Picking Schedule

This is the 2009 picking schedule. It is mid Spring here in Southwest Michigan and time for our annual newsletter to be written. We had a cold and very snowy winter and our Spring has been on the cool side. We have had ample rainfall and everything is growing rapidly.

Stone fruit blossom time is finished and small pea sized fruit is growing. It appears that we will have a large crop of peaches, plums and nectarines.

Apple trees are in full bloom and the honey bees are busy with their work of pollinating the flowers. We have had a pretty nice bloom period so far and there is the potential of having a very large apple crop.

Our new blueberry plantings have grown well and within a year or so we will have u-pick blueberries. We will still continue to offer already picked blueberries in the month of August. All raspberry varieties are growing nicely. Fields have been plowed and are ready to be planted with pumpkins, gourds and sweet corn.

We are always committed to offering the best quality fruit at the lowest price possible. Our prices will stay the same as last year. If our apple crop is as large as we think it will be, it is possible the Fall apple price will be lower than last year with the exception of Honecrip apples. To be able to do this means there will be other budget cuts on the farm. One of these cuts will be the mailing of our newsletter. The letter will still be available on our website: http://cranesupick.com and we will gladly mail you one with a self addressed, stamped envelope.

Picking should start later this year and go longer into October. Our schedule looks like this for the season of 2009:

2009 U-Pick Hours (when fresh fruit is available): 9am til 6pm Monday through Saturday; Sunday 10am til 6pm. Please call 269-561-5126 for current fruit information.

Transparent apples:
Should be ready around July 15th. Picking should last for about a week.

Red Raspberries:
The first berries should be ready July 15th. All three varieties of Raspberries are growing well. Raspberry picking continues into October.

Peaches:
It was a beautiful bloom in all peach varieties. Peach season will start around July 30th with Rising Star, followed by Red Haven (August 10th), Redstar (August 15th), Blazingstar, Starfire, Glo Haven, Coralstar, Loring, Blushingstar (white fleshed peach), Glowingstar, Allstar and Redskin (September 15).

Nectarines
We grow three varieties. They are all very sweet. The first nectarines should be ready around August 10th.

plums:
We planted new orchards of Elephant Heart and Satsuma plums this spring. Shiro and Santa Rosa are available starting August 15th.

Sweet Corn :
Available already picked in late July and August. Sweet corn should be more plentiful with our irrigation system in place.

Blueberries:
Currently we offer already picked berries through the month of August. Our new blueberry plantings are growing and it is possible we will have u-pick in the year 2010.

Apples:
Picking should start around September 15th with Gala and Golden Supreme followed by Honeycrisp, Empire, Jonathan, McIntosh, Cortland, Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Mutsu, Ida Red and Rome. Picking should continue into mid October.

Pumpkins:
Take a wagon and walk through our five acres of beautiful pumpkins until you find your perfect pumpkin. We also offer already picked winter squash, gourds and specialty pumpkins. The patch will be open until mid October this year.

Chestnuts:
Start falling in early October.

Please remember, all of the above dates are approximate. If you are interested in a particular fruit call (269) 561-5126 for current fruit information. Dress properly: layered shirts, sunscreen, hats and close toed, flat shoes. Save money by bringing your own containers, small shallow boxes or 1/2 bushel baskets transport fruit best. Always call the above number for current fruit information.

We hope to see you soon!
Gary and Sandy Crane