Every fruit lovers’ Christmas has finally arrived — the time of year when sweet, juicy cherries are finally available to pluck off the trees yourself.
May 10 marks opening weekend for many farms and orchards in that East Bay hotbed of fruit-growing, Brentwood. Expect loads of Tioga cherries (dark flesh, sweet, tangy), Coral cherries (which have a “pop,” sweet, juicy) and Black Pearl cherries (deep burgundy, sweet, firm, great for baking) — all of which you can hand-pick and plop into buckets and bags to your heart’s content.
A few orchards are also now open for U-Pick mulberries, early-year peaches, blackberries and strawberries.
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To mark the season, Harvest Time Farmers, the nonprofit organization representing Brentwood’s agricultural industry, has assembled a list of orchards that are open for fruit-picking. Find it at harvestforyou.com/farm-status, or view an interactive map at harvestforyou.com/interactive-map. Given the rush that typically accompanies cherry picking, expect some places to have reservation systems and warnings about possibly running out of ripe fruit early in the day.
For people who live closer to the South Bay, it looks like many cherry orchards are opening slightly later this year. But we’ve included a couple of options to help you prepare for likely opening dates in mid-May or June.
Here is a sampling of farms with cherries — plus peach and mulberry options — that are opening this special Mother’s Day Weekend 2024 or that will open soon. For the complete list around Brentwood, check Harvest Time’s website. As always, check the websites or social media for the latest information on hours and availability. Happy picking!
Cherries
Diablo Cherries
Starting May 11, this orchard will have Black Pearls and early Corals. Later in May will come Rainier, Bing, Lapin and Santina cherries.Details: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 3150 Sellers Ave., Brentwood; instagram.com/diablocherries
Dwelley Family Farms (Harvest Time #27 Suzuki location)
This fourth-generation farm will start offering organic Royal Tioga cherries on May 11 and 12 at one of its orchards.Details: Opening weekend hours from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11-12 at 2475 Concord Ave., Brentwood; dwelleyfarms.com
Maggiore Ranch (Walnut Blvd. location)
This large operation says it has trees loaded with Brooks cherries (similar to Bing) at the moment.Details: Opening weekend hours starting May 10 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Monday, closed Tuesday, then back open through the remainder of the week at 3017 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood; facebook.com/MaggioreRanches
Three Nunns Farm
You can get a tractor ride out to pick Tioga and Coral cherries at this farm, plus concessions and food trucks.Details: Opening weekend hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 10-12 at 550 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood; instagram.com/threenunnsfarm
Borello Family Farms / U-Pick Orchards
This operations says it anticipates “opening in mid-May! Mother Nature determines the actual opening date so please be patient.”Details: Ranch 1 at 10900 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill; upickorchards.com
Andy’s Orchard
This popular farm and country store plans to offer several no-reservation U-Pick days in late June. Details will be released on Facebook and the website in mid-June.Details: 1615 Half Road, Morgan Hill; andysorchard.com and facebook.com/AndysOrchard
Early-year peaches
Airaya Farms
Starting May 10, this U-Pick operation says it will have “delicious and healthy tree-ripened crisp White Peaches and crisp White Nectarines in limited quantities to start the season.”Details: Opening weekend hours from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. or until fruit runs out on May 10, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or until fruit runs out May 11-12, at 25221 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood; brentwood-u-pick.com
Mulberries
Very Mulberry farm
Himalayan mulberries (the long, skinny kind, not the short and squat ones) are now in season at this orchard. Note the requirement about weekend reservations.Details: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday (online reservations required Saturday and Sunday) at 501 Hoffman Lane, Brentwood; verymulberry.com