Orchards Near Me
Cherry Picking Near Harrisburg: What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania's cherry orchards are concentrated in the Adams County area and the southern tier of the state, where the climate moderates enough for sweet and sour cherry production in late May and June. The orchards near Gettysburg that are famous for apple picking in autumn also often run cherry picking programs earlier in the season—worth planning well in advance since the season can be brief and spots fill quickly.
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 Harrisburg
Late May through June for the Adams County and southern Pennsylvania orchards, with sweet varieties at peak in early June and sour varieties running slightly later.
Tips for Your Harrisburg Cherry Picking Trip
The Adams County orchards near Harrisburg that run cherry picking programs in late May and June are worth targeting specifically before the better-known fall apple season crowds return. Sweet cherry picking at these farms is a quieter, more intimate experience than the autumn rush, and the Adams County countryside in late spring is beautiful in a way that even long-time residents often overlook.