2024 Western New York State Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Western New York State in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for cherries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have cherries orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Chautauqua County

• Farmer John's - sweet and sour cherries
  350 E. Main Street, Fredonia, NY 14063. Phone: 716-672-2148. Click here for a map and directions . U-pick and ready . Vegetables including corn, squash, zucchini, peppers, beans, cucumbers, potatoes. July 4th to Labor Day.
• Olde Chautauqua Farms - U-pick asparagus and cherries.
  6645 W. Main Road, Portland, NY 14769. Phone: 716-792-9440. Open: May through July, Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Click here for a map and directions . We have sour and sweet cherries. Picking for sweets finishes firstWe are located behind 21 Brix Winery (which is at 6654 West Main Rd, Portland, NY 14769) If you pull to the back of the parking lot you will see our stand! If you have any questions or concerns give us a call.
• Walker's Fruit Farm and Wine Juice - cherries - pyo and prepicked
  2860 NY Route 39, Forestville, NY 14062. Phone: 716-679-1292. Open: their website says to check their website in June for opening dates and picking info. Click here for a map and directions . Payment: cash, only. (UPDATED: June 1, 2024, JBS) According to a visitor (May 18, 2008): "They do have a picnic area with a pond, and restrooms. Picking dates are from late June to early July, with a season of 2 to 3 weeks depending on the weather. They have a farm stand to buy already picked sweet and sour cherries, plus grapes. You can also go out and pick cherries in their orchard, in which they have many varieties like dwarf trees for easy access. Available are buckets, ladders, pole buckets, a free de-pitting station, and picnic area with a pond to relax with restrooms."

Erie County

• Paul's Organic Farm - Registered naturally grown, apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, nectarines, other berries, pawpaws, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), strawberries, Other fruit or veg, Honey from hives on the farm, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
  8213 Center Road, Holland, NY 14080. Phone: 786-348-8600. Open: July 1 to September 31, from 12 pm to 6, Friday 12 pm to 6, Saturday 8 am to 6, Sunday 12 pm to 6. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Alternate Phone: 716-941-6905 We are registered naturally grown for all cropsWestern New York's Only Sustainable Wind-Powered Organic Farm At in Colden, NY, you can Pick organic berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries), Pick organic fruit (apples, pears, peaches, plums, plum-cots, nectarines, apricots, paw-paw, cherries) Book an Educational Tour for your group, Read organic farming and aquaponics articles by Pauland even book a stay in our Guesthouse via Airbnb. (UPDATED: July 18, 2019, JBS) (ADDED: April 06, 2015)

Niagara County

• Becker Farms - Apples, asparagus, blueberries, cherries, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, Precut Christmas trees, Santa appearances, Christmas decorations, trees tied, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, haunted corn maze, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, pony rides, petting zoo
  3724 Quaker Road, Gasport, NY 14067. Phone: 716-772-2211. Email: mindy@beckerfarms.com . Open: U-Pick Runs daily from 10 am to 5 pm; Picking Times and Dates are subject to change due to weather and availability of fruit. Directions: from Buffalo NY Take NYS 290 to NYS 990 to Millersport Highway. Take Millersport to Transit Road in Lockport. Follow Transit straight through Lockport until you hit Route 31. Take a right onto Route 31 and follow it about 7 miles to Gasport. Once in Gasport take a left onto east ave \(Gasport Road or Hartland Road They are considered the same road.\). go over the drawbridge in Gasport and take your first right onto Slayton Settlement Road Follow Slayton Settlement for one mile and take a left - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Fax: 716-772-7429 . Or email us via our form on our website Please call for the most up to date picking conditions; Fall hours: 11 am to 6p.m. Winter hours: Weekends, noon to 5p.m. Spring hours: 11a.m-6p.m. Call ahead for exact picking datesfrom Buffalo NY Take NYS 290 to NYS 990 to Millersport Highway. Take Millersport to Transit Road in Lockport. Follow Transit straight through Lockport until you hit Route 31. Take a right onto Route 31 and follow it about 7 miles to Gasport. Once in Gasport take a left onto east ave (Gasport Road or Hartland Road They are considered the same road.). go over the drawbridge in Gasport and take your first right onto Slayton Settlement Road Follow Slayton Settlement for one mile and take a left onto Quaker Road. Follow Quaker Road one mile. We are on the left hand side of the road. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October, DecemberWe also offer homemade fruit pies made from our own fruit, homemade fudge, gourmet cookies, ice cream, drinks and gift items. There are also several weekend festivals in June, July, September, and October. We offer several options for tour groups. also has a winery with over 15 different fruit and grape wines! Rest room facilities and a wheelchair ramp are available in our farm market. Reservations are required for the pie and coffee or hay ride activities. Reservations are not necessary to stop and shop, however if we know you are bringing a group, we can be sure to have extra help on hand to provide fast service. We are open every day from the second weekend in May through Christmas. We are always having special events. Check our Calendar for the latest! Remember to plan for autumn and evening hayrides and bonfires. invites you to experience Vizcarra Vineyards. Stop by and enjoy as we uncork our home-made wine. Relax in our Mediterranean-style tasting room, open seven days a week. (UPDATED: July 18, 2019, JBS)
• Coulter Farms - raspberries (red), strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peas, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, farm market
  3871 North Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 24094. Phone: 716-434-5700. Email: coultfarms@aol.com . Open: See our Web Site for current hours. Directions: located in the upstate NY near the intersection of routes 93 and 425 in the Town of Cambria. We will also have U-Pick Strawberries at two other fields, one 4156 North Ridge Road and one on 4894 Ridge Road \(entrance from Budd Road\). . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . Alternate Phone: 716-433-8300 located in the upstate NY near the intersection of routes 93 and 425 in the Town of Cambria. We will also have U-Pick Strawberries at two other fields, one 4156 North Ridge Road and one on 4894 Ridge Road (entrance from Budd Road)See Web site for updated harvest datesWe also have pre-picked strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, cauliflower, squash, pumpkins, peaches, and peppers. We have tractor rides to strawberry field for the U-Picks. We grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for our Farm Market (at corner of routes 93 and 425), for wholesale and for U-Pick. Some of our main crops include strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, sweet cherries, peaches and melons. Our farm offers the opportunity to pick strawberries, peas, sweet cherries, raspberries and blueberries on our farms during their respective seasons. Our Farm market is open approximately June 1 through mid October. Our U-Pick Season is in June and July primarily for strawberries, peas, sweet cherries and raspberries. U-pick strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, peaches, tomatoes, vegetables, and pumpkins starting in June at our friendly u-pick farm just off Route 104, around the corner from Niagara wineries. Call our picking line for updates:. Relax by our 6-acre lake, walk our nature areas, or stop at our farm market at 3870 North Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094 - 1/4 mile west of Route 425. Farm market also selling peppers, squash, garlic, herbs and cut flowers Experience our CORN MAZE from September to Halloween at our fall market featuring a petting zoo, pumpkins, gourds, cider, apples, popcorn, cotton candy. Follow us on Facebook for a taste of life in wine country! Market phone 716-433-8300."(UPDATED: May 27, 2022)
• Curione Farms - cherries,
  3253 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn, NY 14132. Phone: 716-731-3789. Open: Monday to Sunday 830am to dusk. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, only. Sweet and Sour Cherries Available. (ADDED: June 27, 2015)
• Kappus Farms - cherries, raspberries
  6275 Jockey Road, Burt, NY . Phone: 716-778-8396. Email: info@kappusfarms.com . Open: from 8 am to 6 pm everyday. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . The also have already picked apples, pears, plums and peaches. We have a unique micro climate because of the vicinity of the lake so we are able to grow a wide variety of fruits. Among these are Apples, Peaches, Plums, Prunes, Pears, Sweet Cherries, Nectarines, Apricots and Tart Cherries. U-pick cherries are available near the end of June into mid July. Already picked peaches for retail and wholesale are available mid August to mid September. Wholesale apples start near the end of August until November. (UPDATED: July 18, 2019, JBS)
• Lisiecki Produce - U-pick cherries, Farm stand.
  8427 Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport, NY 14067. Phone: 716-772-2213. Open: June to October, from 9 am to 7 pm. Click here for a map and directions . Typical dates: cherries: July, August: plums, tomatoes and squash.
• Singer Farms, Bittner Singer Orchards - cherries,
  6730 Lake Rd, Appleton, NY 14008. Phone: 716 778 7858. Email: LocalFruit@bittnersingerorchards.com . Open: We will be opening the Upick cherry orchard on July 1 the year; Will be open every day from 9 am to 7pm daily till late July. Click here for a map and directions . Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard. 3 miles east of Olcott, NY on Route 18 Sweet & tart cherries. Open for approximately 3 week season. We also sell fresh frozen tart tart cherry juice concentrate, dried cherries and dried apples. Bittner-Singer Orchards has one of the largest orchards of dwarf cherry trees in the eastern United States. In the month of July, you can pick large sweet and tart cherries without using a ladder! Note: the U-Pick parking lot is at 6730 Lake Rd. (State Rte. 18), Appleton, NY (UPDATED: May 11, 2016, JBS)
• Whittier Fruit Farm - apples, blueberries, cherries, peaches, pumpkins
  7399 Lake Road, Appleton, NY 14008. Phone: 585-594-9054. Email: info@whittierfruitfarm.com . Open: See website for open dates and hours! Crops are usually available in July, August, September. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions . Click here for a map to our farm. To get to the blueberry field from the Rochester area, give yourself about an hour. Take route 390 north to the Lake Ontario State Parkway, and drive west until the parkway ends. Turn right (west) on Route 18 and continue for about 20 miles, half a mile beyond the power plant. Look for a sign on your right that says "Russell's U-Pick Blueberries." We have a ten acre patch of berries on Lake Ontario in Niagara County, near the Somerset power plant. Blueberry season runs from mid-July to early September. You can pick 32 varieties of apples on trees that are easy to pick - no ladders necessary! We are always planting new trees, so there are more and more choices each year. Picking time for sweet cherries usually starts late June or July and lasts for two weeks. Donut Peaches, These flat shaped sweet, sweet peaches are sometimes called peentos. Our blueberries are located along Lake Ontario in Niagara County. Blueberries season runs from mid-July to early September. Note; this farm also goes by the name, Russell's U-Pick Blueberry Patch. Apples - At the you can pick 32 varieties of apples on trees that are easy to pick - no ladders necessary! We are always planting new trees, so there are more and more choices each year. All apples are picked into containers we provide at no additional cost. Our PYO apples are sold by the pound. Check our News section to find out when apple varieties are being picked. we grow 32 varieties of apples: Paula Red, Zestar, Sansa, Ginger Gold, Jonamac, SweeTango, CrimsonCrisp, Gala, Twenty Ounce, AutumnCrisp, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Sweet Sixteen, SnapDragon, Fireside, Empire, Fuji, Macoun, SnowSweet, Red Delicious, Fortune, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Topaz, Ida Red, Northern Spy, Crispin, RubyFrost, Suncrisp, Granny Smith, and Cameo.Sweet Cherries - Picking time for sweet cherries usually starts late June or July and lasts for two weeks. Check our News section for picking dates.Donut Peaches - These flat shaped sweet, sweet peaches are sometimes called peentos. They are usually available to pick for 2-3 weeks in August. Check our News section for picking dates.Blueberries - Our blueberries are located along Lake Ontario in Niagara County. Blueberries season runs from mid-July to early September. Check our Blueberries section for directions to the blueberry patch.Pumpkins - Our tractor and wagon will take you to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturdays and Sundays in October. Or you can pick one up at our farm market. Our pumpkins are sold by the pound. (formerly called Russell's U-Pick") (UPDATED: July 18, 2019, JBS)

Cherry

Cherry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

If you are about to pick cherries either directly from a tree, or from a local orchard or market, here's what you need to know to pick the best cherries.

Cherries are a fairly early crop, flowering soon after the last frosts in April and May, setting fruit in June, usually at the same time as strawberries in most areas (but check your area's harvest calendar and call the farm or orchard you are planning to go to a few weeks ahead).

Types of Cherries

There are two types of cherries: sweet cherries and sour cherries (also called tart or pie cherries) . The difference is simple:

• Sweet cherries taste sweeter and are eaten fresh.
  
• Pie cherries are very tart and most people prefer to use them in pies, jams, preserves, jellies and butters, adding sugar to sweeten them.

See further down this page for a list of common cherry varieties and their uses. Washington State, California and Oregon are the primary sweet cherry growing states; they produce almost 90 percent the U.S.'s cherry crop. Michigan produces about 74 percent of tart cherry production. We have a master table of cherry varieties, sweet and sour (pie) in the order in which they ripen .

Cherry picking tips

• Pick ripe: Cherries, like peaches, continue to increase in size until they are ripe. They should be picked when they are of maximum size and full-flavored.
• But not under-ripe: Cherries picked before they are fully mature will not ripen off the tree.
• And not over-ripe: when they become soft, mushy or discolored.
• Pie or sweet: There are 2 main types of cherries: sweet cherries that taste sweet and tart when you eat them fresh, and sour (also called pie cherries) which are too tart for most people to want to eat fresh.
• For all varieties of sweet cherries, the darker the cherry is the sweeter it will be. If you like more sour cherries the lighter red and less ripe, the more tart it will be.
• Stem separation: Sweet cherries become firm when ripe (the stems usually stay attached when you pick a sweet cherry), and sour cherries part easily from the stem.
• Leave the stems on sweet cherries: Cherries that are to be shipped will keep longer if the stems are left attached. They will store in the refrigerator for two to three days.
• Appearance: Look for heavy, firm cherries with a shiny skin and fresh stem.
• But for immediate use , they can be picked with or without the stems.

How to pick the cherries from the tree

1. Gently grasp the berry with your fingers and thumb, and
2. tug gently.
3. If it is ripe, it will easily come off in your hand, with the stem attached.
4. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 cherries.
5. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
6. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the cherries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Cherries from your own trees, a market or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden cherries ready for harvest.
2. Avoid placing the picked cherries in the sunshine any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat.
3. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Cherries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three days, depending upon the initial quality of the berry.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Cherries are affected by weather (especially rain and cooler temperatures) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first! Always call before you go to the farm - Cherries are affected by weather (especially rain and cooler temperatures) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Get there early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Bring containers - Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Cherries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Cherries more than 3 inches deep will smush the lower cherries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Drinks and snacks - Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the cherries until you are ready to use them. Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Chill: Cherries are more perishable than blueberries or strawberries, so make a point of refrigerating them as immediately as possible after purchase. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze cherries! (Fresh cherries are highly prone to freeze damage).
3. Spread out: Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting cherries
4. Eat or freeze: Even under ideal conditions cherries will only keep for a few days in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, consume or freeze them as soon as possible after purchase.
5. See my How to freeze berries page . (Unless you're going to make jam right away)
6. Now, get ready to make Cherry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Cherry preserves instructions - illustrated and easy or cherry pie filling

Cherry Recipes, Canning, Jam, Jelly, and related resources

• Cherry preserves instructions - illustrated and easy
• Cherry jelly
• Cherry pie filling
• Cherry butter
• Cherry festivals
• Cherry pitters - reviews and where to get them
• How to pit cherries - several methods

Cherry varieties

For a master table of cherry varieties in the order in which they ripen, click here.

Sweet cherries:

• Bing cherries are deep red in color and sweet.
• Blackgold - very late mid-season. Good for eating fresh. Self-fertile.
• Brooks - a large, firm red cherry that tolerates hot climates. Sweet with both complex flavors and a sweet tart blackberry-like taste.
• Chelan - deep, mahogany red, heart-shaped, medium sized, sweet fruits, like Bing.  Sweet, between 16 and 18 % sugar.
• Coral Champagne - very large, red, super sweet fruit that is often preferred to Bing. Firm, but juicy flesh with a coral pink color center.
• Emperor Francis are White or Blush Sweet Cherries, Early season, perfect for canning, making jellies and jams, or making homemade maraschinos.
• Hartland , an early season dark cherry. A Windsor cross, it was developed in New York
• Hedelfingen is a later season sweet cherry. It has large, black fruit.
• Kristin cherries are a a mid-season cherry developed in New York.
• Lambert Cherry is a large, black, late harvest cherry of very good quality, compared to Bing.
• Lapins Cherry is a self-fruitful, large, dark red sweet cherry from Canada with firm, good flavor. Ripens a few days after Bing and needs only 400 chilling hours or less to produce fruit.
• Orondo Ruby - A ruby red color with some gold coloring, this is a sweeter, brighter variant of the Rainier cherry. Marcus Griggs of G&C farms found this in his Rainier cherry orchard. They have a brighter red color to them and a sweeter and a bit more acidic.
• Rainier cherries are golden yellow with a pink or red blush. Rainier cherries are large and sweet.
• Royalton cherries are large, dark cherry mid-season cherries
• Sam - early ripening, large, black sweet cherry. Ripens 11 days after Vista.
• Skeena cherries are a late ripening variety. They are dark red, firm and juicy.
• Somerset cherries are medium sized, later season cherries that are dark and firm.
• Sonata - Very large, black, and moderately sweet fruit. Self-fertile.
• Staccato cherries are a deep purple-red and also a late season variety. Staccato cherries are large and one of the sweetest varieties.
• Stella are a large, sweet, dark-red fruit that ripens in mid-season
• Sweetheart cherries are a large, bright red late-season variety, medium sweetness
• Sunburst - large, firm fruit. Old productive variety. Self-fertile.
• Symphony - bright red, medium-sweet very large fruit. Late season. Self-fertile.
• Tehranivee - mid-season cherry developed in Ontario, Canada. Cracking can be a problem. Self-fertile.
• Ulster - medium-sized, firm, dark cherry, Ripens about 2 days after Vista.
• Vandalay - Large, red fruit with an unusual kidney shape. From Canada. Self-fertile.
• Viscount - medium-large, firm, good, dark red cherries. Late season ripening.
• Vista - the cherries are very dark, almost black. Large excellent-quality fruit. Mid season, ripens around the last week in June.
• Viva - dark red, 3/4 inch fruit from Canada. Ripens around July 4.
• White Gold are a blush cherry of moderate to large size.

Pie, Sour or Tart Cherries (all different names for the same thing!)

• Balaton Ujfeherto Furtos is a Hungarian sour cherry with firm fruit that is suited to picking by hand and eating fresh. Red skin and flesh. Ripens about 7 to 10 days after Montmorency
• Danube Erdi Botermo has dark red fruit with a unique sweet-tart flavor. Delicious eaten fresh or in baked goods. Ripens about 1 week before Montmorency.
• Dark-juice-tarts has juice that is red rather than clear in color.
• Jubileum - new, from Hungary. Very large with a dark red flesh. Sweet for a tart cherry, not quite as tart as Montmorency.
• Meteor - Medium-sized fruit with an odd shaped pit. Ripen s3 to 7 days after Northstar.
• Montmorency, the most commonly grown, traditional cherry for pies, baking and canning. Ripens around the last week of June to the first week of July.
• Morello Sour Cherry is a late-ripening tart dark red to nearly black cherry used for cooking, and sometimes eaten fresh when fully ripe. Fruits in warm climates ( 500 hours or fewer chilling hours below 45 F) Self-fruitful. USDA
• Northstar - Medium-sized, dark red fruit.
• Surefire - A new late blooming variety from Cornell. Bright red, medium sized fruit.

Cherry Facts and Tips

• Cherries come in many colors besides red: there are also dark red (almost black), yellow, blush (mixed) and gold cherries.
• Cherries are a very healthy food; they are high Vitamin C and naturally have no fat, cholesterol or sodium. They are also a good source of ivitamin A, calcium, protein, and iron.
• Cherries are an antioxidant-rich foods.
•  One cup of cherries is less than 90 calories and 3 grams of fiber.
• One cup of cherries has 260 mg of potassium which plays a key role in muscle, heart, kidney, and nerve cell functions.
• Cherries are high in fiber. Half to one pound of cherry fruit per day can provide twenty to thirty grams of fiber which is adequate for an adult daily nutrition requirement.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Cherries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze cherries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The cherries will keep for many months frozen without air. See my How to freeze berries page
• Anthocyanins in cherries are what give the fruit its red color and help protect the heart and surrounding tissues
• Some research has found eating cherries to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and gout

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)