Another potential positive that came from the pandemic is that it might have attracted a new demographic to cherry picking — families. With no other outlet for group activities besides outdoor sports, Sorenson and Kasten said families that otherwise might not have gone picking flocked to their orchards last year, and Kasten reported that the sweet cherry season has been solid so far.
"Last year, we were bombarded with families," Kasten said. "It's not been crazy this year, just really steady."
A number of orchards offer services to make the cherries a more enjoyable experience. Pickers can get the pits removed from their cherries, normally a labor-intensive job, at several orchards, including Robertson and Meleddy, which has two industrial pitters that can do the job in 30 minutes. Musil said friendly, well-behaved pets are welcome at Choice Orchards.