California holds the distinction of being the first region in the United States to deliver fresh, sweet cherries to market each year. This makes the state’s cherry harvest a highly anticipated event. The growing conditions allow for an early start, but the nature of the fruit means the entire season is intensely concentrated and brief. The exact timing of the harvest is not fixed, as it is heavily influenced by localized weather patterns and geography throughout the state.
General Harvest Timeline and Regional Differences
The California cherry season typically spans only four to six weeks, generally beginning in mid-April and concluding by early June. This narrow window is dictated by the precise temperature and chill hour requirements cherries need to bloom and ripen. The start of the harvest moves predictably from south to north, following the natural progression of warming temperatures.
The earliest cherries emerge from the southern parts of the Central Valley, often around the Bakersfield area, marking the initial availability in mid-to-late April. As the weeks progress, the bulk of the production shifts northward into the main growing areas near Stockton and Lodi. These Central Valley regions represent the peak of the season, supplying the highest volume of fruit throughout May. Year-to-year weather fluctuations, such as a late spring rain or an early heat spike, can easily shift the entire timeline by a week or more.
Key Cherry Varieties and Their Specific Harvest Windows
The brief overall season is further segmented by the ripening times of specific cherry varieties, allowing for a continuous harvest. The earliest fruit to arrive are often the Brooks and Tulare varieties, which begin ripening approximately eight to nine days before the main crop. The Brooks cherry is a large, firm fruit known for tolerating the hot climate. The Tulare is a dark red variety with good flavor that signals the start of the season.
The mid-season is dominated by the Bing cherry, the most popular and widespread variety grown in California. Bing cherries are distinguished by their dark red color, firmness, and balanced sweet-acidic flavor, and they are the predominant cherry available throughout the majority of May. Following closely behind the Bing are the late-season varieties that help extend the harvest into early June.
Among the later-ripening fruit is the Rainier cherry, a unique, premium variety characterized by its large size and pale yellow skin with a distinct red blush. Rainiers are incredibly sweet, often ripening just after the peak of the Bing harvest. Another late variety is the Skeena, which offers a firm texture and dark color before production moves to the Pacific Northwest.
Locating U-Pick Farms and Essential Visitor Preparation
For consumers looking to pick their own fruit, the availability of U-Pick operations is highly dynamic and requires proactive checking. Farms must manage their fields based on ripening rates and visitor traffic, meaning orchard status can change daily or even hourly. Checking specific farm websites, county agricultural hotlines, or local organizations like Harvest Time in Brentwood is necessary to confirm that fields are open for picking.
Major U-Pick hubs, such as the Brentwood area in Contra Costa County and farms surrounding the Lodi region, are popular destinations. Before making the trip, always call ahead or verify the farm’s social media for opening hours, picking conditions, and current crop volume. Many farms will close when the ripe fruit has been picked over, often in the early afternoon.
Visitor Preparation
Visitors should come prepared for a full day outdoors.
- Wear closed-toe shoes suitable for walking over uneven or potentially muddy ground.
- Bring sun protection, including a hat and sunscreen, as the California sun can be intense in the orchards.
- While many farms accept credit cards, it is wise to bring cash, as some smaller operations may prefer it.
- A cooler with ice packs is helpful for keeping the harvested cherries fresh on the drive home.