Orchards Near Me
Cherry Picking Near Charleston: What You Need to Know
West Virginia's cherry orchards are concentrated in the Eastern Panhandle and the river valley communities of the northern part of the state, where the climate moderates enough for sweet and sour cherry production. The orchards near Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs in the Eastern Panhandle produce cherries in late May and June and often welcome pick-your-own visitors alongside their larger farm operations.
Mid-Atlantic Cherry Season
The mid-Atlantic states offer some of the best cherry picking access on the East Coast, with the orchards of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, Maryland's western counties, New Jersey's Hunterdon County, and Pennsylvania's Adams County all growing sweet and sour cherries that support pick-your-own programs in late May and June. The cherry harvest in this region precedes the apple season by several months, providing an early-summer reason to visit the same orchard country that draws apple pickers each fall. Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is particularly notable for its cherry production, with the orchards around Winchester producing sweet varieties that rival anything grown in the Pacific Northwest for quality and flavor.
Best Time to Go Cherry Picking Near Charleston
Late May through June for the Eastern Panhandle orchards near Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs, with the season brief and calling ahead highly recommended.
Tips for Your Charleston Cherry Picking Trip
West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle cherry orchards in late May represent a productive combination of the state's mountain character and the moderating influence of the lower Potomac watershed. The drive from Charleston east to the Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs area takes about two hours and leads into orchard country that also grows excellent apples and peaches—worth making it a full fruit-farm weekend rather than a single-day outing.