Cherry Picking
Last Sunday, the 4th of July, we took the kids out into the California desert and did something we have never done before. No, we didn't set off fireworks. We went cherry picking.
Yes, that's right. They grow cherries in the middle of the desert. Who knew?
Cherries are very sensitive water, wind, and rain. I have grown several beautiful and lush cherry trees over the years and have never had a single crop of cherries. Now that I have seen them flourish in the desert I am even more determined to try to figure out what the heck I am doing wrong. Oh, and yes I do own a self-fruiting tree and I still have never gotten a single cherry.
The farm we went to grew mainly Rainier cherries. Rainier cherries are prized for their sweet yellow-orange flesh. They typically sell for about $5 a pound in the grocery store. At this farm they sold for $2.50 a pound. That's a significant savings. This was great, because telling kids armed with buckets it's time to go isn't very easy. I have a slight suspicion that's why the guy handed the buckets to them and not to the adults.
Summer is considered the peak season for cherries. In California our season is pretty short and ends at the beginning of July. This is actually the final week for cherries in Southern California.
Fresh picked cherries do taste amazing, but what's truly awesome is the effect it has on the kids. My kids are actually excited about eating fruit. For the last several days they haven't asked me for chips or cookies. All they want are the juicy cherries that they picked off the trees.
Next up spinach picking. I am hoping to get my kids just as excited about spinach. Think it will work?
More information on picking your own fruits and vegetables is available here: Link
Yes, that's right. They grow cherries in the middle of the desert. Who knew?
Cherries are very sensitive water, wind, and rain. I have grown several beautiful and lush cherry trees over the years and have never had a single crop of cherries. Now that I have seen them flourish in the desert I am even more determined to try to figure out what the heck I am doing wrong. Oh, and yes I do own a self-fruiting tree and I still have never gotten a single cherry.
The farm we went to grew mainly Rainier cherries. Rainier cherries are prized for their sweet yellow-orange flesh. They typically sell for about $5 a pound in the grocery store. At this farm they sold for $2.50 a pound. That's a significant savings. This was great, because telling kids armed with buckets it's time to go isn't very easy. I have a slight suspicion that's why the guy handed the buckets to them and not to the adults.
Summer is considered the peak season for cherries. In California our season is pretty short and ends at the beginning of July. This is actually the final week for cherries in Southern California.
Fresh picked cherries do taste amazing, but what's truly awesome is the effect it has on the kids. My kids are actually excited about eating fruit. For the last several days they haven't asked me for chips or cookies. All they want are the juicy cherries that they picked off the trees.
Next up spinach picking. I am hoping to get my kids just as excited about spinach. Think it will work?
More information on picking your own fruits and vegetables is available here: Link
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