CHERRY SEASON NOT FAR OFF

California Cherry season is just around the corner and we anticipate our first land of cherries the week of May 15th. The cherry season is very short in California and typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks depending on the weather or variety. This year we are anticipating a healthy crop. Growers were not affected heavily by frost and the trees have a healthy set.

Cherries are a small and delicate fruit and need to be handled with extreme care.  The fruit starting to size up on the tree can still be damaged if there is heavy rain or wind.  Extreme weather can cause the cherries to split or crack and that part of the crop is lost.  The cherries dangle together in groups of 2 to 6 pieces of fruit and the wind can cause them to bang up against each other, causing bruising on the shoulders of the fruit, the area near the stem. As we write this, the rain has returned to the Bay Area. “So far the rain is a non issue”, said Patrick from Dwelley Family Farms in an interview this morning.

Plump sweet red Bing cherries are the most popular variety grown in the Sacramento, Stockton and Lodi areas.  Other varieties grown in California include Sequoia, Tulare, Brooks, Chelan, Lapin and Rainier although not all are found organically. California has a combination of nutrient-rich soil, abundant sunshine and mild temperatures, producing sweet fruit. Stay tuned for updates on the first cherry land from Dwelley and Frog Hollow and learn about the different California varieties as the season progresses.