Cherry-picking time is here

Valley Press ^ | Monday, June 2, 2008 | TITUS GEE

[BenLurkin]

LEONA VALLEY - Hundreds of cherry lovers wound their way into the hills west of Palmdale on Saturday to gather some of the first fruit of the cherry season. A handful of cherry growers have opened their orchards for the season. Many more are expected to open within the week, said Joe Lucida, the owner of Amber's Sweet Cherries on Leona Avenue and vice president of the Leona Valley Cherry Growers Association.

"It's been kind of cool. It's slowed the ripening process," Lucida said.

Amber's could open its gates for the "u-pick" season on Saturday because about 30% of his trees are varieties that ripen early, he said.

Amber's is named after Lucido's daughter and most of the proceeds from fruit sales go into her college fund.

"She's going off to college in August, so I guess we were successful," Lucido said.

The 500-tree orchard features more than 20 picnic areas, several rope swings, and children's play area. Lucido said his family works to make the orchard family friendly and encourages customers to bring their children along.

"We sell entertainment as well as cherries here," he said. "It's an inexpensive family outing."

Ann Thomas, of Lancaster, spent the morning at Amber's picking cherries with her daughter and grandchildren.

"It's absolutely awesome," Thomas said. "The cherries are absolutely delicious (and) it's a great place to make memories."

Her family once lived up the street and the kids spent summer days picking cherries while mom cleaned the house she said. Her daughter, Bonnie O'Carroll, brought the grandkids back to make their own memories.

Cherries from orchards that belong to the Growers Association are pesticide free. Varieties include Bing, Brooks, early Burlats, Rainier, Stella, Tartarian, Tieton, Utah giant and Van.

The cherries are expected to cost an average of $3 per pound.

[BenLurkin]

"DELICIOUS FUN IN SUN - Annie Ramirez of Canyon Country picks cherries at Big John's Cherries in Leona Valley on Sunday." RON SIDDLE/Valley Press

[MarineBrat]

One of my fondest memories is when I was a kid and used to climb way up into our neighbor’s cherry tree, which was a huge tree, and eat the cherries way up top where only monkey-boys could go.

[mdittmar]

Had a tough spring here,use to pick cherries,apples,train,arch,front cut hops, when I was young,guess I was just doing the job.

[JRochelle]

3.00 a pound? Outrageous!

I thought 1.50 a lb. last year was too much!

[SunkenCiv]

From the political standpoint, it never ends. ;’)

[cherry]

every July 4th we would go as a large extended family up to a state park on Cayuga Lake in NYS....we would claim our tables...then, most of us would drive up into the orchards and pick cherries....beautiful Bing cherries right off the tree.....then we'd go resume our wonderful picnic...usually sandwiches and cake and all sorts of good things....we would try to swim in the lake but since the temp was usually about 68 degrees, we mostly played baseball and skimmed stones off the water....horseshoes for the men....

memories.....

[BenLurkin]

True.