It’s cherry season and wow - have you noticed it’s the cherriest? Seems like cherries are everywhere! I asked Deborah Olson why. She’s a 4th generation farmer at Olson’s cherry farm – an honest-to-goodness, real-live cherry farm, right in the middle of Sunnyvale. In operation since 1899, its boundaries have become El Camino Real, shopping centers and stoplights, but the cherry farm still survives and thrives. It’s surprising and wonderful to see.
Food Partiers! - if you’ve never visited the farmstand you must this year, and if you have visited, I know you will return. Olson’s is a classic Mecca-stop for local foods and the Valley of Hearts Delight (the moniker first given to Silicon Valley, based on it’s agricultural heritage.) Not only can you taste all the yummy dried fruits and fruit candies while shopping at the historic stand, you can buy cherries harvested just a block away.
“Cherries are prolific this year and delicious,” says Farmer Deborah. We just started picking Tartarians out of the Sunnyvale Orchard. Make sure to stop by soon as the supply is limited. Garnets & Bings are available [this week. Blenheim apricots will be ready around mid-June.”
Mark your calendar for their super-fun farm tours:
Cherry Orchard Tours
May 27: 10:30am-11:30am
June 3rd: 10:30am-11:30am
Meet at the Stand
Deborah will take you down memory lane, explaining the history of the property now called Cherry Orchard Shopping Center. Then you’ll cross the street to the 3 acre cherry orchard and be greeted by all kinds of cherry varieties to taste and discover your favorite. Wear comfortable shoes. Free for young and old.
C J Olson’s Cherries
Sunnyvale Stand
348 W. El Camino
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Monday thru Sunday 9:30am- 6:00pm
Come back on Memorial Day for Cherry Brie Quesadilla with Berry Chipotle Sauce and Heart Garnish. In prep your shopping list is quesadillas, fresh cherries, brie, can of chipotle pepper, jar of raspberry jam. It goes together quickly – a perfect holiday appetizer.
