Kandice VincentToronto may be dotted with cherry trees, but sadly, there aren’t a lot of farms around where you can pick your own fruit.
Sure, you can forage in public spaces, but let’s be real—the trees are scattered, the climb can be tricky, and the birds? They always seem to snag the sweetest ones first.
That’s why when cherry season rolls around, you’ll find me and other locals hitting the road, heading to nearby towns where cherry picking becomes more of a joy than a struggle.
Luckily, there are a handful of farms for cherry picking near Toronto, some of which are only an hour’s drive away. Below, I rounded up my favorite spots, so you, too, can make the most out of cherry season.
1. Cherry Avenue Farms
Media credit: ms.yvess
Website: http://www.cherryavenuefarms.org/
Location: 4303 Cherry Ave, Vineland Station
Picking season: Early July
Phone: +19055625481
Admission: None
Cherry Avenue Farms has been family-owned and operated for over 200 years, and it’s still a go-to destination for cherry pickers. The harvest season usually starts early in July, but it may vary each year depending on the weather.
I like that the trees are well-maintained and the fruits are easy to reach, making this an ideal spot for families with kids. Even your pets won’t be left out because they’re welcome on the farm, but you’ve got to keep them leashed at all times.
Once you’re done, you can picnic on the farm. Find a shaded area or a picnic table where you can enjoy your fruit and other refreshments before hitting the road.
Pro Tip:
Don’t bring your own baskets. You have to buy them at the farm, which you’ll have to pay for before entering the orchard.
2. Smith Two Century Farms
Media credit: smithtwocenturyfarms
Website: http://www.smithtwocenturyfarms.com/
Location: 400 Main St W, Grimsby
Picking season: Late June to Early July
In-season operating hours: Daily, 8 AM to 5 PM
Phone: +16478833333
Admission: None
Price: 3L $35, 4L $45, and 7L $60
Located along the Niagara escarpment, Smith Two Century Farms is home to several sweet and sour cherries. With 300+ trees, you can stock up on your favorite varieties for baking, canning, and, of course, eating fresh!
Since they grow quite a lot of varieties, the picking season may last up to 4 weeks in favorable weather conditions—but this varies greatly per year. When the farm is open to the public, they are typically available from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Unfortunately, they don’t have restroom facilities so keep that in mind on your drive here. They also don’t allow guests to picnic on the property.
Pro Tip:
You don’t need to make a reservation to go cherry-picking here. You just need to pay for the fruits that you intend to take home.
3. Sun Valley Farms
Media credit: sunvalleyfarmsniagara
Website: https://sunvalleyfarms.co/
Location: 1186 Hwy 8, Winona
Picking season: Late June
In-season operating hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM
Phone: +12899332306
Admission: None
Price: 3L $35, 4L $45, and 6L $60
Just less than an hour away, you’ll find Sun Valley Farms, offering a laid-back cherry-picking experience that’s perfect for families. With 3,000+ trees in their orchard, there’s plenty of room for everyone to spread out and gather cherries.
All their trees are grown on full-dwarf rootstocks. This means the fruit hangs lower and is easy to reach—even for kids.
The cherry season here typically lasts up to five weeks, starting in late June. You’ll find both sweet and sour cherry varieties, ripening at different intervals, which gives visitors a reason to return multiple times.
They don’t charge an admission fee, but they will require each group to purchase a bucket before entering the orchard and prices are based on size. Be sure to bring cash or debit, as they currently don’t accept credit cards.
Pro Tip:
Don’t miss out on other seasonal freshly-harvested produce. You can get them at their farmers’ market.
4. Bridgman’s Farm
Media credit: lenutrition
Website: https://www.bridgmansfarm.ca/
Location: 20 Bridgman Ln, Stoney Creek
Picking season: Early to Mid July
In-season operating hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM
Phone: +19056431506
Another 200-year-old farm worth visiting is Bridgman’s Farm. What makes it different from the rest on my list is that it’s a small one.
During peak season, they will limit the number of visitors to the orchards, ensuring a calm and enjoyable experience for everyone. If you want to avoid crowds and long lines, visit early in the season, ideally on a weekday.
You can pick sweet and sour cherries here. While they have an abundance of sweet varieties, the sour ones are usually pretty limited in quantity, so you have to visit early in the season to get first dibs.
They charge based on the size of the basket, which you can get in 3L, 4L, and 7L sizes. But if you bring your own containers of these sizes, they’ll give you a small credit.
Pro Tip:
They don’t always allow picnics at the farm. If you want a small picnic, head to Fifty Point Conservation Area before heading back home.
5. Puddicombe Farms, Winery, and Cidery
Media credit: bigaandlittlea
Website: https://puddicombefarms.com/pickyourown/
Location: 1468 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek
Picking season: July to August
In-season operating hours:
- Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Sat-Sun, 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Phone: +19056431015
Admission: None
Puddicombe Farms offers far more than just cherry picking—it’s a full-on experience for food and wine enthusiasts. It’s been around since 1797 and boasts beautiful orchards, a winery, a cidery, and even a train ride for families looking to explore.
During picking season, which runs from July to August, you’ll find sweet and sour varieties in abundance. While I do love the sweet ones, especially for snacking, the Montmorency’s tartness makes it ideal for pies and preserves.
Once you’ve filled your baskets, reward yourself with a glass of their signature cider or wine. It’s the perfect way to cap off a day in the orchards.
Pro Tip:
Check out their market for pre-picked locally grown fruits and vegetables.
6. 20 Valley Harvest Farms
Media credit: 20valleyharvest
Website: http://20valleyharvest.com/
Location: 4235 Fifteenth St, Jordan Station
Picking season: First week of July
In-season operating hours:
Phone: +19055625272
Admission: No entry fee; but requires an $8 minimum purchase
Price: 3L $27.75, 4L $37.75, and 7L $48
Located in Lincoln, 20 Valley Harvest Farms is a 4th generation family-run farm with 1,000+ cherry trees. When harvest season arrives in the first week of July, the trees are heavy with perfectly ripe sweet cherries, lasting anywhere from a few days to 3 weeks.
They also grow Montmorency cherries, a variety originating in France, which isn’t as tart as the ones from Persia. Depending on the weather, this sour variety may last from 1 week to a full month.
If you prefer your cherries tart, pick them earlier in the season because the Montmorency variety tends to get sweeter over time. Choose the darker-colored fruits because they’re more tart than the lighter-colored ones.
Pro Tip:
They only accept payment in cash, debit cards, and email money transfers. No credit cards.
7. Weiland’s Cherry Farm
Media credit: cher__19
Website: https://www.weilandcherryfarm.com/
Location: 1625 Haist St, Fonthill
Picking season:
In-season operating hours: Daily, 9 AM to 7 PM
Phone: +19058923744
Admission: $7 per person (ages 12 and up)
Price: 3L $15, 4L $20, and 6.8L $33
Weiland’s Cherry Farm is a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto, which is quite far to get a basket of fruit. However, if you stop by Niagara Falls, which is only 20 minutes away from here, it will make your entire trip worth it.
What sets this farm apart from the rest is its affordability. Even if they charge you an extra $4 for overfilling and $2 for keeping your basket, your cherries will still cost less than what you’d get at other farms.
But what I like the most about Weiland’s is that they have 3,000 cherry trees. If you have particular favorites, you’ll most likely find them all here.
Pro Tip:
Bring cash! They don’t accept cards.
