This week I spent some time in the fields of Olmstead Orchards in Grandview, Washington checking out this year’s late cherry crop. The cooler weather, even in Eastern Washington, has pushed back picking a couple of weeks. But the fruit is there and they expect to start full scale picking today. The Olmsteads explained that the reason Rainier cherries, which they almost exclusively grow, cost more. Not only is the fruit delicate and susceptible to bruising they only pick the sweetest most perfect fruit. To accomplish this, trees are “picked” four or five times during the season.

Growers, including the folks at Rainier Fruit Company, also told me that they are growing larger fruit.

The best lesson learned.....get a cherry pitter to best enjoy the crop!