A summer bbq isn’t quite complete without a juicy and refreshing watermelon. But it isn’t always easy selecting a watermelon. We’ve seen many tap on their watermelon, knock their watermelon, or even smell it, but do those techniques actually work or do we just leave it up to chance? Here […]

For visitors to East Contra Costa County, the steady stream of orchards, farms, and fruit stands may all blur together into one beautiful, but indistinguishable, landscape.  For locals, we know that each farm, family and fruit stand has a unique story that invites you into the history of their family […]

Thursday Tip   If you love cherries, you can freeze them and enjoy them year round. Prior to freezing them, you will need to destone them, and the best way is to use a kitchen tool like the one below.         PRE-PICKED ONLY – Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, […]

Turn A Morning In Cherry Picking Into A Day of Exploring Cherry picking is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy.  From young children excited to explore a working farm to great-grandparents reminiscing about their childhood days scouring trees for the sweetest, juiciest fruit, u-pick season is the perfect […]

Our U-Pick season is going strong and with this year’s high yield, we have lots of cherries available for picking and many more coming soon. Preparing the Cherries for the Trip Home Regardless of how long the trip home is, take some steps to ensure the sweet cherries you meticulously […]

We are excited to announce that our farms will be open for U-Pick this Memorial Day Weekend. With an exceptional yield this year, there are still plenty of great cherries and plenty more on the way! Please keep in mind that Harvest Time farms grow many cherry varieties ripening at various times […]

The rain may have dampened the kick-off to the U-Pick season, but farmers say it’s only an inconvenience in what’s expected to be an exceptional cherry season. Rain, hail and heavy winds, completely uncharacteristic of East Contra Costa’s mild May months, saturated local orchards over the weekend.  The mild, wet […]

Here is a list of Farms that will be OPEN THIS WEEKEND. Please check their farm pages often as hours are subject to change due to the weather.  Farm #20, Chavez Cherry U-pick – U-pick Cherries Farm #53, Papa’s U-Pick – U-pick Cherries Farm #46, RC U-Pick Cherries – U-pick Cherries Farm #35, […]

The long-awaited cherry season has arrived, with a limited number of orchards opening this weekend. “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 […]

U-Pick can be a wonderful family activity.  It allows you to spend some time outside, enjoy time with your family and friends, and bring home some sweet, juicy and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also a unique opportunity to meet some of the farmers who are dedicated to […]