Free Republic

LEONA VALLEY - It's time to get pickin'. The cherry season in Leona Valley is in full swing this weekend with nearly 20 U-pick ranches opening their orchards. The cherry season is expected to extend through the end of June or until orchards are picked clean. Most orchards will open at 8 a.m. today. "I believe nearly all of us has a decent crop," said Chuck Fluharty. "Hardly anyone got froze out this year. I know we're better off than we were last year. Windy Ridge features three varieties of cherries - Bing, Rainier and Black Tartarians. Other varieties grown...

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...

LEONA VALLEY - The cherries are ripe, the orchards are open and the locals will be celebrating on Saturday. The 35th annual Leona Valley Cherry Festival, which starts at 11 a.m. with a parade through town, will feature a craft show, plenty of food and, of course, hand-picked cherries from the community's local orchards. "The orchards will be open, so you can go and stuff yourself with cherries," parade organizer Jim Bonn said. This year's theme is "Cherry Trees and Bumble Bees," an homage to longtime Leona Valley resident and orchard owner "Big John" Mayfield, who died in December. Mayfield...