Orchard Talk

We’ve been getting lots of calls this week about u-picking. For general estimates, our Harvest Calendar offers a month by month guide to what’s in season, from May blossoms through October pumpkins.

We’re still thinking sweet cherries will be ready around the 8th or 10th of July, but you might be able to pick raspberries by the 4th. We’ll keep you posted!

In the meantime, enjoy this travel video Brian Kaufman from the Detroit Free Press shot last summer, which features an interview with John King and cherry lovers & pie makers from Chicago.

Tags: michigan, raspberries, sweet cherries, u-pick cherries

Strawberries are finally here! The strawberries look absolutely wonderful and delicious. They taste just as great as they look.  The prices of the strawberries are set at $4 a quart and $30 a flat (8 quarts). The season should last through July 7th or so.

It’s been raining so much lately! In the past 40 days, we’ve had rain on 24 of them. Hopefully it dries up soon, because the rain can cause the cherries to split. All of our gardens are staked out and planted, so the rain will be good for just a few more days. Guess what happens tomorrow? Strawberries are finally in the market! They were even later than we thought, but now they’re coming for sure. And next week, the Cherry Festival starts in Traverse City on the 4th of July! We have a little more work to do before we’re ready, but things are coming together. That’s about all that’s happening this week…bye for now!

Tags: Cherries, cherry festival, Our Websites, strawberries, traverse city

Hey everyone! Megan here, writing for Betsy while she’s at church. (For those of you that don’t know me, I’m John and Betsy’s niece that lives here on the farm with them.) The season really feels like it’s starting now, because of the strawberries coming in this upcoming weekend. But what I’m looking forward to is the raspberries. Uncle John says that they’re looking good and will be in in about 10 days. These ones won’t be here in 10 days, but in a couple years we will have a half-acre full of raspberries at the US-31 market! In other news, King Orchards will be going to the Traverse City Cherry Festival, July 4th-12th. See you there!

Tags: cherry festival, raspberries, strawberries, traverse city

Things are finally warming up here! We’ve had rain the past few days, and the sweet corn is beginning to sprout. We have asparagus in the market for one more week, and strawberries are estimated to be in a bit late, because of the previously cool weather. We should have them in the market by June 21st, which is good to hear. Sweet cherries are looking good and should be ripe around the 8th of July.

Tags: michigan sweet cherries, strawberries