Washington grows a wide range of fruit, but harvest dates shift with elevation, weather, and variety. Use this guide to plan what to buy, pick, or visit for throughout the year. Before heading to an orchard or farm stand, check its current harvest report: a fruit’s usual season is a useful guide, not a guarantee that it is ripe today.
What You’ll Need
- A seasonal calendar or the guide below.
- Current availability information from a farm, farmers market, or Washington State University Extension resource.
- If picking: a confirmed farm visit, suitable shoes, sun protection, water, and containers if the farm allows them.
- A cooler or insulated bag for a long trip, especially for berries and other delicate fruit.
Step-by-Step
- Choose the area you’ll visit. Western Washington is generally cooler and wetter; central and eastern Washington include many major orchard-growing areas, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Local conditions and elevation matter, so dates can differ even between nearby farms. Don’t use a statewide month as a firm picking date.
- Start with the broad calendar. In Washington, strawberries commonly begin in late spring or early summer, followed by raspberries, cherries, blueberries, and other berries through summer. Apricots and some early peaches may appear in summer. Peaches, nectarines, plums, and other stone fruit are most often summer crops. Apples and pears are primarily late-summer-through-fall fruit, with many varieties harvested in fall. Exact timing varies by cultivar and site.
- Check for early-season fruit. From roughly late May into June, look for strawberries and, in some places, early cherries. Cooler districts may start later. Ask whether the farm is open and which varieties are actually ready; a farm’s opening date does not mean every crop is available.
- Look for the summer peak. June through August is often the broadest window for fresh picking. Depending on the year and location, you may find cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums. Check farm updates before traveling, particularly for cherries, which can have a short harvest window.
- Plan for late summer and fall. Late summer brings more apples and pears, and the apple harvest continues into fall. Different varieties ripen at different times: an early apple may be ready weeks before a late-keeping variety. Some farms offer fruit into October or later, but frost, crop conditions, and farm schedules affect availability.
- Separate harvest season from availability. Harvest dates describe when fruit is picked, not how long it is sold. Apples and pears can be stored under controlled conditions and may be available well after harvest. Ask whether fruit is fresh-picked, stored, or from a particular season if that matters to you.
- Confirm details directly with the farm. Check its website, social media, or phone line for the day’s crop, picking hours, admission or minimum-purchase rules, payment methods, and whether you may bring containers. Ask about weather closures and whether children or pets are allowed. Make a backup plan if a crop is picked out.
- Pick ripe fruit carefully. Follow staff instructions and pick only where permitted. Ripe berries should come away easily; cherries should be fully colored for their variety. Apples are often ready when they lift and twist off without force, but use the farm’s variety-specific guidance. Don’t shake branches, climb trees, or sample fruit unless the farm permits it.
- Protect and store your harvest. Keep fruit shaded and cool on the way home. Refrigerate berries and ripe stone fruit promptly, and avoid washing them until just before eating. Store apples and pears cool, and keep them separate from produce that is sensitive to ethylene if you need it to last longer. Follow any farm or food-safety advice for the specific fruit.
Common Mistakes
- Treating a calendar as a promise: A warm spring may advance bloom and harvest; cold or wet weather can delay or reduce crops.
- Assuming every variety ripens together: Farms may have early, midseason, and late varieties, so ask which one is ready.
- Driving without checking first: A field can be closed, picked out, or open only for prearranged visits.
- Leaving fruit in a hot car: Heat speeds softening and spoilage, especially for berries and stone fruit.
- Washing before storage: Extra moisture can encourage mold on berries. Refrigerate them dry and wash shortly before use.
- Confusing local harvest with local sales: Stored apples may still be sold months after picking, while a seasonal fruit may disappear quickly.
Tips
- Use farm-specific updates as your final source; regional harvest calendars are best for initial planning.
- For a varied outing, ask about what is ripe now and what is expected next week, rather than planning around one fruit alone.
- Bring a cooler for the return trip, but don’t put loose ice directly against fruit. Keep containers ventilated and out of direct sun.
- Pick only the amount you can use or preserve. Berries are delicate; spread them in shallow containers rather than piling them high.
- If you want a particular apple or pear, ask for the variety by name and whether it is currently being harvested or sold from storage.
- For seasonal food beyond orchards, check farmers market listings. Market vendors may sell fruit from other Washington growing districts, so ask where and when it was harvested.
Troubleshooting
The farm says the crop is not ready: Ask for an updated estimate and check nearby farms or markets. Do not rely on last year’s dates; weather changes the schedule.
The fruit is sold out or picking is closed: Call before visiting another location and ask about remaining varieties, farm-stand sales, or the next picking day. Have an indoor or market stop as a backup.
Fruit looks ripe but tastes bland: Color alone is not a reliable ripeness test, and some fruit will not become sweeter after harvest. Ask staff which varieties are ready and how they should taste before picking a large quantity.
Your berries soften or mold quickly: Remove damaged fruit, keep the rest dry and refrigerated, and wash only what you plan to eat. Use very ripe berries promptly or freeze them.
Your plans are disrupted by heat, rain, or smoke: Check the farm’s closure notice and local conditions before leaving. Reschedule if the farm closes or conditions make travel or outdoor picking unsafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is fruit season in Washington?
It generally runs from late spring through fall. Strawberries and early cherries may begin around late May or June; berries and stone fruit are common in summer, while apples and pears are prominent from late summer into fall.
What fruit is in season in Washington right now?
That depends on the date, growing area, and year. Check current farm or market updates for the specific fruit and location rather than relying on a general calendar.
When are Washington apples in season?
Many varieties are harvested from late summer through fall, but timing varies by variety and orchard. Apples may remain available later because they can be stored after harvest.
When can I pick cherries in Washington?
Cherry picking is usually a summer activity, often beginning in June in some areas, but the window can be brief and shifts with weather. Confirm the day’s availability with the orchard.
Does fruit ripen earlier in eastern Washington?
Often, warmer lowland orchard areas in central and eastern Washington can have earlier harvests than cooler locations, but elevation, variety, and that year’s weather can change the comparison.
Can I pick fruit at any Washington orchard?
No. Some orchards offer u-pick, while others sell only pre-picked fruit or require reservations. Check rules, hours, and crop availability directly before visiting.