Cherry season is here with the Linden Cherry Festival and many U-pick cherry farms
From Bing to Rainer, cherries are now in season and juicier than ever.
As the days are warming up the cherries are also changing colors. April greens are turning bright reds in mid-May.
California is the second largest state to produce cherries in the United States, San Joaquin Magazine reported. San Joaquin County being the primary growing source.
Mike Jameson, director of sales and marketing at the Linden-based operation of Morada Produce Company, estimated that the crop is 12 days behind last year, The Produce News reported in April.
With cherries almost ready to ripen you won’t want to miss these U-pick cherry locations opening up soon or miss the Liden Cherry Festival this weekend.
Here are five U-pick cherry farms to visit this cherry season and what you should know about the Linden Cherry Festival before you go.
Alpine Blue Farms
From Rainier, Coral to the popular Bing, you can find all these types of cherries at Alpine Blue Farms.
You can taste their cherries in approximately two weeks, Elva Cortez, an employee at Alpine Blue Farms said. Prices for the season have not been determined.
Once ready to open they will announce an opening day on Instagram. Here you can pay with cash or card. You can bring your own bucket or use one provided there.
Location: 7496 E Hwy 26 in Stockton
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every day, opens in two weeks
Information: Follow on Instagram at alpinebluefarms.
Burge Road Farm
At Burge Road Farm you can find "organically grown" bing and coral champaign cherries this season priced at $4 a pound.
While they do not have a set opening date they do plan on opening closer to memorial day, Oscar Grado, owner of Burge Road Farm said.
Here you can pay with cash, cards, Venmo and even crypto. Buckets will be provided as well.
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Location: 3000 Burge Rd in StocktonHours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, opening closer to memorial dayInformation: Follow on Instagram at burgeroadfarm.
Dell'Osso Family Farms
Not only will you find Coral, Bing, Brooks and Tulare cherries at the 2nd annual U-pick cherry event at Dell'Osso Family Farms but you can also find baked goods.
From cherry pie, cherry donuts to cherry chip cookies. Their opening day is Saturday, May 27. Here you pay by the pound in cash or with a card. Buckets for picking will be provided.
Location: 501 S Manthey Rd in LathropHours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day, opening Day Saturday, May 27Information: Follow on Instagram at dellosso_family_farm.
Harris Orchards
The grand opening is just around the corner for Harris Orchards.
Coral Champaign, Brooks, Rainer and Bing can be found as soon as Tuesday, May 23 or Wednesday, May 24.
The weather has delayed the start of the cherry season, Michael Harris grower at Harriss Orchards, said. That is why they don't have an exact opening date at the moment.
"It's so unpredictable," Harris said.
Prices will be around $3 per pound. Payments will be accepted in cash or credit. Buckets with bags will be available at the location.
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Location: 18600 N Ripon Rd #9743 in RiponHours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, up until the cherry season is over. Information: Follow on Facebook at Harris Orchards.
Lodi Blooms
Bing, Brooks, Coral Champagne, Lapin, and Tulare cherries can all be found at Lodi Blooms.
Whether you want to immerse yourself in the U-pick cherry event experience and learn from the farmers that grow the produce or just buy them from the stand, you have options.
"The price per pound this season is $6.00 and you pay for what you pick," Leia de Sha, U-Pick Manger for Lodi Blooms said.
Pay your cherries in cash or with a credit card. Buckets will be provided for U-picking and bags to take home.
The opening day is 9 a.m. on Friday, May 26.
Location: 11560 N Lower Sacramento Rd in Lodi
Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday through Sunday, open Memorial Day, opens Friday, May 26
Information: Follow on Instagram at lodiblooms.
Linden Cherry Festival Queen
Linden has a new queen.
The Linden-Peters Chamber of Commerce crowned Gianna Vaccarezza, a senior at Saint Mary's High School as Linden Cherry Festival Queen on Saturday, May 20.
"Gianna is majoring in Agriculture Business and will continue on to law school to become an agriculture attorney," Ann Marie Moznett-Avansino, Linden Cherry Queen Committee member and former Miss San Joaquin Queen in 1985, said via email.
Vaccarezza is the 53rd Linden Cherry Festival Queen.
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"Since 1968, the Linden-Peters Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) has chosen exceptional young women to represent the community as the Linden Cherry Festival Queen," Moznett-Avansino said. "The Queen is chosen on their academic excellence, generosity of time and service, knowledge of the agricultural community as well as being a positive influence among their peers."
The swim team member plans to attend Auburn University in the fall.
Linden Cherry Festival
Linden community members can meet their new queen at the Linden Cherry Festival on Saturday.
The "fun, family, and community" event is back this weekend. A 10 a.m. parade will kick off Saturday’s family-friendly festival starting on Front and Market streets.
The festival will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Linden Elementary School Grounds at 18100 E. Front St in Stockton. There is no entry fee for the festival.
"It's a community-driven event for people to be able to get together. We do extra to promote the cherry industry in our area. We're one of the largest cherry producers in the country," Vic Solari, a retired firefighter and the president of the Linden-Peters Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) said.
This year festival goers will be able to enjoy two live bands from the Nick-Elwood Band to Acoustic Measures.
“The first Linden Future Farmers of America community day fair was held on March 18, 1939. At the time, it was called the Linden Union High School, organized and run by the Linden Union High School Future Farmers of America members," Solari said. "In 1973, the Linden Peters Chamber of Commerce became involved, and it was changed to the Linden Cherry Festival."
Join the Cherry Pie eating contest or the Cherry Bake-off contest, walk along the car show or jump on a carnival ride. Yes, you need tickets.
"The car club has a huge car show and they donate all their money to the performing arts department at Linden High School. Last year, they donated $9,000 to them," Solari said.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached atarocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record athttps://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: U-pick cherry locations in San Joaquin County, Linden Cherry Festival
