The folks at Harvest Time in Brentwood have announced more u-pick farms are open this weekend with plenty of cherry variety to go around.
From now until early June, cherry season is in full swing with farms opening new lots every week as new cherry varieties become available. This week, they are introducing three cherry varieties:
Our u-pick season is off to a great start! For those of you who came out last week, we hope you had a wonderful time enjoying this year’s crop. The combination of rain and cooler winter temperatures has provided our fruit with the perfect conditions to grow and ripen beautifully.
Here are the varieties that will be available this week (Just to name a few, there are many more varieties at our different cherry orchards):
- Coral Cherry: Loved by many, the coral variety is sweet and juicy with “pop” at the first bite. Corals are generously large making every bite satisfying.
- Black Pearl Cherry: This variety is a deep burgundy in color. With their sweet flavor and moderate firmness, this variety is perfect for snacking or baking.
- Utah Giant: The Utah Giant cherry is known for its exceptional size and firm texture, surpassing that of Bing or Lambert cherries. It ripens later in the season and offers a more complete flavor profile, making it a standout choice for cherry enthusiasts.
- Brooks: Brooks cherries are large and firm, with a slightly tart flavor. They are heart-shaped and offer a delightful sweet-tart taste with hints of blackberry. Similar to Bing cherries in both flavor and texture, Brooks cherries are perfect for baking, making sauces, and adding to salads.
- Rainier (aka White Cherry): These cherries are large, with a distinctive golden-yellow skin flushed with a beautiful red blush. They have a tender, juicy flesh that is creamy-yellow in color. Rainier cherries are notably sweet, with a complex flavor that combines hints of vanilla and mild tartness. They are often considered one of the sweetest and most flavorful cherries available. Rainier cherries are enjoyed fresh and are also excellent for use in desserts, fruit salads, and as a garnish.
| Farm Name | Farm Status | Farm Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Airaya U-Pick Farm | Open | OPEN MAY 16-19 for delicious & healthy Crisp White Peaches and small Crisp White Nectarines. Thur-Fri 9am-2pm Sat-Sun 8am-5pm |
| Bloomfield Cherries | Open | Bloomfield Cherries will be open Wednesday May 15th for the u-pick season. We will be picking Brooks and. Oral Champagne cherries. Days of operation are Wednesday thru Sunday. |
| Canciamilla Ranch | Open | Currently open for u-pick and picked white peaches. 9 AM to 5 PM. U-pick subject to close without notice. See you here! |
| Chao’s Strawberries | Open | Open on Saturdays from 8 am until picked out. May open more days as we progress into the season. |
| Cherry Time | Open | Cherry time will be opening for the 2024 season on Saturday May 11th and Sunday May 12th from 9-5pm. Our normal business hours are Wednesday through Sunday 9-5 p.m.. |
| Creswell Family Farms | Open | It is Strawberry Season. 🍓🍓 Weather permitting, we are open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am to 1:00pm. |
| Diablo Cherries | Open | We are CLOSED! We are open during the week 8am-5pm, closed TUESDAYs to water. We have BLACK PEARLS and early CORALS available for U-Pick! |
| Dwelley – Suzuki | Open | 🍒 Opening Weekend – May 11th & 12th Hours – 8:00am-4:00pm |
| G&S Farms | Open | Corals and brooks!! |
| G&S Farms Denali | Open | Open 9am to 5pm |
| Gursky Ranch | Open | Open Tues-Sun, 10:00-5:00! |
| Maggiore Cherry Ranch | Open | OPEN! for U-Pick! 8 am to 5 pm |
| Marsh Creek Cherries | Open | Opening weekend hours. May 17, 18 & 19th 8am-4pm. Corals & Utah Giants. $4/lb Upick & $5/lb prepicked. No reservations required. |
| McCauley Olive Groves | Open | Monday-Friday 10-6 Saturday 9:30-5:30 Sunday 10-4 |
| Papa’s U-Pick Cherries | Open | Opening Daily 8 am to 5 pm |
| Pease Ranch | Open | We are open Thursday May 16th through Sunday May 19th. 8AM to 4PM for u-pick cherries & blackberries. |
| RC U-Pick Cherries | Open | Open 8 am to 5 pm. |
| Seko Ranch Cherries | Open | We are ready to open! We will be open Friday 5-17 to Sunday 5-19 for picked and sorted cherries only! Hours will be 9-4. We will have picked and sorted Brooks and Corals! |
| Serendipity Cellars | Open | Open 3-7pm Shop our market. No outside beverages. No smoking. No pets. Children welcome on the grass. |
| Sweet Lou’s | Open | Sweet Lou’s will be open for the 2024 u-pick cherry season this Saturday May 11th and Sunday May 12th 9-5 p.m.. Our regular business hours will be 7 days a week until the season is over. |
| The Cherry Pit | Open | We are open daily 8am-6pm Formally Chavez U-Pick Cherries Follow us on Instagram @thecherrypitupick |
| Three Nunns Farm | Open | Open daily for cherry and strawberry UPICK! We offer tractor rides, farm attractions, and real fruit ice cream pops. A guaranteed memorable UPICK experience for all ages! |
| Urban Edge | Open | STORE SPRING HOURS TUES-SAT 9-5 SUN 9-4 Apples Greens lettuce beets turnips cabbage broccoli cauliflower & more Local honey gourmet cookies beef organic chicken pickles and more. |
| Very Mulberry | Open | We are open for U-Pick Today, Friday, May 17th, 2024, from 8 AM to until we are picked out. |
| Wolfe Ranch Cherries | Open | Opening Fri May 17, 2024 with Upick and Picked Coral Cherries. 8:30 til 3:00. Tulare, White Rainier, Bing and Van to follow |
More than Just Cherries:
But don’t stop at cherries! Visit the largest u-pick mulberry farm on the West Coast at Very Mulberry farm. Unlike other berries, mulberries are pure sweetness with a rich jammy flavor with no tartness.
And for those who prefer strawberries, pluck them right from the patch-perfect for little ones with their low-to-the-ground rows.
There’s more! Early varieties of peaches and blackberries are also available for picking at select farms.
- #62 Airaya Farms (White Peaches and crisp White Nectarines)
- #34 Pease Ranch
Celebrate Moms this weekend and give Mom the gift of sweet and fresh fruit straight from our farms
A Few Important Tips
We want you to have the best experience when you visit, so please read the tips and follow the recommendations.
- Check our website: Check the Farm status at https://harvestforyou.com/interactive-map/ to help you plan your trip. Our “Interactive Map” displays farms that are OPEN at the time you are viewing the map. Each farm can set their farm status to OPEN or CLOSE, and is displayed on the map in real-time, so please check this map OFTEN. The “All Harvest Time Farms” map will show all Harvest Time farms for visitors that like to plan their visit.
- Check Brentwood’s weather before leaving home: Brentwood’s temperatures range from 5-20 degrees warmer than other parts of the Bay Area, so please dress accordingly. Check Brentwood’s weather HERE.
- Dress Appropriately: Remember, you are visiting farms. Wear comfortable clothes and
shoes suitable for outdoor activities. Opt for breathable fabrics, a hat, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. (Open-toe
- shoes or heels are not recommended)
- Stay Hydrated: Bring water to stay hydrated throughout your picking excursion, especially during hot days.
- Bring a cooler: It’s always a good idea to bring a cooler to maintain the fruit’s freshness.
- Photo Op: Enjoy the beauty of our area! Our natural surroundings offer the perfect photo opportunity and don’t forget to tag us on all your social media posts! Use @harvestforyou & @upickcapital on Instagram and Facebook.
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