The alarm rang at 6:30 a.m., rousing several people across Kamloops. Excitement bubbled in our chests as we remembered the day’s mission: a trip to Peter’s U-pick orchard in Vernon for some tart cherry picking.
After a quick wake-up routine, we hit the road from Kamloops. The drive to Vernon was filled with anticipation. Our conversation was peppered with memories of past picking adventures and speculation about what we’d find this year.
As we pulled into the orchard, we were greeted by Peter, the owner, standing at the entrance. His warm smile was tinged with a hint of something else—pride, perhaps, or resilience.
Peter explained the challenging winter that had affected their orchard. Despite the setback, they had managed to save their sour cherry crop – a testament to their skill and determination.
Armed with baskets and a ladder, we set off into the orchard. The trees weren’t as full as in previous years, making our hunt more exciting. We moved from tree to tree, searching for the perfect sour cherries.
“Look up there!” I called out, pointing to a cluster of deep red cherries nestled in the highest branches of a particularly tall tree. The ladder came, and we went up, carefully plucking the prized fruit.
As we picked, we couldn’t resist sampling our harvest. The cherries were indeed the perfect balance of sweet and tart, their flavour intensified by the struggle they had endured to grow.
Between picking sessions, we paused to take photos, determined to preserve the memory of this unique experience. The orchard, though less lush than usual, as all sweet cherry trees had no cherries, had a stark beauty that was striking in its own right. There were few people, as not many were excited to pick sour cherries as they enjoyed picking sweet cherries. It was a very quiet u-pick that allowed us to bring many amazing memories from cherry-picking experiences in Lviv, Kherson, and Dnipro.
Throughout the morning, Ukrainian was the only language in the orchard; even Peter greeted us in Ukrainian. Although we hadn’t seen Tanya today, their Ukrainian spirit was present at every sour cherry tree. It added an extra layer of charm to the experience, reminding us of the rich cultural heritage behind this amazing orchard.
Our baskets were full of the best tart cherries we could find in one hour. Our arms were slightly tired from reaching and climbing, but satisfaction radiated from our smiles.
We left Peter’s U-pick with more than just cherries. We carried a deeper appreciation for the hard work that goes into growing fruit, the resilience of nature and the human spirit, and the joy of participating in a tradition that bridges cultures and generations.
On the drive back to Kamloops, we were already planning how to use our precious harvest – and looking forward to returning next year to see the orchard in full bloom once again.
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