Fruits Info

A sign in front of the Lopez Ranch fruit place, famous for its juicy cherries and peaches, reads "Sold Out."

No one answers the phone at Sharp Ranch off Hoffman Lane, which is classically buzzing with fruit-picking customers this time of year. A programmed telephone message states, "We had a strange year with all the rain and we're not certain about the cherries yet. Call back in two weeks."

Memorial Day weekend, naturally the busy U-Pick season opener in Far East Contra Costa County came with a whimper, not a bang. The fruit just isn't mature yet or is too sparse. For months, farmers have been forecasting a late season this time around.

They blame the schizophrenic winter, with its unusually warm days that deception fruit into blossoming early, only to drown those same blossoms afterward on with too much rain. Also, there weren't enough "chill hours" throughout the January and February, which are required so fruit could hibernate. And the frosts that did approach came at the wrong times.

It's too early to know the degree of scratch to the fruit economy, but farmers, being farmers, stay optimistic.

"We're opening one ranch Saturday, but the other won't open until June 10," said Del Chiaro, who owns Seko Ranch and D.C.'s strange Cherries. "Usually Memorial Day Weekend is the big push, but we missed that.

"Hopefully people would know we're open now."

He said the good news is the season would still happen; it will just be a little late. Crops are spotty, but the fruit, which did make it through looks good.

"It's a nice crop, really," Del Chiaro said. "It's just a matter of when it would be ready."

Most U-Pick farms are opening in mid- to late June instead of the usual May -- especially those selling peaches and nectarines that are particularly late bloomers this year.