Joining the amazingly good selection of delicious fresh summer fruits in Israel (think: mango, watermelon, peaches, grapes etc), here’s yet another juicy and very tasty fruit to savor in the Holy Land: cherries! These red pearls of health are largely grown in the north of Israel and this is the season to go grab some (the cherry season is short, so be quick!).
You can find cherry orchards throughout the Galilee and the Golan Heights, though many orchards are wary of letting the public loose on their trees; cherry trees are known to be very sensitive to poor pruning and picking.
Typically the orchard owners charge something like 25-30 shekels per person, but many of them have also added additional attractions for the kids, including pony rides and other activities.
So if you’re looking to pluck some cherries, here are a few great places that regularly open up their orchards to the public:
- Bustan Bereshit Bagolan at Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights (call 04-6993612). One of the best places to pick, this place is full of great attractions for the kids, and you could easily spend the day here. It’s also just 5 minutes away from the amazing Mount Bental.
- Moshav Odem, just up the road from Gonen in the Golan. For further information, call 052-3791651 or 054-2600130.
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Kibbutz Elrom, also in the Golan. For more details, call 04-6838016.
- Pick Your Own Fruit at Moshav Shaal, on the road to Odem (on Road 978). For more details, call 052-4600465.
- Kesem Hapri in the south of the Golan. For more details, call 052-7560460.
- Yatir Forest (actually in the south of Israel) has an annual cherry picking festival, call 1-800-350-550 for details.
These are great places to take the kids, and there are also many other great spots in the north of Israel to stop off at. Take a look at the map below for an idea of where exactly the above orchards are…
Go grab some cherries!