Cherry Picking in Michigan: 23 Best U-Pick Cherry Farms

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Michigan is widely recognized as a lovely destination for summer getaways. Additionally, this state is responsible for producing a whopping 75% of the global supply of tart cherries and hosts the annual National Cherry Festival in Traverse City.

Let’s check out some of the farms in Michigan where you can pick the best cherries this summer!

1. King Orchards

King Orchards is one of the most popular farms in Northern Michigan, that begins the picking season with strawberries in June and ends in October with apples. The farm has two fruit stands for local sales, and you can also buy fresh bakery items made with their own fruits. Not to forget that they also have an online store where you can buy their products. 

  • Location: Central Lake, Michigan
  • Types of Cherries: Montmorency cherries, Balaton Tart cherries, Dark Sweet cherries, Cavaliers, Ulsters, Emperor Francis, Rainier cherries, and Gold cherries.
  • Hours: 9:00 am and 3:30 pm
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Strawberries, raspberries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and apples.

2. Third Coast Fruit Co.

If you are looking for a professional farm offering an extensive line of cherries and expert guidance, the Third Coast Fruit Co. makes a good choice. They are open from June 30 to August 15 and have been growing cherries for over a hundred years.

Plus, no prior booking or any reservation is needed! You can just visit during business hours and have a great cherry-picking experience. 

  • Location: Traverse City
  • Types of Cherries: Tart cherries, Light Sweet Cherries, and Dark Sweet cherries including Cavaliers, Ulsters, Bing, and more. 
  • Hours: The farm is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday between 9:30 am and 6:00 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: N/A

3. Fruit Acres

Believe it or not, this farm from Coloma, Michigan has been active since 1846. Their fruit stand is usually open during the local season. They also offer a magnificent variety of fruits and vegetables, starting with Sweet Apricots and Honeycrisp Apples, over Blackberries and Black Raspberries, to Watermelon, Cucumbers, and Cabbage.

Still, keep in mind that the U-pick season is over for now, but will start again with Peach U-Pick on August 14, 2022.

  • Location: Coloma, Michigan
  • Types of Cherries: Sour Pie Cherries, Rainier Sweet Cherries, and Black Sweet Cherries.
  • Hours: Starting on August 14, 2022. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Peaches and apples.

4. Crane Orchards

This farm’s history starts in the 1880s and has been active ever since. Crane Orchards is known for being among the finest U-Pick farms in Michigan. They don’t charge any vehicle or entrance fee. Instead, you pay by the pound of the fruit you have picked. Still, remember that they don’t allow dogs in the U-Pick. 

  • Location: Fennville, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Rainier, Regina, Hedelfingen, Summit, Cavalier.
  • Hours: The farm is open between 10 am and 6 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Peaches and apples. 

5. Moelker Orchards & Farm Market

Since 1907, the Moelker Orchards have been known for high-quality fruits and family fun. Aside from cherries, they also grow a wide variety of plums, pears, peaches, and apples. Not to forget that they also offer an online store. When it comes to U-Pick, aside from cherries, they also offer apples and pumpkins. 

  • Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Black Sweet, White Gold, Selah Sweet, and Tart cherries.
  • Hours: The farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Pumpkins and apples. 

6. Stover’s Farm Market

The main goal of Stover’s farm is to offer a comforting and warm experience in nature to all the people who visit. They offer an amazing variety of U-pick fruits, including 2 different types of cherries. Moreover, they have a very well-organized online store where you can order 100%, high-quality products. 

  • Location: Berrien Springs, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Tart cherries and sweet cherries.
  • Hours: The farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Strawberries, blueberries, apricot, peaches, raspberries. 

7. Schell Family Farm

The owners of this farm, Dea and Chris Schell, have big plans to turn the 250-acre property into an agricultural, entertaining destination. They opened the farm to the public back in 2019 and are already creating dozens of events primarily focused on bringing family and friends together. What’s more, their barn can hold up to 300 guests.

  • Location: Pinckney, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Tart cherries and sweet cherries.
  • Hours: The farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Peaches and apples. 

8. Wasem Fruit Farm

Wasem Farm is a family-oriented and family-owned orchard in southeastern Michigan. They are well-known for having high-quality products as well as the U-Pick program. When it comes to U-Pick, aside from cherries, they also offer pumpkins and apples. Besides the U-pick program, there is a huge variety of fruits to choose from.

  • Location: Milan, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Tart cherries.
  • Hours: The farm is open between 10 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Pumpkins and apples. 

9. AJ’s Berry Farm

This U-Pick farm is located about 24km west of Alpena on M-32 in a place called Lachine. Their farm has been in operation since the late 90s. During the summer you can also visit their farm store where you will be able to purchase a variety of fruits and vegetables. 

  • Location: Lachine, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 7 am and 12 pm (closed on Sunday). 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Strawberries

10. Rennie Orchards

Rennie Orchards offers a variety of fruits on their farm and, aside from cherries, they also have U-Pick pumpkins, raspberries, and apples. What’s more, you can also visit their store where you will be able to find apricots, peaches, and pears as well. This farm is operated and owned by Sandy Rennie, purchased by the Rennie family back in 1938. 

  • Location: Williamsburg, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Cavalier Sweet, Ulster Sweet, Summit Sweet, Hardy Giant Sweet, Danube Sour, Jubileum Sour, Queen Anne Lt Sweet, Gold Lt Sweet, and Emperor Francis Lt Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Raspberries, apples, and pumpkin. 

11. Blok Orchard

If you are looking for some high-quality super sweet cherries you can pick, Blok Orchard might be the ideal option. Aside from Super Sweet cherries, the Block family also offers peach trees, apple trees, and blueberry bushes. Even though you can buy all of these fruits in their farm store, blueberries and cherries are available for U-pick. 

  • Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Super Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 5:30 pm from Monday to Friday and between 9 am and 3 pm on Saturday (closed on Sunday).
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Blueberries  

12. Overhiser Orchards

When it comes to U-Pick, Overhiser Orchards does a pretty good job. Aside from that, this farm offers many other possibilities such as tours and visiting the animals. In addition to cherries, there are many other U-Pick fruits such as apricots, plums, peaches, pears, and apples.

However, in their farm store, you will also be able to find nectarines, blueberries, and multiple varieties of cherries and apples. 

  • Location: South Haven, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet and Sour cherries.
  • Hours: This farm is open between 10 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Peaches, pears, apples, apricots, and plums.

13. Sandy Bottom Berries

Sandy Bottom Berries is the ideal place for all of those who want to spend some time with family or friends picking cherries, blueberries, and raspberries. Keep in mind that this farm is usually closed on Monday. 

  • Location: Rockford, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sour cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 4 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Raspberries and blueberries.

14. Fruit Ridge Markets

There are many reasons to visit Fruit Ridge Markets aside from cherry picking. In addition to pre-picked fruits, their farm store also offers many other interesting things such as frozen freshly made pies, donuts, and turnovers. Not only that, but they also have various kinds of vegetables, syrups, honey, and much more. 

  • Location: Conklin, Michigan 
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet and Sour cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open from 8 am to 8 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Apples.

15. Wells Orchards

Wells Orchards offers a very decent variety of fruits in their farm store. From cherries, apricots, blueberries, and plums to pears and even some vegetables. However, currently, the only U-Pick fruit they offer are sweet cherries. During the first week of October, the pick-your-own pumpkin season starts, and you will also be able to find them in the farm store. 

  • Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 3 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: N/A

16. Klenk Orchards

Klenk Orchards, Inc. is a family-owned farm that produces some of the highest quality U-Pick apples and sweet cherries. This farm has no age limit, so it is the ideal place to have quality time with your family. They are open from 8 am to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday, while on Sunday they are open between 10 am and 5 pm. 

  • Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan 
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 8 am and 7 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Apples

17. Friske Farm Market

Friske Farm Market is a very popular farm in Michigan that offers way more possibilities than most of its competitors. Aside from U-Pick, they also have their farm stand, playground, online market, homemade pizza menu, and various events and festivals. In addition to cherries, there are also U-Pick strawberries and apples.

Their farm stand offers strawberries, cherries, sweet corn, nectarines, plums, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, and over 10 varieties of apples. 

  • Location: Ellsworth, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 7 am and 7 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Strawberries and apples.

18. Grange Ave. Market & You-Pick Orchard

This farm is about 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids and is known for its U-Pick cherries, Honeycrisp apples, and pumpkins. Their farm stand also offers plums, peaches, nectarines, apples, berries, and even certain vegetables. However, the supply of vegetables and fruits changes by the day as they ripen. 

  • Location: Rockford, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: White Gold Sweet cherries, Black Sweet cherries, and Montmorency Sour Cherries.
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Apples and pumpkins.

19. Lehman’s Orchard

The 2022 picking season on Lehman’s Orchard is something different. They offer an outstanding variety of U-Pick fruits starting with Sweet cherries and Sour cherries, over blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, to gooseberries, peaches, and currants. Not to forget that the picking season of pears, nectarines, tomatoes, and apples is starting as well really soon. 

  • Location: Niles, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sour and Sweet cherries.
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, peaches, currants, strawberries, pears, nectarines, and apples. 

20. Cherry Connection of Edmondson Orchards

Believe it or not, the Edmondson Orchards farm is known for its high-quality fruits and has even been featured in Traverse Magazine. While many other farms are already done with the cherry U-Pick season, Edmondson Orchards still offer lots of cherries, and there are no quantity limits. Aside from fresh fruits,  they also offer a decent variety of vegetables in their store. 

  • Location: Traverse City, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 10 am and 6 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Raspberries, apples, and pumpkins.

21. Christofferson Farms

If you are looking for a huge variety of fruits for both sale and U-pick, this is a perfect choice. Some of the fruits Christofferson Farms offers are peaches, apriums, apples, apricots, plums, sour cherries, dark and white sweet cherries, nectarines, donut peaches, pears, saskatoon berries, blackberries, and raspberries. This farm might be ideal if you want to pick or try some unique, rare fruits such as donut peaches or pluots. 

  • Location: Ludington, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet Dark and White cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Apples, apricots, nectarines, saskatoon berries, blackberries, raspberries, and more. 

22. Dutch Farm Market

Even though Dutch Farm Market offers just a couple of fruits, they offer an outstanding variety of different kinds. Aside from sour and sweet cherries, they offer over 10 types of peaches, including Red Haven, All-Star, and Flaming Fury. Not only that but there are also 3 types of pears, over 10 types of apples, and even plums. 

  • Location: South Haven, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Sweet and Sour cherries.
  • Hours: This farm is open between 9 am and 6 pm.
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Plums, apples, peaches, and pears.

23. Morrison Farms

Morrison Farms offers many different types of cherries – Emperor Francis, Ulster, Black Pearl, Hedelfingen, and Montmorency. Not to forget that they even have their sweet shop and a farm store.

The sweet shop offers very interesting donuts, freshly made every morning, and home-baked pies and ice creams. Moreover, you can buy various types of apples, pears, nectarines, apricots, plums, and peaches. 

  • Location: Smithville, Michigan
  • Type of Cherries: Emperor Francis, Ulster, Black Pearl, Hedelfingen, and Montmorency cherries
  • Hours: This farm is open between 7:30 am and 5 pm. 
  • Other U-Pick Fruits Available: Pumpkins

Conclusion

All in all, cherry picking is a very interesting activity and is an amazing opportunity to enjoy nature and spend some time with your family and friends. In addition to that, you have an opportunity to meet new people and try some delicious, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Therefore, if you are in Michigan or live nearby, check out some of the farms and book your U-Pick appointment.