Door County’s famous cherry orchards are worth a visit
Green Bay Press-Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN
Even if you visit Door County only for its shops, nature, arts or another reason, you really have to go out of your way to miss spotting at least a few cherry trees, the cherry-based foods and the wine.
The peninsula’s 2,500 acres of cherry orchards are a destination visited each year by visitors in search of spring blossom photo ops and, later in summer, opportunities to pick their own cherries.
Yet the trees aren’t native to the area. In fact, growing cherry trees in Door County started as an experiment; they were among various fruit crops planted on 80 acres in the late 1800s.
Unlike many plants, fruit trees thrived in the county’s shallow rocky soil, according to a UW-Madison Department of History account. Cherry production peaked in the 1950s, when about 700 cherry growers were producing about 50 million pounds of cherries annually. While Door County’s place on the national cherry stage has shrunk since then, the county still embraces its deep cherry roots.
From blossoms to harvest
Blossoms emerge as early as midApril, hitting full bloom from mid- to late May.
You don’t have to go to far off the beaten path to spot the blooms. There’s plenty to see along State 42 between Egg Harbor and Fish Creek, and north of Sister Bay. If you like backroads, cherry orchards are common sites along County E, on County EE between State highways 42 and 57, and along County A from Jacksonport north to State 42.
After the petals drop the fruit emerges and goes from green to red over the next couple of months.
Cherry season usually runs from mid-July to mid-August, but under the right conditions cherries might be ready as soon as the first week in July. That’s the case this year, as a result of the spring and early summer’s unseasonably hot weather.
Most orchards and roadside stands sell fresh pre-picked cherries.
Know thyself when it comes to buying cherries. If you’re planning to use them for baking, cooking or preserving
(jams, sauces, etc.), buy tart cherries. If you want to put them in a bowl for snacking, buy sweet cherries.
Typically sweet cherries are ready before tart cherries.
If you like manual labor, you can pick your own cherries. Each orchard will start and finish its season at different times, so call or visit their websites — especially Facebook pages — for the latest information, including the days and hours open for picking and projected closing dates. The season usually lasts one to two weeks at an orchard but can finish sooner depending on its size and the number of customers.
● Alexander’s Cherry Orchard: 2786 S. Stevenson Pier Road, Brussels, cash only, 920-824-5113, facebook.com/ AlexandersCherryOrchard
● Cherry Lane Orchards: 7525 Cherry Lane, Sturgeon Bay, 920-8566864, facebook.com/Cherry-Lane-Orchards-283153965059749
● Choice Orchards Farm Market: 4594 County HH, Sturgeon Bay, 920743-8980, facebook.com/choiceorchards
● Hyline Orchards: 8240 State 42,
Fish Creek, 920-868-3067, facebook.com/Hyline-Orchards-164013009731
● Kielar Akers Orchard: S648 State 42, Sturgeon Bay, 920-856-6978, facebook.com/kielarakers ● Lautenbach’s Orchard Country: 9197 State 42, Fish Creek, 866-9463263, facebook.com/orchardcountry
● Meleddy Cherry Orchard: 1038 Mill Road, Sturgeon Bay, 414-379-6508, facebook.com/meleddycherryorchard
● Paradise Farms Orchard: 2565 County C, Brussels, 920-825-7274, facebook.com/ParadiseFarmsOrchardDoorCounty ● Robertson Orchards: 2575 S. Shiloh Road, Sturgeon Bay, 920-743-1351 (text or call), facebook.com/RobertsonOrchards
● Schartner’s Farm Market: 6476 State 42, Egg Harbor, 920-743-8617, facebook.com/schartnersfarmmarket
● Soren’s Valhalla Orchards: 2412 Idlewild Road, Sturgeon Bay, 920-7461102, facebook.com/sorensvalhallaorchardsllc
Once you’ve confirmed an orchard is open for picking, it’s better to arrive earlier than later in the day, as some orchards may shorten the day’s picking times due to demand.
Some orchards only accept cash. Be prepared for summer weather by packing water, bug spray and sunscreen. Don’t forget a cooler with ice for bringing the cherries home.
CHERRY SHOPS AND STANDS
Even if you miss the blossoms or harvest, the bigger cherry orchards have tours, events and shops filled with cherry-based food products. And there’s always something cherry-related in season at roadside stands and markets.
Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market, 9197 State 42, Fish Creek: It’s a one-stop cherry experience: tours, wine samples and cherry food products for sale. Enjoy a closeup view of blossoms and pick your own tart cherries.
Seaquist Orchards Farm Market, 11482 State 42, Sister Bay: The bakery takes the cake, or rather pie, from Muffin Mondays to Fritter Fridays at this orchard and shop just north of Sister Bay. The family-owned operation is into its fifth generation and boasts approximately 1,000 acres of tart cherry trees that on average produces about 6 million pounds of cherries.
Bea’s Ho-Made Products, 763 State 42, Gills Rock: You’ve heard of openfaced sandwiches, but what about an open-faced cherry turnover? It’s a popular treat at Bea’s in-store bakery. Started in 1961 when the family’s eldest daughter started selling cherries from a picnic table by the roadside, Bea’s now makes a wide variety of products — the old-fashioned way. Pie crusts made with lard. Jams cooked on stovetops in small batches packed by hand.
Cherry De-Lite/Country Ovens, 229 E. Main Street, Forestville: From dried to juice, this Forestville company has been making cherry goodies since 1987. The chocolate-covered cherries are among the most popular items, but if you would like to add cherry flavor to any food they also have Montmorency tart cherries diced into sprinkle size. The company hosts a Cherry De-Lite Festival each summer at its factory retail store. Wine tasting, live music, kids games, a pie eating contest and live cooking demos are part of the festivities.
Grandma Tommy’s Country Store, 4020 State 42-57, Sturgeon Bay: You don’t have to get much farther north than Sturgeon Bay to find cherry infused into nearly every possible form including preserves, salsas, barbecue sauces and even a cherry honey mustard. In the 1940s, John and Antonia Tomjanovich opened the roadside fruit market that time has transformed into Grandma Tommy’s.
Koepsel’s Farm Market, 9669 State 57, Baileys Harbor: Third- and fourthgeneration family members make many jams, jellies and canned products following recipes that predate the market’s opening in 1958. More than 87 jams, jellies and fruit butters are sold at Koepsel’s, located between Baileys Harbor and Sister Bay. There are plenty of savory cherry products also available.
Wood Orchard Market, 8112 Highway 42, Egg Harbor: Cherry doughnuts, strudel and fudge are part of the mix at this market with the big red apple next to its sign. Besides the baked goods, the shelves are lined with cherry-infused products including a cherry horseradish sauce for the culinary adventurous.
CHERRY WINE, CIDER & SPIRITS
There are many sweet cherry wines made Door County. But there are also dry, semi-dry, blends and even sparkling versions made at several Door County wineries. Cherries are also added to hard ciders and used in distilling spirits.
Door Peninsula Winery, 5806 Hwy 42, Carlsville: Turning cherries into wine since 1974, this winery regularly makes sweet, dry, port and wine blends with Door County cherries. Cherry Mimosa is a lightly carbonated blend of fresh pressed Door County tart cherries and aged cider. Wines and ciders (not all include cherries) are available for tasting at two bars. New for 2021 is an outdoor wine garden that’s open for wine tasting, wine by the glass, and a cocktail menu featuring Door County Distillery spirits and Door Peninsula wines.
Harbor Ridge Winery, 4690 Rainbow Ridge Court, Egg Harbor: The 2019 Cherry-osity is a sparkling wine made from a blend of Door County Montmorency cherries and Muscat grapes.
Red Oak Winery, 5781 State 42, Sturgeon Bay: The winery makes a port and sweet cherry wine along with its Cherry Pepin, a semi-sweet blend of cherries and grapes.
Island Orchard Cider, 12040 Garrett Bay Road, Ellison Bay: Door County may be famous for cherries, but there’s no shortage of apples grown here. This cidery makes Sour Cherry, a dry blend of 60% Montmorency cherry cider and 40% medium-bodied apple base. The Apple Cherry is a crisp, dry rosé blend.
Door County Distillery, 5806 State 42, Carlsville: Opened in 2011, the distillery makes cherry vodka, brandy distilled from Door Peninsula Winery Cherry Wine and Door County Moonshine with Montmorency cherries from Seaquist Orchards added to the jars, which are sealed and set to infuse for at least 6 months. Tastings are available.