The long-awaited cherry season has arrived, with a limited number of orchards opening this weekend in Brentwood.
“The crop looks really good,” said Mark Maggiore of Maggiore Cherry Ranch, #5 on the Harvest Time Farm Trail Map. “The cherries are a little on the light side. Next weekend (May 17-18) will be primo for us.”
Different varieties of cherries have different ripening times, so not all orchards will be open this weekend. A lot also depends on the cooler temperatures expected.
“The weather coming up might slow down the crop,” said Jessica Enos of 5 Star Cherries, Harvest Time #48. Some orchards could open as late as early June.
But the cooler temperatures could also mean there will be more cherries, said Joe Ghiggeri of G&S Farms, Harvest Time #11.
“Cooler weather has helped and yields look better than they have been in the last 7 years,” he said. “There should be plenty of cherries starting this week and at least thru June.”
To stay up-to-date on which farms are open and what they offer, subscribe to the Harvest Time newsletter at www.harvestforyou.com. You can also download a copy of the 2019 Farm Trail Map.
Harvest Time’s 2019 Farm Trail Map provides information on 60 farms, roadside stands, wineries and stores featuring local farm products. Printed copies of the map will be available at The Brentwood Press, Brentwood Park and Recreation offices, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, and in numerous stores and restaurants.
Alongside the Farm Trail Maps will be the new Better in Brentwood brochure listing 50 stores, restaurants, recreational opportunities in the Brentwood area.
