It’s a very cherry world and we’re just living in it! As summer progresses across the province, Ontario’s fruit season continues to pump out delicious treats, and right now, Ontario cherries are ready to be picked.
Especially bountiful in the Niagara growing region, both sweet and sour cherries are ripe and ready to go. Get those baskets ready and head out to the farm, maybe even these five.
Cherry Avenue Farms
Bring it down to Niagara-on-the-Lake to Cherry Avenue Farms, a well-known spot for fruit picking. Thanks to this year’s heat wave, sweet cherries at Cherry Avenue Farms have ripened faster than usual, meaning they are ready to pick right now for the next two to three weeks, depending on conditions. Following this, Cherry Avenue expects its sour cherry crop to ripen approximately one week later.
The entrance fee for the 2025 season is $12, which includes a basket to fill. While reservations are not required to visit Cherry Avenue, the farm may close unexpectedly if there are too many visitors or if the ripe fruits are running out, so it’s best to come early.
Fratric Orchard
Big, juicy, and dark red cherries are what you’ll find here at Fratric Orchard in Hamilton. Fresh from the orchard, Fratric invites you to their small, family-run orchard in the heart of the Niagara fruit belt for a unique picking experience. Growing cherries for over 35 years means Fratic Orchard knows a thing or two about bountiful cherry picking. No entrance fee is required, and Fratic will provide guests with plastic picking baskets too.
Hildreth Farm Market
The picking is easy here at Lincoln’s Hildreth Farm Market, where the trees are loaded with sun-warmed cherries. These sweet cherries are perfect for baking or snacking on your own, but act quickly, since Ontario’s cherry season is very limited — and won’t last beyond the end of July.
Mathias Farms
Sweet AND sour cherries are available to be gently plucked from their trees here at Mathias Farms in Fonthill. As a third-generation family-run fruit farm, Mathias Farms also offers pick-your-own blackberries, mulberries, currants, and raspberries. For cherries, early July is the best time to snatch up these sweet treats.
Smith Two Century Farms
Thanks to the Niagara Region’s microclimate, Smith Two Century Farms peach and cherry orchards supply top-quality fruit every season. With over 300 cherry trees in its orchard, Smith Two Century Farms has a ton of cherry varieties, including both sweet and sour. Picking starts in July and goes until mid-month, so again, move fast to grab your baskets.
No reservations, entrance fees, or minimum purchases are required here, meaning you can pick as little (or as much) as your heart desires.
It’s cherry time, Ontario! Happy picking season.
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