past, just a heads up that you may have already seen the prices go up last year.
Donnie, for example, explained that the price of fertilizer has more than doubled for him.
This year, a late frost also killed off the harvest at a couple of places. See notes below.
Where to find U-pick cherries near you
I’ve assembled as many cherry farms as I could find. I’m sure there are more. Let me know what farms I’ve missed!
Another go-to source for U-pick information is your local Cooperative Extension. For example, the Tompkins County extension site lists farms for several surrounding counties (though it may not be completely up to date).
Cayuga County
Grisamore Farms
Locke, NY
sweet cherries; many other U-pick options; fifth-generation family farm
grisamorefarms.com
Monroe County
Burch Farms
Hilton, NY
sweet and tart cherries; other fruit crops
facebook.com/burchfarms
Schutt’s Apple Mill
Webster, NY
different varieties; also apples, raspberries; family-run farm since 1918
schuttsapplemill.com
Whittier Fruit Farm
Rochester, NY
sweet cherries; also blueberries; family-run farm since 1974
whittierfruitfarm.com
Schuyler County
Cheerful Cherry Farm
Hector, NY
sweet and sour cherries; other U-pick fruits and vegetables
NOTE FOR 2023: NO CROP – it froze
facebook.com/Cheerfulcherryfarm
Dalrymple Farms
Hector, NY
sweet and sour cherries; winegrape-growing family farm
facebook.com/Dalrymple-Farms-227498507279992/
Fausel Cherries
Burdett, NY
2023: WEBSITE NOTE SAYS CLOSING FOR GOOD
fauselcherries.weebly.com
Sawmill Creek Vineyards
Hector, NY
sweet and sour cherries; 6th-generation winegrape growing family farm
facebook.com/sawmillcreekvineyards
Wickham’s Tango Oaks Farm
Hector, NY
sweet and sour cherries; other tree fruit; fifth-generation family farm
facebook.com/tangooaks
Wayne County
Burnap’s Farm Market
Sodus, NY
sweet cherries; second-generation family business since 1970
burnapsfarm.com
Morgan’s Farm Market
Marion, NY
sweet and sour cherries; family farm with 50-year history
morgansfarmmarket.com/u-pick
Noto Fruit Farm
Williamson, NY
family farm and cider mill since 1978
notofruitfarm.com
G and S Orchards
Walworth, NY
sweet and sour cherries; various U-pick fruits; 210-acre family farm
gandsorchards.com
Yates County
Apple Barrel Orchards
Penn Yan, NY
sweet cherries; also grapes, apples; fourth-generation family business
applebarrelorchards.com
Fulkerson Winery / Farms
Dundee, NY
Venus & Queen Anne cherries; also U-pick apples, grapes; winery family-owner and operated since 1805
fulkersonwinery.com/fruit/bing-cherries
If you like good food, you may also enjoy these posts:
- Where to find great chocolate in the Finger Lakes.
- Best ice cream in Ithaca, NY
And for more U-pick options, check out the pumpkin fields of the Finger Lakes.
Mini Adventure Day in Watkins Glen, NY
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