THE TIME HAS COME!
The 2025 Cherry and Apricot U-Pick Season has arrived for Williamson Orchards and Vineyards!
Please take some time to read the following information regarding the U-Pick season ahead! We know its a lot to digest, but it'll be worth it! Knowledge is power!
The Williamson family and our dedicated staff are committed to making your visit both family-friendly and educational. When you arrive, park in the designated area and head to the check-in tents. There, you will select your containers and pay before entry into the orchards. We measure and sell all our cherries by the 5.5 lbs bucket. We’ll be there to guide you on where to go, what to look for in the perfect cherry and apricot, and how to pick like a pro. We provide all the containers you'll need, and our team is always on hand to offer assistance.
We have three kinds of cherries: Kiona, Benton, and Rainier. The Kiona and Benton are both dark, sweet cherries (very similar to Bings). The Kiona cherries are big in size and firm fleshed; they are great for freezing, baking and (of course) eating fresh. The Bentons are medium-large in size with a big flavor; they are semi-freestone which makes them easy to use for baking and canning, in addition to being great for eating fresh. The Rainiers are very large in size and super sweet in taste, because of their light skin they bruise easily. Rainer cherries are great for eating fresh, jam and making maraschino cherries.
The Kiona will be ripen first and be ready to pick at the beginning of the event. The Benton and Rainier need a little more time to ripen and will be ready to pick towards the second half of the event. That being said, we like to warn visitors that the Rainier’s are very popular. We only have 15 – 20 Rainier trees and these golden cherries are so sought after that folks often pick the trees clean with in the first couple of days. While we do not grow any tart pie cherries we do recommend both the Kiona and Benton for baking.
We have a small apricot block located above our cherry orchard. These trees are primarily Robada apricots. These typically ripen around the first weeks of July, Robada is a jumbo freestone with an attractive orange flesh with a red blush. The meat of Robada has a good balance of natural sugars, acids, and aromatic flavors. When ripe, these stone fruits are great for making jam/jellies, canning whole, baking, dried, fruit leather, and in smoothies, but we like them best eaten fresh!
A day in the orchards is more than just cherry or apricot picking—it’s a memorable family outing you’ll cherish for years to come. Our family has been farming these very orchards for over 100 years, and it brings us great joy to share the literal fruit of our labor with you, our fellow Idahoans, season after season.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that our farm is dependent on the weather. In addition, we take the responsible for maintaining the safety of our public’s health seriously. Maintaining both of these factor means that our dates, prices, availability and policies are all subject to change.
Driving Directions: Our cherry orchards are located just off of Highway 55, approximately 3 miles north of Marsing, ID. Look for directional signs starting near mile marker number 3. Turn east onto Williamson Lane and drive over the bridge and up the hill to the parking area above the orchard.
We’ve come to understand that some GPS systems are leading folks down the back roads. We are asking our guests using GPS to find us, please do NOT turn on to Chicken Dinner Road. Our neighbors and parents do not want extra cars driving down their private road that is meant for farm use and the two private homes on top of the hill. So go all the way to WILLIAMSON LANE and drive up that to pick cherries. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I pay?
You pay onsite. We accept cash and most major credit cards. We do not accept checks.
Why is there an admission fee?
The admission fee is to ensure that everyone has a safe, smooth and fun experience on the farm. This fee helps to pay the following costs:
Insurance – because there is always a risk of damage or injury when you allow the public onto farm property.
Mobile point of sale system – because most people want to pay with a credit card.
Port-a-potties – because sometimes nature calls when you are in the orchard.
Staffing – to help make the experience educational, fun and easy.
The cherries you are gonna eat while in the orchard – because most people don’t want to weigh themselves before and after. 🙂
Side note: You can totally pull a clown car if you want. Pack the car full of people and it’s still only $6!
How many people can I have in my car?
The cover charge will still be $6 per car load. You can pack as many people in your car as it will safely hold. If your group comes in two or more cars you will be charged 2 or more cover fees.
Do I need to bring my own boxes or buckets?
Nope, we provide all containers. We do this to speed up the sales process and so that we don’t have to have scales on-site. Otherwise we would have to weigh your containers when you get here and weigh them again when they are full. By using our containers, we know exactly how much fruit those buckets will hold.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE:
https://www.willorch.com/events/u-pick-cherries-williamsons/
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