Straight from the tree to your mouth, January is the season for cherries.

For me, the fruit is reminiscent of the Australian summertime where there is warm balmy weather accompanied by a bowl of cold cherries from the fridge. The peak season for cherry picking is in December and January. Depending on your state, the harvest window will vary due to rainfall, humidity and frost.

Found amongst the Yarra Valley Region (about 1 hour from Melbourne CBD) is Blue Hills Berries and Cherries. The business is an Australian owned and operated fruit orchard run by the Chapman family who have farmed in Silvan since 1894. Did you know there are 50 varieties of cherries currently grown in Australia? Here at Blue Hill, we were able to taste and pick three: the Simone, Sweetheart and White cherry varieties.

An entry ticket can be purchased online for $14 (adults) which includes all-you-can-eat off the tree. Grab a bucket to stock up on anymore that you'd like to take home (priced at $12/kg at time of writing). Not having much knowledge of the different varieties, it was a fun experience to taste test and wander around the rows of cherry trees. There is an onsite food truck and picnic tables at each of their cherry picking locations.

It's fair to say that it's not the only orchard in the region. Cherries are grown in all 6 states, but NSW and Victoria are two of the largest producers of cherries for Australia.

Cherries on a branch
The Simone variety of cherry
Lady in broad brimmed hat and floral dress picking cherries from a tree
Cherry orchard
The white cherry variety characterised by a vibrant pink colour
Cockatiel tasting a cherry
Chicko enjoying a taste of a white cherry variety that I brought home

If you're in NSW, why not check out the regions of Orange, Young, Hillston, Mudgee, Wellington, Tumut and Batlow? If you're in Victoria, you'll find orchards in North-East Victoria (Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Chiltern, Beechworth, Stanley, Tolmie), Goulburn Valley (Tatura, Cobram, Armona, Katunga), Upper Goulburn (Alexandra, Yarck, Flowerdale, Gooram, Boho, Strathbogie, Mansfield) and Southern Victoria (Silvan, Wandin, Seville, Red Hill, Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne).

Details about Blue Hill Cherries below:

Website: https://www.upickberries.com.au/

Entry price: $14 entry (all you can eat off the tree), $7.00 children, free for under 5 years.

Price per kg to take home: $12 per kg

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