Orchards Near Me
Cherry Picking Near Augusta: What You Need to Know
Maine's cherry orchards are a smaller but genuine part of the state's agricultural landscape, with orchards in the southwestern and central counties growing sweet and sour varieties that are ready in late July and August—later than in warmer states due to Maine's cool climate. The same orchards that welcome apple pickers in September often run cherry picking programs a couple of months earlier, making them twice-visited destinations for dedicated fruit pickers.
New England and Northeast Cherry Picking
The northeastern states grow both sweet and sour cherry varieties in their orchards, with the best operations concentrated in New York's Hudson Valley, Massachusetts's Connecticut River valley, and the highlands of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The cherry season in the Northeast runs from mid-June through early July—briefer than apple season but equally rewarding for those who plan for it. The same farms that run large apple picking programs in the fall often run quieter, more intimate cherry picking programs in early summer, offering a chance to experience orchard country when it's less crowded and the landscape is at its early-summer best. Heritage sweet varieties and old-fashioned sour pie cherries coexist at many of these farms, and the fresh-pressed cherry juice available at farm stands is worth seeking out specifically.
Best Time to Go Cherry Picking Near Augusta
Late July through August for Maine's cherry varieties, significantly later than in warmer states due to Maine's cool climate and shorter growing season.
Tips for Your Augusta Cherry Picking Trip
Maine cherry picking runs later in the season than you might expect—late July and August in some locations, thanks to the state's cool climate that extends the fruit development period. This makes Maine cherry season a complement to the state's famous summer and early fall, and the orchards near Augusta that grow cherries are worth adding to any summer farm visit itinerary.