California is famous for its sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and deliciously fresh produce. With so much land and only so much coastline, you bet there’s more to California than just beaches!
One of the most popular Northern California day trips for families (for locals and visitors alike) is cherry picking, a fun and family-friendly way to enjoy the fresh fruit of the season.
For the few weeks between mid-April and the end of June, farms across the length of California offer visitors the opportunity to take time out in the fresh air and join the farmers in their orchards picking cherries.
This low-cost, fun-filled activity provides a wonderful opportunity to spend a day in the sun while your children learn how fruit and other produce are grown and end up in the pantry at home. But with so many orchards and farms throughout the state (many of them with out-of-date websites or no websites at all), it can be overwhelming to decide where, and when, to go and what to expect.
In this post, we’ll take you on a journey through the best cherry-picking spots in California, from the famous Central Valley to the lesser-known gems of Northern California.
Learn how to pick the sweetest cherries, learn about the different varieties, and discover the best tips for a successful cherry-picking adventure with the whole family!
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Table of Contents
An Overview Of Cherries In California
Cherry farming in America started in Michigan and expanded West at the beginning of the 20th century.
Since the 1970s, California has actively marketed its cherry crop to several world markets, and cherries now form a major export activity, where the Californian product is sold as far afield as Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Mexico, and Chile.
California is the second-largest producer of cherries in the United States, and the state’s mild climate and fertile soil make it an ideal place for growing this delicious fruit.
Today, there are over 35,000 acres of cherry orchards in California, with the majority located in the Central Valley and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
With all that said, you better believe cherries from California are good!
Cherry picking in California, a fun pastime perfect for the whole family, starts in the South and moves Northward as days become warmer.
Cherry season in California typically runs from mid-May to early July, with peak harvest time in early June.
While a good chunk of cherries are picked and shipped off to grocery stores and sold at farmers markets, cherry farmers also offer fun ways for the public to join them in harvesting this delicious crop!
During the short season, from the last few weeks of April through to the end of June, many farmers offer hands-on picking activities.
For first-timers looking to go cherry-picking in California, there are a few things to keep in mind. It’s important to check with the orchard or farm before heading out, as cherry season can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions.
Additionally, some orchards may require reservations or have specific hours of operation, so it’s best to plan ahead.
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s start by understanding what cherries are out there across the state of California. This way, you can be sure that you’re picking the stuff you actually want to eat!
The Varieties Of Cherries In California
The harvest of California cherries starts in Bakersfield, Kern County, and slowly moves northwards as summer temperatures increase.
Sadly, the season is so short; by the end of June, all the cherries have been harvested, and the season has ended.
Take the Brooks cherry, for instance, a cross between Rainier and Bing varieties. Harvest usually starts towards the end of April and into the first week of May. That’s it!
The cherry season in each area lasts for approximately six weeks.
The varieties of cherries grown in California are listed below. And while each year’s cherry season can vary depending on that year’s weather conditions, the table below provides a general trend of when cherries are in season depending on where you are in CA:
| Variety of Cherry | Sour or sweet | Kern County | San Joaquin Valley | Sacramento Valley | Central Coast | North Coast | Sierra Nevada |
| Bing cherries | Sweet | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | Middle to end of June | June |
| Brooks cherries | Sour | Mid to end April | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Burlat cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Chelan cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Lapin Cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Meteor cherries | Sour | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Montmorency cherries | Sour | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| North Star cherries | Sour | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Ranier cherries | Sweet | June | June | June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | June |
| Richmond cherries | Sour | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Royal-Ann cherries | Sweet | June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Ruby cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | End May beginning June | June | June | June |
| Skeena Cherries | NA | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June |
| Stella cherries | Sweet | June | June | June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June |
| Tulare cherries | NA | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | End Of May to mid-June | Middle to end of June | June |
| Black Tartarian cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | June | June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | June |
| Van cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | June | June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | June |
| Lambert cherries | Sweet | End May beginning June | Middle to end of June | Middle to end of June | July | July | July |
Where Can You Pick Cherries In California?
The main cherry-growing regions are situated around the following areas in Central California from south to north:
- Bakersfield
- Fresno
- Hollister
- Gilroy
- Morgan Hill
- Lodi
- Sacramento
Cherry Picking In Bakersfield
The Big Red Barn at the Murray Family Farm is the best farm to visit and pick cherries.
Murray Family Farm is located at 6700 General Beale Road, Bakersfield.
Cherry Picking In Fresno
There are several farms in Fresno that offer cherry picking.
Mountain Brook Ranch
Mountain Brook Ranch offers cherry picking in season and is situated along Auberry Road in Clovis. The address is 17971 Auberry Rd, Clovis, CA 93619.
During different times of the year, you can join these folks to pick pomegranates, boysenberries, and strawberries too.
Cherry Land Farms
Cherryland Farms, situated on 6589 W. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, has cherry-picking activities available for the whole family.
The season only lasts about three weeks, so prospective visitors must plan and stay in contact with the farms to determine when picking will start.
Cherry Picking In Hollister
The Fairhaven Orchards in Hollister offer cherry picking in season.
This family-owned and operated farm has been in production, producing cherries and dried fruit for over 75 years.
Fairhaven Orchards is located at 1448 Bolsa Road (Hwy. 25), Hollister.
Cherry Picking In Gilroy
Again, there are several farms in Gilroy that offer cherry picking.
Lazy K Ranch
At the Lazy K Ranch, you can expect over 1000 cherry trees including Bings, Brooks, and Vans (dark red sweet cherries), all organic use approved sprays only, for your picking enjoyment. For the latest details on u-pick opportunities, check their site for cherry season dates and any changes to operating hours.
You can find them at 3465 Susie Ln Gilroy, CA 95020.
Gilroy U-Pick
Gilroy U-Pick is an option that’s open to the public during June for cherry picking. They do not use any sprays, organic or inorganic, on their crops.
This farm is situated at 10541 Korn Lane, Gilroy, CA, 95020.
U-Pick Orchards
U-Pick Orchards is another great spot to cherry-pick at. They have multiple ranches that you could visit for a nice day out. Be sure to check out their website for the latest updates on when the properties open up to the public!
Cherry Picking In Morgan Hill
The U Pick Orchards (listed above), Ranch 1 and Ranch 5 are located in Morgan Hill.
During cherry-picking season, people can visit without a reservation. Admission is free and there is no parking fee either. Expect u-pick pricing to be around $6.25/lb.
The farm is situated at 550 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. The entrance to Ranch 5 is down the paved road at the end of the cherry orchard.
Cherry Picking In Stockton
There are several farms that offer “U-Pick” facilities.
Johan Podesta Farms
John Podesta Farms in Stockton offers cherry picking to customers who bring their own buckets!
There are two fields with different cherry types grown as follows.
Field No 1 Cherries: The cherry varieties grown on field number one include Bings, Corals, Larians, and “Yellow” Rainiers.
Field Number Two 2 Cherries: The cherry varieties grown on field number two include Brooks, Bings, Larians, and “Yellow” Rainiers.
The farm can be found at 9206 Hildreth Lane, Stockton.
Harris Orchards
This farm is open for “U-Picking” during the warm summer months and, depending on the time of the year, includes cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and grapes. Be sure to check their Facebook page for the latest offerings.
The farm can be found at 18600 N Ripon Road, Ripon.
Alpine Blue Farms
Alpine Blue Farms is a good place to go cherry-picking on a budget. During the cherry-picking season, you can also pick blackberries and blueberries too! In terms of cherries, expect varieties like Bing and Rainier.
They also sell already-picked walnuts, blackberries, blueberries, and apricots for purchase.
Address: 7490 E Hwy 26 Stockton, CA 95215
Cherry Picking In Lodi
Chinchiolo Farming Company, Inc. offers in-season “U-Pick” cherry-picking facilities at Lodi Blooms.
Lodi Blooms offers a unique guided tour where the resident expert farmer, James Chinchiolo, provides a full learning experience where customers can learn all about cherries while also taking turns to pick them.
Picked cherries are sold by the pound.
The season generally commences in the first or second week of May and remains open for approximately 21 to 28 days of the year.
The varieties of cherries cultivated in the orchards include Bing, Brooks, Coral Champagne, Lapin, and Tulare.
The farm can be found at 11560 North Lower Sacramento Rd, Lodi. The entrance is off Lower Sacramento Road, and to be neighborly, they ask visitors to avoid using Mettler Road.
Cherry Picking In Sacramento
Several venues offer cherry picking near Sacramento. If you do choose to go cherry-picking in the Sac area, be sure to stop by Old Town Sac for old-timey historic fun!
The American River Cherry Company
Perhaps the most exciting venue to cherry-pick at is the American River Cherry Company! This farm offers picking experiences for the following varieties of cherries and berries:
- Bing cherries
- Rainer cherries
- Regina cherries
- Early Burlat cherries
- Burgundy Pearl Cherries
- Boysenberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
As you can see, there’s a lot you can bring home with just one visit to the farm!
While you’re here, there’s some other stuff the kids may enjoy too! Check out the adjacent koi pond (they sell fish food so you can feed them) or pack a picnic to enjoy at the spacious one-acre lawn under tall pine trees with a hammock and picnic tables!
There is a $5 entry fee for adults and kids over 12 years old.
The farm can be found at 2240 Dias Drive, Placerville.
Pacific Star Gardens
Pacific Start Gardens welcomes cherry U-pick seekers to join them during the cherry-picking season. They also offer strawberry u-picking opportunities as well.
The farm can be found at 20872 County Road 99 Woodland, CA
Daisy Creek Farms
Daisy Creek Farms offer “U-Pick” activities for various fruits and vegetables, depending on the time of year and season.
Daisy Creek Farms is found at 13440 Alabama Rd Galt, CA
Want to continue the fun after cherry-picking in Sacramento? We’ve got a bunch of fun road trip itineraries from Sacramento that you could follow on your cherry-picking day trip!
Johnson U-Pick Farm
Johnson U-Pick Farm is such a little gem in the Oroville / Yuba City area. The quality of the fruits here is amazing! The prices are incredibly reasonable too. There are other fruits like apricots, nectarines, green grapes, squash, blackberries, raspberries, and plums.
Address: 113 Higgins Ave Gridley, CA 95948
Rules To Follow When Picking Cherries
Many farms offer a “U Pick” activity where cherries are sold by the pound. The typical rules may differ depending on which farm you visit, but usually, they follow similar guidelines:
- Only pick the cherries that are ripe and ready to be harvested. Avoid picking unripe or damaged cherries.
- Don’t climb on the trees or shake the branches, as this can damage the trees and fruit.
- No pets are allowed in the orchards.
- Ladders or tools to elevate a person are not permitted
- Ice chests, coolers, backpacks, chairs, or stools are generally not allowed.
- Pickers must never climb trees or pull down branches.
- Customers must only pick cherries only and must not damage the stems or leaves (this may remove next year’s fruit).
- Children have to be kept with the family group.
- Some orchards allow picnics, and others don’t.
- No littering
- No drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes in the orchards.
- You may need to bring your own bucket if the farm does not have them available for rent! Do not use bags or backpacks to collect the cherries.
- Follow any specific instructions or guidelines provided by the farm staff, such as where to park or how to pay for the cherries.
- Wash your hands before and after picking cherries to help prevent the spread of germs.
- Be mindful of the weather and dress appropriately. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes.
Looking for more California travel tips? Read More:
15 Best Things To Do In Old Town Sacramento, California
12 Lively California Gold Rush Towns You Must Visit
32 Fun Day Trips From Sacramento (In Under 3 Hours!)
