Lindsey Sterkel – Dutch Orchard
Well, that’s a wrap for cherry harvest 2017 for Dutch Orchard!
Earlier this week, the boys swamped around 800 boxes in just one day! Now they’ll have time for their backs and arms to rest during their 15 hour drive home!
Cherry harvest always varies from a week or longer or even shorter. This year’s harvest was a little longer than normal due to the ripening of the fruit. Some had ripened really quick while others took their time and took some major scouting through the trees to make sure the best fruit was getting picked.
It takes about a week or so to get everything ready to roll. They’ll get the sorting room ready and cleaned, the bins out of storage, the big walk-in cooler cleaned, the gas tanks filled, the ladders out, the stand cleaned and ready, paperwork ready and getting the word out to come get some yummy Flathead cherries in the area.
It doesn’t seem like anyone loses weight during harvest. Even the boys, although they are working their tails off swamping the cherries in the field. Mom cooks supper for everyone and it’s always something really good that you can’t help but have seconds of. (Moms nickname is Martha )
Sorting
Getting ready for a big order going to Denver!
Loading the truck with ten palates of cherries, all going to Denver!
After harvest is all done there’s packing everything back in the sheds for next year. With the boys around, it goes pretty quick.
Once the cherries are picked, there are a few factors we really have to watch for. One is how long they sit. We want to get them from the tree to the customer as quickly as possible. The longer they sit, the browner the stems get. They still taste amazing but we like the stems to be as green as they can be. Another factor is keeping them cool and dry. If they aren’t cool, they’ll get soft and mushy. If they aren’t dry, they mold a lot quicker than they would if they were dry.
Mom and dad have Lamberts (a family of the bing), Vans (pollinator trees), Decans (pollinator trees), Lapins, Pie Cherries, and Rainiers (yellow cherries) growing in the orchard.
The thing about sweet cherries is they need the pollinating trees like the Vans and Decans to produce fruit. Earlier in the spring, they’ll bring in bees to help with this process. The sour cherries or pie cherries will pollinate themselves.
At Dutch Orchard, they have just over 1,000 trees. It’s 10 acres full of these awesome trees.
People travel from all over to get these amazing, plump, red, sweet Flathead cherries. I’m not sure about the number of orchards in the area, but there are a lot!
It’s always bittersweet when cherry harvest ends because it means you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but it’s closer to having to go home and having to wait a whole year to come back.
If I could send you all some cherries, I would because everyone needs to try a Flathead cherry at least once! So if you’re ever looking for a family trip or you’re nearby, you have to swing by the Polson area because it’s nothing short of amazing!!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
