2024 Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon Cherry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Cherry U-Pick Orchards in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon 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 any state, nor even every 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.

Hood River County

• Draper Girls Country Farm - Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, apples, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries (red), strawberries, Fresh eggs, Cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), U-pick and already picked, farm market, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
  6200 Highway 35, Parkdale, OR 97041. Phone: (541) 352.6625. Email: drapergirlsfarm@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm; June to December; and Self Serve, twenty four hours December to June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Draper Girls Country Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Hood River Valley's only non-pasteurized apple cider, apple pear, cherry, cherry apple, and pear ciders. We also specialize in natural pasture fed lamb and goat. Visit our u-pick peach, plum and nectarine orchards where you find many varieties of tree-ripened fruits. Find 30+ apple varieties, pears and prunes; u-pick or we pick. You can purchase fresh vegetables and our locally made jam, jellies, honey, canned fruit, dried beans and lentils. We are known for our famous cinnamon-sugar dried apples, straight from our Grandma's and Grandpa's kitchen. While visiting, you are invited to walk around the farm to see all the farm animals or picnic in the orchard. We ship fruit. Do not bring pets. (UPDATED: September 1, 2019, JBS)
• Hilda's Organic U-Pick - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, apples, blueberries, cherries, flowers, peaches, tomatoes, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food
  1519 Country Club Road, Hood River, OR 97031. Phone: 541-490-8212. Email: hildasorganicupick@yahoo.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 8 am to 5 pm, June 20 to October 15. Directions: From Highway 84, take exit 62, turn right onto Mt. Adams Avenue which quickly turns into Wine Country Avenue which quickly turns into Country Club Road. Go 3 miles to stop sign, go right and continue on Country Club Road for 900 feet and take a left at the sign saying \'Hilda\'s Organic U-Pick\'. For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 5414908213. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From Highway 84, take exit 62, turn right onto Mt. Adams Avenue which quickly turns into Wine Country Avenue which quickly turns into Country Club Road. Go 3 miles to stop sign, go right and continue on Country Club Road for 900 feet and take a left at the sign saying 'Hilda's Organic U-Pick'. For a map to our farm, Cherry season is typically June 20 to July 4, Blueberries: June 20 to July 31, Heirloom Tomatoes: June 31 to September 31, Peaches: July 15 to July 31, Flowers: July 1 pm to September 31. (UPDATED: September 01, 2019) (ADDED: June 22, 2016)
• Hood River U-Pick Organic - Certified Organic, apples, sweet cherries, pie or sour cherries, sweet cherries, pie or tart cherries, slicing cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, porta-potties, Cell service cell phones work here, petting zoo, farm animals
  4320 Royal Anne Dr, Hood River, OR 97031. Email: lori@hoodriverupick.com. Open: Call for current hours. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: 1. From Portland or Vancouver, Take 84East and get off at EXIT 62. 2. Take the 1st right onto Mt Adams Ave -- 436 ft 3. Mt Adams Avenue turns slightly right and becomes Wine Country Avenue -- 0.3 mi 4. Continue onto Country Club Road -- 2.8 mi 5. Turn left onto Barrett Dr. -- 0.3 mi 6. Take the 1st right onto Markham Road -- 0.7 mi 7. Turn Right on Royal Anne Drive -- a gravel road and you are here!. Click here for a map and directions. We are certified organic for all crops! Payment: Cash, All credit cards.
  Hood River U-Pick Organic Facebook page.
  Click here for our Instagram page.
  (UPDATED: May 05, 2024)
• Kiss Orchards - cherries, restrooms, picnic area
  2791 Glass Road, Hood River, OR 97031. Phone: 541-386-3360. Email: kissofthegorge@gmail.com. Open: UPDATE for 2020 and 2021: Their website is gone; Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own or are even open? If so, please write me, their last reported hours were July 7, Thursday, Monday - Sunday, from 8am to 5pm; Must arrive by 4pm to allow u - pick time. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Several Varieties, wear shoes, not sandals to pick on ladders. U-pick must be here by 4pm. RV Parking available. We are family friendly and do have picking for children available. Cash or check only, please do not bring pets.
• Montavons Berries - blueberries, cherries, raspberries (Spring, red), porta-potties are available, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food
  6340 Sperry Road, Parkdale, OR 97041. Phone: 541-806-3064. Email: lee@montavonsberries.com. Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm, July 5 to August 31. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Montavons Berries Facebook page. . They grow the following varieties of blueberries: Duke, Blue Crop, Blue Ray, Herbert.
• The Gorge White House - strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries and apples
  2265 Hwy 35, Hood River, OR 97031. Phone: (541) 386-2828. Email: gorgewhitehouse@gmail.com. Open: April, May, October Friday-Monday 10-6; June 18th-September 30th 7 days a week 10-7; November Saturday and Sunday 11-5ish. Click here for a map and directions.
  The Gorge White House Facebook page. . As always, our freezer is full of 4lb bags of frozen blueberries -smoothie and açai bowl essentials. We also have free styrofoam coolers on occasion for your drive home. Check Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and our homepage "In Harvest and Current Happenings" for the latest on fresh fruit. Facebook page. Throughout the season out here at , you will find u-pick . We-pick fruit in the fruit stand includes all of those plus peaches, nectarines and pears. We have grown pears and apples for 4 generations and have diversified into berries, cut flowers, table grapes and wine grapes. What we don't grow on site, we purchase from local Gorge area farmers to sell in our farmstand. We also feature Columbia Gorge wines for sale by the taste, glass or bottle.

Wasco County

• Evans Fruit Company - cherries, peaches, porta-potties are available, picnic area you may bring your own food
  701 State Rd, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: 541-478-3550. Email: Evansfruit@yahoo.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm, Early June through mid July See website for current harvest dates. Directions: Take I-84 to exit 69 into Mosier. Right on Washington st, Left on 3rd street. Continue on this street for 1 mile. Look for a large parking area in a field on your right. Well marked with Evans Fruit Company signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers.
  Evans Fruit Company Facebook page. . . Cherry varieties: Rainer, Bing, Chelan, Lapin, Lambert, Van, Montmorency (pie cherry). Cherries typically June 10th to July 15th Peaches July 4th to July 25th. Bring your own containers to take the fruit home in. We supply picking buckets. ; Always call before driving to our farm, we occasionally need to close for a day for orchard maintenance. (UPDATED: July 02, 2019, JBS)
• Idiot's Grace - cherries
  8450 Hwy 30W, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: 541-490-5249. Email: brian.idiotsgrace@gmail.com. Open: call for open hours during the season, in 2020, it was from mid-June from 9 am to 5 pm every day until picked out. Directions: don\'t follow google maps; it\'s mile east of town on the right \(south\) side; look for their signs. Click here for a map and directions.
  Idiot's Grace Facebook page. . Phone: (541) 490-5249. . 2020 Price per pound was $2.50. don't follow google maps; it's mile east of town on the right (south) side; look for their signs. Facebook page. This is an Oregon Tilth Certified Organic small family farm that grows and wine grapes,
• Keylock Orchard - PYO cherries, Roadside stand,
  Mosier Oregon State Road, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: 541-308-5454. Email: sfaulkender@yahoo.com. Open: we open when the cherries get ripe; Most days we will be there from 10 am till all pickers go home, somewhere around, 6:30 we will stay open later if you are picking off I84 turn into Mosier, turn right at store, turn left onto 3rd avenue go one mile across bridge, first orchard on the right. Directions: off I 84 turn into mosier, turn right at store, turn left on to 3rd avenue, go one mile across bridge, first orchard on your right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . Alternate Phone: 541-352-7827. . u pick, we have several varieties, Vans, Bings Rainers, Lamberts please bring your own containers.
• Mosier Creek Orchards - sweet cherries
  989 Gibbons Rd, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: . Open: 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located in the beautiful Mosier Valley. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
• Root Orchards - cherries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area
  1111 Root Road, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: 541-478-3425. Email: rootorchards@aol.com. Open: Mid - June to Mid - July Seven Days a Week 8 am to 7 Pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sauturday, Sunday. Directions: Mosier, Oregon - Exit 69 off I84 East, Turn right on Washington, Turn left on 3rd Avenue, follow 3rd Avenue out of town and cross bridge, 3rd Avenue becomes State Road. Follw State Road for about 2 miles, turn right on Root Road, go 12 mile, turn right at power line follow this driveway to our Upick station. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Root Orchards Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 541-478-3598. . Mosier, Oregon - Exit 69 off I84 East, Turn right on Washington, Turn left on 3rd Avenue, follow 3rd Avenue out of town and cross bridge, 3rd Avenue becomes State Road. Follw State Road for about 2 miles, turn right on Root Road, go 1/2 mile, turn right at power line follow this driveway to our Upick station. We have several varieties of Sweet cherries, Bing, Rainier, Lapin, Tietonk, Early Robin, Selah, Skeena, Sweetheart, Lambert, Tieton, Chelan, Benton, Royal Anne, Van, Black Republican. Bring your own containers to take your cherries home in, we provide picking buckets for your use if you choose; If you want us to pick your cherries call ahead and let us know the quantity and when you will arrive.
• Rosedale Fruit Farm - cherries, restrooms
  1027 Root Road, Mosier, OR 97040. Phone: 541-478-3368. Open: In season daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Directions: I-84 exit 69 \(5 miles east of Hood River\) follow U-Pick signs, approximately three miles out of town 1027 Root Road, Mosier, OR 97040. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Rosedale Fruit Farm Facebook page. . I-84 exit 69 (5 miles east of Hood River) follow U-Pick signs, approximately three miles out of town Cherries - Mid June to Mid July; Please call ahead to ensure we are open as fruit availability will vary due to the weather. We have two locations in the Mosier Valley: 880 Huskey Road and 1027 Root Road. We start the season at our 880 Huskey Road location picking Tietons - an early dark sweet cherry. About a week into the picking season, we move over to our main farm on 1027 Root Road. Our main farm has Bings, Sonatas, Skeenas and Reginas - these are all large, dark sweet cherries. We have recently planted sweet white cherry varieties (Early Robin and Rainier) and several tart/pie cherry varieties and hope to harvest those trees in a few years. For frequent updates like us on Facebook.

 

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. Leave early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. 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. 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. 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. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting cherries
4. 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)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers