It's about time for pick-your-own cherries in Door County. Here's how things look for 2025
The arrival of July each year means it's no longer just the theater and art season in Door County. It's cherry season, too.
Cherry lovers are flocking to Door County over the next few weeks to head out into the Peninsula's orchards and pick their own sweet cherries and tart Montmorency cherries.
So, how are the pick-your-own cherry crops for 2025?
Orchard owners and managers who talked to the Advocate said the 2025 cherry crop is about average when it comes to the number of cherries they expect to be available for picking and the quality of the fruits.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R25ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R45ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHowever, a number of orchards are opening their seasons several days to a week or so later than usual as they wait for their cherries to ripen.
Skipp Robertson, owner of Robertson Orchards of Door County in Sturgeon Bay, said the spring weather wasn't suitable for pollination, especially for the bees that perform that task.
Add to that a cooler-than-normal, cloudy June, and Robertson said after opening his 2024 season about a week earlier than normal, his 2025 season is starting a week or so later than usual, aiming for July 4 for sweet cherry picking and July 13 to 15 for tart cherries. He said 75% of his cherries still were green to yellow as of July 2, but the unusually hot temperatures of the last couple weeks of June and early July, and the sun that comes with that, are accelerating the ripening process.
But while Robertson said his crop was about average for the number of cherries, he might find himself closing the pick-your-owns early on some days to make sure the trees don't get too picked over before their cherries fully ripen.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2aekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4aekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe"It's late this year," Robertson said. "We had a strange, cool, wet spring. There was a lot of cold during pollinating season. Bees don't fly when it's cold or raining."
Debbie Musil, manager of Choice Orchards in Sturgeon Bay, said her orchards have average crops this year for the number of fruits and how well they're ripening, although their projected opening dates for pick-your-owns (July 7 for sweet cherries, July 15 for tarts) are several days later than in a usual year. She said it rained too much in June, but the recent hot, sunny weather is helping.
And Sir Reginald's Sweet Cherry Orchard in Brussels, which opened July 3 in 2024 for pick-your-owns, also appears to be about a week later for 2025, posting July 2 on its Facebook page it hopes to begin its season mid to late the following week, meaning about July 9 to 11, as it waits for its sweet cherries to ripen more fully.
"We are starting to see color but we need more time," the post said. "I'm looking for deep red (almost purple) color and lots of flavor."
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2fekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4fekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeHowever, Sue Selvick, co-owner with husband, Tom, of Meleddy Cherry Orchard in Sturgeon Bay, said if Meleddy opens for pick-your-owns July 10 as currently planned, it'll be the third straight year it's opened on that date. She said their orchard is fortunate in that it's not as close to Lake Michigan or the bay of Green Bay as some others, so it's a little warmer and less susceptible to heavy winds.
And like the other orchards, Selvick said the number of fruits in their trees are on par with past years, maybe a little better than average.
"It's a very good crop. There's an abundance of cherries," she said.
What to know before you go
Interested pickers should call the orchards or visit their websites, especially their Facebook pages, for the latest information, including projected opening and closing dates. Picking season can run anywhere from a week or less to a month, depending on the size of the orchards, the number of customers, type of cherries (the tart cherry season usually starts later and runs longer than sweets) and how long cherries remain available.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2mekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4mekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeA number of orchards accept cash or check only for payment. Dress for being in the outdoors, potentially under the sun, for an hour or more. Some places allow pickers to take vehicles into the orchards for those with accessibility issues, but pickers should check before going.
Also, remember that most orchards offer pre-picked fresh cherries for sale as well as other cherry goods.
Maahi Rana of Des Plaines, Illinois, picks cherries at Choice Orchards in Sturgeon Bay on July 6, 2023. Choice Orchards is one of many orchards in Door County where people can pick their own cherries in season.Pick-your-own orchards
Here's a list of cherry orchards holding pick-your-own seasons in Door County; information is gathered from websites, social media and phone calls.
Soren's Valhalla Orchards, 2412 Idlewild Road, Sturgeon Bay: The orchard's Facebook page and a July 2 recording on their phone says they expect to open for pick-your-own sweet cherries around July 12, with tart cherries ready a few days later, but the recording also says those depend on weather and asks pickers to keep checking for updates. Closed Tuesdays for orchard maintenance. Orchard recommends bringing coolers to take cherries home. Also has strawberries at a different location, 6491 County J, Sturgeon Bay. 920-746-1102, sorensvalhallaorchards.com or facebook.com/sorensvalhallaorchardsllc.
Robertson Orchards of Door County, 2575 S. Shiloh Road, Sturgeon Bay: Expects to open July 4 for sweet cherry picking, around July 13 to 15 for tart cherries, may close early some days for pick-your-owns depending on availability of ripe fruits. Five-quart pails provided to take home. Pitting available for sweets and tarts, $5 charge. 920-743-1351 or facebook.com/RobertsonOrchards.
Choice Orchards, 4594 County HH, Sturgeon Bay: Expects to open July 7 for sweet cherries, July 15 for tart cherries, each expected to last about three weeks. 920-743-8980, choiceorchard.com or facebook.com/choiceorchards.
Cherry Lane Orchards, 7525 Cherry Lane, Sturgeon Bay: Expects to open for tart cherry picking around July 20 but weather could change that, according to a recorded message on its phone (call or check the Facebook page for updates). 920-856-6864, cherrylaneorchards.com or "Cherry Lane Orchards" Facebook page.
Kielar Akers Orchard, S648 State 42, Sturgeon Bay: A July 2 recording on their phone says the anticipated opening for tart cherry season is "sometime after the middle of July." 920-856-6978 or facebook.com/kielarakers.
Meleddy Cherry Orchard, 1038 Mill Road, Sturgeon Bay: Anticipates opening July 10 for tart cherry picking. Also has two industrial cherry pitters through which pickers can run their cherries. 414-379-6508, meleddycherryfarm.com or facebook.com/meleddycherryorchard.
Sir Reginald's Sweet Cherry Orchard, 2631 County C, Brussels: Expecting to open for sweet cherries around July 9 to 11, usually sells out in three to five days. 920-495-9177 or "Sir Reginald's Sweet Cherry Orchard - Door County" Facebook page.
Schartner's Farm Market, 6476 State 42, Egg Harbor: Expecting to open between July 10 to 15 for sweet and tart cherry picking with availability for a couple of weekends. 920-743-8617 or facebook.com/schartnersfarmmarket.
Hyline Orchard Farm Market, 8240 State 42, Fish Creek: Expecting to open between July 10 to 15 for tart cherry picking. 920-868-3067, hylineorchards.com or "Hyline Orchard Farm Market Inc." Facebook page.
Lautenbach's Orchard Country, 9197 State 42, Fish Creek: Currently predicting July 19 to 28 or while supplies last for tart cherries, although prepicked sweets should be available in the market July 6 and prepicked tarts a week later. 866-946-3263, orchardcountry.com or facebook.com/orchardcountry.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2tekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4tekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeContact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Here's what to know about Door County's 2025 pick-your-own cherry season
