I’ve been hankering for cherries ever since I saw that recipe in Food & Wine. The one with the port-soaked cherries over ricotta. That’s not the kind of thing you can mention in passing and then expect a girl to go about her daily chores in a focused way. No, not when there are cherry trees to locate.
But who in Massachusetts grows cherries? Anyone? Let me save you some legwork. YES. Carver Hill Orchard in Stow does. And so we went.
Tractors are always popular with the kids. Especially shiny, red ones.
We found grasshoppers in the tall grass next to the strawberry fields. I already have my source for strawberries, though, and you can’t tell me that anyone grows them better.
A toad!! It’s like Christmas Day for the Preschooler, and we haven’t even gotten up the hill to where the cherries are, yet.
Now it’s like Christmas Day for me. Rainier cherries, sweet and delicious. We filled a quart and then picked up a pint of Bings from their farm store. Those came from their other orchard where the wind from one of those crazy thunderstorms we’ve been having lately knocked them all down.
Milkweed. Pretty.
Last week may have been it for cherry-picking, but you can pick your own peaches around the last week of July so mark your calendars. They have apple-picking, too, in season of course. This is the same orchard that makes the Box Hill apple cider that Russo’s stocks. Quite good. They also have an ice cream stand, as if grasshoppers, toads, and tractors aren’t enticement enough.
Carver Hill Orchard, Rt. 62 West, Brookside Ave., Stow, MA, 978-897-6117.
Rainiers!! I'm so jealous..I'm withholding expletives!! (yes, I love them THAT much) I could seriously OD on eating those beautiful rounds of sweet nectar. Have I seen them around these parts yet though? Heck no. Another drawback of moving around often is never knowing the good places to get things. If your cherries go missing it wasn't me
Posted by: April in CT | June 29, 2008 at 11:20 PM
I HAVE overdosed on Rainier cherries (it was not pretty.) They're about $8/lb 'round these parts. Kinda almost worth it, though.
I have some lovely recipes for fresh cherries, too, including a lovely cherry/toasted coconut nibble that I've been dying to try... No cherry picking around me, though. Gotta buy them. Hmmm...
Posted by: NurseJen | June 29, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Hmm...local source for delicious fresh cherries discovered, but posted after probably the last week for picking. I see how you are playing this.
Enjoy - and do let us know how awesome the port-soaked cherries came out. :? Don't worry about me, I'll just be dreaming of next year...
Posted by: andrea | June 30, 2008 at 09:25 AM
*sigh* Definitely time to find a friend with a car and ask if they'll take me fruit-picking in exchange for tasty cooking.
Raspberry season is coming up, isn't it?
Posted by: Adele | June 30, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Adele: Yup, raspberries and blueberries are coming right up. I'm sure you'll find some takers.
Andrea: I almost missed the window myself. It's very short. But here are some other berry-picking (though not cherry) places on the Cape: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/798949/upick_berry_farm_fun_in_cape_cod_massachusetts.html?cat=11
NurseJen: Sounds mighty tasty. I think ours were $6/quart, $3/pint (we saved on labor).
April in CT: I'm a loser. I've never even had Rainier cherries before, but they're damned good. All I ever see at the store are Bings and the occasional sour cherry. I'll have another handful in your honor.
Posted by: Tammy | June 30, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Even pie cherries are really good. Right off the tree. And, fully ripe, they're only a little bit tart. And they've got that intense 100% pie cherry flavor. WOW! I tried to convince my family they were too good for any thing but eating out of hand. But they wanted more sugar. Why?
Posted by: Family Nutritionist | June 30, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I'm beginning to think I won't even see Rainiers!! I was at the grocery today and all they had were the bings which I've gone through about 4lbs of. Not that I ate them all myself..yeah..I'm stickin' with that story. I even bought myself a fancy smancy cherry pitter and I love that little thing. I feel like I'm performing small surgeries every time I use it.
Thank you for the handful in my honor. :o)
Posted by: April in CT | June 30, 2008 at 09:33 PM
So where do you go for strawberries? We put in 55 plants for ourselves but still want more!
Posted by: Heather | July 01, 2008 at 07:34 AM
FYI... I just got an email from Belkin Family Lookout farm last week. They have pick-your-own cherries too... and not as far a drive!
Posted by: Non-Bacon Tammy | July 01, 2008 at 08:54 AM