DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Signs of spring are all around in Door County.
Producers say the recent warm temperatures are giving a boost to the cherry crop.
“The bloom came real quick here. Last week we got into the 70s, and they popped out real fast,” said Dave Schartner, Schartner’s Farm Market Owner.
A sea of white seems to the air Monday morning at Schartner’s Farm Market. Owner Dave Schartner says sweet cherry tree blossoms typically open ahead of the tarts.
“Last Monday, they started blooming. By Wednesday-Thursday, they were in full bloom last week. The tarts started blooming here on Friday, and through the weekend, they got into full bloom,” said Schartner.
Shartner says cold weather at the end of April had an impact on some of the 28-acre crop.
“The sweet cherries are a little farther ahead of the tarts, and they didn’t have, very little damage. But the tarts did have some damage. It’s kind of hard to tell until we get some fruit set on the tree.”
The cherry blossoms bring many visitors to Door County, like Jenny Mladucky.
“I missed them in the past, and I wanted to make sure I see them, and take some pictures. Beautiful. It’s a beautiful sunny day. So I feel really lucky. I just came up for the day.”
Early season produce is also on sale.
“We normally open when our asparagus gets going. And we started our first picking of asparagus on Thursday. So it worked out perfectly that we opened on Friday,” said Schartner.
Schartner says the cherry blossoms should last about another week, or until rain, or wind, takes them down. He says he expects a good season.
“This is kind of a normal bloom, the middle of May. So, they always figure 60 days from bloom to harvest. So we should be harvesting the tarts, somewhere in the middle of July. The sweets, should start around the 10th of July, if the weather stays normal.”
Door County Cherries are big business too.
The region’s 2,000 acres of orchards typically produce about 8-15 million pounds of tart cherries per year.
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