Orchards Near Me
Cherry Picking Near Montpelier: What You Need to Know
Vermont's cherry orchards are smaller than the state's apple operations but no less carefully tended, with sweet and sour cherry varieties grown in the Champlain Valley and the southern Connecticut River valley watershed. Cherry picking near Montpelier is available at a handful of farms from late June through mid-July, with some operations combining cherry and early apple picking in a single farm visit—a true New England summer experience.
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 Montpelier
Late June through mid-July for the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River valley cherry orchards, with some farms combining early cherry picking with strawberry programs.
Tips for Your Montpelier Cherry Picking Trip
Vermont's cherry season in late June and July runs alongside the beginning of the state's long agricultural summer, and the farms near Montpelier that grow cherries offer a quieter experience than the famous fall foliage and apple season. Go when the cherries are ripe rather than sticking to a fixed date—Vermont cherry orchards typically communicate ripeness weekly, and being responsive to their updates ensures you arrive at the right time.