Lodi families have grown a variety of produce in the last century, including watermelons, cherries, almonds and of course grapes! Diversity of crops has helped sustain our family farm throughout the years.
Right across from our Lizzy James vineyard sits a beautiful, decades old cherry orchard that we still manage today. It is filled with Bing cherry trees and a lesser known heirloom variety used for cross pollination. These trees share a lot in common with Lizzy James, loving the deep sandy loam soils in this area of the Mokelumne AVA.
Part of why we got involved with cherries or any other crop we’ve planted (including grapes) falls back into our sustainability model. We are always looking for opportunities to keep our business viable and one way to do that is with economic sustainability. Markets fluctuate and farming produce can be particularly fickle. Did you know that Lodi was once known as the watermelon capital? When another region began successfully ripening watermelons even earlier, demand shifted and we had to make strategic decisions to lean in to other crops.
Things fall in and out of favor with consumers, so having more than one offering can help to offset those unexpected times. That’s where our cherries come in. Our Bing cherries are delicious and grown specifically to be marketable. Cherries require at least two varieties for cross pollination, so in addition to Bings, our orchard is home to an heirloom variety called Black Tartarian. You have likely never heard of this older variety because, though delicious, they are quite soft and do not fare well being packed and shipped. For our purposes, we love snacking on them and can confirm they make the best cherry pie!
Cherries have a really important thing in common with our Lizzy James Zinfandel. Both thrive in deep, well-drained soils where their roots can remain nice and dry. To ensure that our cherries are well-pollinated, we work with a local beekeeper who keeps our orchard populated throughout the season. In fact, of all the orchards around Lodi, ours is one of the earliest to bloom and harvest. We are typically one of the first Bings to hit the market at our packing shed.
We typically pick in May, right around Memorial Day. This orchard has a lot of character and is one of our favorite places to walk through on a peaceful afternoon. It is one of Charlie’s favorite spots on the ranch! We can’t wait to see what this year brings. If you have cherries in season near you, give this sensational recipe a try – provided by our friend Chef Nancy Waldeck of Taste and Savor in Atlanta. With just a few easy ingredients, it’s a wonderful way to savor fresh cherries. Pair with our Lizzy James Old Vine Zinfandel and picture yourself sitting out in the orchard on a warm, sunny afternoon. Click for printable recipe card.
