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Thanks for Joining Us for 2024 Cherries

It was another beautiful year for sweet cherries at Spring Valley Orchard!

We were thrilled to see everyone who made it out and enjoyed the lovely weather and harvest this year. The 2024 cherry season was short and undeniably sweet at just three weeks long (May 23–June 14).

If you don’t want to miss next year’s sweet cherries, like us on Facebook and sign up for emails. As soon as we know anything about the 2025 season, that’s where you’ll hear it first!

And if you can’t get enough of the season’s farm-fresh fruit, visit our sister orchards, Carter Mountain Orchard and Chiles Peach Orchard, for pick-your-own fun through the fall.


A large pile of picked cherries.

“We had a blast yesterday morning picking out the very plump and sweet cherries! Oh my, been coming here 4 years in a row! We love Spring Valley Orchard…”

— Akis R.-A., Facebook user

“Cherries Galore… Picked yesterday morning. Simple, updated parking processes made an always delightful experience even more fluid. Canning today!”

— Christina N., Facebook user

Sign for pick-your-own cherries at Spring Valley Orchard.
Cherries in tree

“We picked some delicious cherries in Afton this past weekend. Highly recommend!”

— Katie F., Facebook user

“We had so much fun cherry pickin’ yesterday at Spring Valley Orchard! Along with our big bucket of sweet cherries, we sipped on yummy cherry slushies on the ride home.”

— Eileen D., Facebook user

A basket of cherries and a cherry slushie.

8 Berry Tasty Blueberry Breakfast Recipe Ideas (Blackberries Too!)

There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a handful of fresh-picked blueberries or blackberries on a hot summer day—especially if you picked them yourself at Chiles Peach Orchard! Once you bring the basket home, though, the fun really starts. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy your berries, and we’re especially fond of starting the next morning with a homemade berry treat.

You don’t need to be a master chef to enjoy these blackberry and blueberry breakfast recipes. Take a look at some of our favorite easy ways to squeeze the most out of the berries you bring home!


Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberries especially are a mouthwatering addition to any pancake recipe. While frozen blueberries can stain your batter or add unwanted water, fresh blueberries mix in perfectly. If you haven’t tried making your pancakes with fresh-picked blueberries, you’re in for a treat! Try this recipe from King Arthur Baking.

Remember to top your pancake stack with some fresh berries, too! They’re sweet enough to dig in even without syrup—if you’re interested, though, we do have some great syrup recommendations!

A stack of blueberry pancakes.

Roasted Blackberry Breakfast Bowl

Yogurt is a healthy, reliable breakfast choice, and there are so many ways to tweak and customize it! No need to buy the flavored stuff with a bunch of added sugar: just a few seconds in the microwave can get berries juicy, gooey, and ready to stir in and flavor plain Greek yogurt.

Why not go all-out, though? Know Your Produce’s recipe combines oatmeal, cinnamon, blackberries, blueberries, and maple syrup in the oven to create a decadent and warm yogurt topper. Feel free to keep adding more stir-in favorites, your imagination’s the limit!

A roasted blackberry breakfast bowl.
Photo and recipe from Know Your Produce

Blueberry Oatmeal Bars

Let’s face it, it’s hard to find time for an elaborate breakfast during the work week. That’s why we love recipes that can last the whole week, like the blueberry oatmeal bars from Erin Clarke at Well Plated.

These bars are an easy, delicious blueberry breakfast recipe, and a healthy alternative to the storebought breakfast bars. Best of all, they last up to five days in the fridge! A quick bake on Sunday can set you up with a morning to look forward to all the way to Friday.

Blueberry oatmeal bars.
Photo and recipe from Well Plated

Blackberry Tart

If you’re looking for something special that can “wow” folks at a Sunday brunch, a blackberry tart absolutely does the trick. And if you get the chance to brag that you picked them yourselves, so much the better!

You can make the filling completely with blackberries, or your blackberries can pair nicely with other fruits. Consider this lemon and blackberry tart recipe from Lion’s Bread that combines sour lemon curd with sweet blackberry preserves and fresh topping for a beautiful and enticing contrast.

Lemon and Blackberry Tart
Photo and recipe from Lion’s Bread

Purple Blueberry and Blackberry Smoothie

Especially while it’s hot out, a smoothie is a perfect way to stay cool and savor all kinds of fruit. Any smoothie recipe is pretty straightforward: Blend your berries with milk until smooth and add protein powder or flavoring if you like. That’s it! Include as many or as few additional fruits or vegetables as you wish.

If you’re making a smoothie with fresh fruit instead of frozen, you’ll need to also add some ice to keep that cold, creamy consistency. It’s worth it! You’ll taste the difference fresh-picked berries make in a smoothie, with a sweeter, stronger flavor. If you’d like to freeze your blueberries for later, though, we have advice on our page all about blueberries.

Blueberry and blackberry smoothie.

Instant Homemade Jelly

Canning jams or preserves is a smart way to make fresh berries last. That can be a daunting hobby to get into, though, and is fairly time-consuming. Jelly, on the other hand, can be made quickly at home from fresh blueberries or blackberries in a matter of minutes! Enjoy it on a slice of toast or a biscuit and keep it in the fridge for a few days—nothing beats fresh jelly in a PB&J!

And if you want a jar of long-lasting jelly, jam, or preserves without the hassle, remember to pick one up at Chiles Peach Orchard when you visit, or find them in our online store.

Blackberry jelly

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Blackberries

Okay, this isn’t the most traditional breakfast idea, we admit it! Blackberries go very well with cheese, especially when they’re both warm and gooey. There are a lot of ways to savor this combination, like cheesecake, salad toppings, or spreads. We personally think a simple grilled cheese, like Tiffany McCauley’s at The Gracious Pantry, is the way to go.

Experiment with breads and cheeses to see what you like the most. Soft cheeses like brie are common favorites that absorb the blackberry flavor, while a sharp cheddar gives a tasty contrast (and who doesn’t love that classic grilled cheese look?).

Griller cheese sandwiches with blackberries.
Photo and recipe from The Gracious Pantry

Blueberry Muffins

How could we forget! There’s no more iconic blueberry breakfast recipe than the good old blueberry muffin. If you’ve mostly baked with the dried blueberries in pre-packaged mixes instead of ripe, fresh-picked blueberries, you’d be surprised how big of a difference they make.

The secret to a good blueberry muffin is the warm, oozy blueberries inside, regardless of how you choose to flavor your batter. Sarah Kieffer’s blueberry muffins get a little fancy with nutmeg, lemon zest, and sour cream all adding small, tasty twists. There are thousands of blueberry muffin recipes out there to try, and any of them will taste even better with fresh blueberries.

A bowl full of blueberry muffins.

Pick-Your-Own Blueberries and Blackberries

Of course, the best part of these recipes is picking the ingredients yourself! So come enjoy the fresh orchard air with us out in Crozet, VA and hand-pick a basket of blueberries or blackberries (or a bucket, now that you have a plan for them!). Check Chiles Peach Orchard’s pick-your-own fruit page for seasonal availability, guidelines, and information to plan your visit.

For even more breakfast treats, don’t forget to pick up some of our famous homemade peach cider donuts after you pick your berries! They’re only around during peach season, so get them while you can!


Add some orchard goodness to your breakfast with these specialty foods available at shop.chilesfamilyorchards.com!

Three varieties of syrup.
Triple berry jam.
Birthday pancake mix.
Fig preserves.
Wild blueberry jam.

It’s Cherry Picking Time! What You Need to Know for 2024

Sweet cherries are ripe early this year at Spring Valley Orchard! Now is the perfect time to come enjoy delicious pick-your-own cherries, or just savor the good weather out here in Afton with refreshing cherry slushies and apple cider donuts.

Kicking off the season on Thursday, May 23, 2024, Spring Valley Orchard will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM every weekday and from 9 AM to 5 PM on the weekends. Come quick though, cherry season won’t last long! The retail market and picnic area are free to visit with convenient onsite parking.

To enter the orchard and pick your own sweet cherries, you’ll need an Orchard Pass for any visitors 2 or older. Orchard Passes are $5/person, and available for purchase online or onsite while availability lasts.

Before picking, you’ll pre-pay based on container size (minimum one container for every two people):

  • Baskets (approx. 2 lbs): 18.00 each
  • Buckets (approx. 5 lbs): 40.00 each
  • 3 Buckets & 3 Orchard Passes: 100.00 – Best deal!

Don’t forget to read our sweet cherries page to learn more about the best ways to pick, store, pit, and freeze your new cherries. And like Spring Valley Orchard on Facebook to stay up to date on our sweet cherry availability!

“Some of the most gorgeous, sweetest cherries you’ll ever eat… I’ve been two years now & I plan to go every spring to pick cherries for as long as I possibly can! Everyone has been friendly, it’s absolutely beautiful up there, a lovely drive! I’m really looking forward to cherry season 2024!”

Leslie B., Google Review

See You Later, 2023 Sweet Cherries

That’s a wrap on the 2023 cherry picking season at Spring Valley Orchard!

Thank you to everyone who visited our family-run Afton orchard for sweet cherry picking. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to next year!

Like our Facebook page and sign up for emails to be in the loop for updates on the 2024 sweet cherry picking season!

In the meantime, enjoy other orchard-fresh goods at Carter Mountain Orchard and Chiles Peach Orchard!


rainer cherries on tree at spring valley orchard

“The cherries I got were the best I’ve ever had!!! Thank you so much – See you next year!”

— Leslie B., Facebook user

Families picking sweet cherries at spring valley orchard

“We went on a weekday morning early in the season and there were other families with little kids, so our toddler was in good company. Lots of gorgeous sweet red cherries ripe for the picking, some even low enough for little ones to pick.”

— Natascha P., Google review

bucket of sweet cherries at spring valley orchard

“Picked 3 buckets yesterday and couldn’t believe we literally only had to pick from 3 trees!”

— Emily K., Facebook user

baby reaching for cherries at spring valley orchard

“This baby could not get enough. She had juice dripping down her face and would cry when we moved away from the trees.”

— Cass T., Facebook user

Hello, Sweet Cherries!

Spring Valley Orchard is open daily for pick-your-own sweet cherries!

We’re looking forward to a big, beautiful crop of sweet cherries this season! While our trees are bursting with fresh fruit, this special season typically lasts only three or four weeks. Visit us on weekdays for fewer crowds and more parking. It makes the picking experience that much sweeter!

We’re now picking yellow sweet cherries and expect red sweet cherries to ripen later this week. For the latest updates, like Spring Valley Orchard on Facebook.

With acres of cherry trees stretching across the valley, Spring Valley Orchard in Afton is a gorgeous spot to embrace Virginia’s natural beauty. Come see us daily for this short and sweet season!

Until Next Year, Sweet Cherries

The 2022 season at Spring Valley Orchard is officially in the books!

To all who came out to pick this year, thank you for your continued support. It is absolutely delightful to see excited cherry-pickers returning to our humble farm year after year!


Family picking sweet cherries at spring valley orchard

“The grandkids are always excited to come pick. We had a great time.”

— Lisa J., Facebook user

Baskets of sweet cherries at Spring Valley Orchard

“Picking cherries is so easy. At peak, the trees are absolutely dripping fruit. A friend and I stood at just one tree and picked pounds of cherries.”

— Jennifer B., Google review

Cherries on tree at Spring Valley Orchard

“Great experience for the family 🍒 Highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”

— Frances M., Facebook user

Scenery around Spring Valley Orchard in Afton

“It is a beautiful place to go – lots of fun and takes you to a nice quiet setting away from the hustle of the world.”

— Patricia C., Facebook user


We are grateful for the opportunity to welcome families and friends to our orchard for another year of unforgettable memories.

Stay connected on our Facebook page for updates on when we will open for sweet cherry picking next summer! To enjoy other orchard-fresh goods in the meantime, head on out to the stores at Carter Mountain Orchard and Chiles Peach Orchard.

Guide to Visiting Chiles Peach Orchard this Fall

Fall is nearly here and with it comes some of our favorite moments: dunking apple cider donuts into steaming cider, carving spooky jack-o-lanterns, and baking pies for the Thanksgiving table. While we’ll be doing things a little differently this year to protect our staff, visitors, and community during the pandemic, we’re grateful for the role our family farm plays in these traditions for our visitors.

We’re offering several ways to experience the orchard this fall, including ticketed entry for weekend apple and pumpkin picking, curbside pickup for Farm Market goods and specialty foods, and distanced shopping. To plan your visit, please read the options below.

We know that many of you may decide that you won’t be with us this year. We will miss you, and we understand. We’ll be here when you are ready to come back.


We’re open daily!

The 2020 fall hours for Chiles Peach Orchard are:

September–October: 9am–6pm
On Sunday, Nov. 1: 9am–5pm
Starting Nov. 2: 10am–5pm


COVID-19 Visitor Guidelines

The orchard, of course, is an outdoor and well-ventilated setting, but please keep everyone’s visit enjoyable by keeping your face covering on unless eating or drinking, staying socially distanced, and limiting your visit to under 2 hours. Feel free to ask any of our staff members if you have any questions at all. Please review our visitor guidelines before arriving at the orchard.


Pick-Your-Own Apples and Pumpkins

10/22 UPDATE: Tickets required for weekend access through Sunday, Nov. 1.

To moderate crowd size, we will be operating at reduced capacity during our peak season. For this reason, we will require tickets for anyone planning to pick your own apples and/or pumpkins on weekends (Saturdays & Sundays).

No tickets are required to pick your own on Mondays–Fridays. (We highly recommend a weekday visit!)

The apple trees are loaded with fruit and the pumpkins are ripening nicely: if Mother Nature continues to smile on us, it’ll be a fantastic crop this year. Check out our PYO page to see what varieties are available and learn about our special picking policies.


Farm Market and Bold Rock Tap Room (Tickets Not Required)

Our Farm Market will be open for gifts and specialty food shopping, while the pavilion will offer apples, apple cider donuts, and some surprise treats (follow us on Facebook for updates).

The seasonal Bold Rock Tap Room will also be open.

traveling__foodie434 • Bold Rock Hard Cider

Curbside Pickup

Stock up on Chiles Family Orchards apples, cider donuts, apple butter, and other favorites without leaving your car with our convenient curbside pickup, available 7 days/week.

It’s easy to place your order: pre-order on our online store or call us at 434.823.1583 and we’ll help you put together an order. We ask that you place orders by 5pm the day before to give our staff enough time to fill the order.


Other Local Pickup & Shipping Options

Not interested in visiting Chiles Peach Orchard but still want a taste of the orchard? Visit our hours page to see all of the local pickup and shipping options.

Glass Jar of Apple Butter by Chiles Family Orchards

From the Archives:

Apple Season Will Look a Little Different This Year

For over 40 years, the Chiles Family, along with our amazing staff, have invited people from all over to visit our orchard each fall to pick their own apples. It’s a family tradition for us, and we know for many of you as well. Our 2020 fall season must be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to protecting our staff and our guests.

Beginning Friday, September 11, we invite you to enjoy our fresh, mountain-grown apples, famous apple cider donuts, jams and jellies, and the beautiful view and hospitality that we are known for—in a new way. 

We know that many of you may decide that 2020 is the year you will skip your visit. We will miss you, and we understand. We’ll be here when you are ready.

Some might want to enjoy our scenic view (and some cider donuts) but aren’t comfortable getting out of your car. We get it. And we can make that happen with our Scenic Drive-Thru.

Some may want to pick up donuts and apples but not the “hassle” of driving up the mountain. Here are some other ways to get a taste of the orchard.

And for those who still want to have your traditional fall experience like you always have, complete with apple picking, we can accommodate you through our ticketed entry.

So, please read the options carefully—planning ahead will make for the best apple season experience!

It’s Apple Season

Peach season 2019 has come to a close; it’s apple time!

Source: Instagram @rinxriot | Girl with peach

Source: @rinxriot, Instagram

Goodbye, Summer Peaches

Thank you to everyone who visited our family farm and Mother Nature for a fabulous peach season. Favorable winter and summer weather made for delicious peaches this year. Unlike some previous unlucky years, we didn’t lose much of the peach crop to frost and freezing temperates over the winter. In summer, peach trees prefer lots of sun, not too much rain, and comfortable temperatures, which is exactly the weather we had in Central Virginia. Sun-ripened peaches, indeed!

Gala apples on tree at Chiles Family Orchards farm

Hello, Autumn Apples

Our first apples of the season, Gala and Honeycrisp, ripened in August. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors for apple picking through November.

Plan ahead by visiting our fruit availability page to see when your favorite apple variety will be ripe. The most recent updates for ready-picked and pick-your-own availability are on our pick your own fruit page or on Twitter.

Source: @golden.apollo.rocket, Instagram | Golden retriever dog at Carter Mountain Orchard

Beat the crowds with a weekday visit

We’re so thankful for all of our visitors who love apple picking as much as we do!

Fall weekends on the mountain can get pretty crowded; we recommend visiting us on weekdays or arriving early.

Read our visitor guidelines to make your orchard gathering as enjoyable as possible.

Apples, apple cider, and apple cider donuts at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville

Our award-winning fresh-pressed apple cider can be enjoyed cold, hot, as a slushie, or as the star of our apple cider donuts.

Orchard Outlook: Apples and Pumpkins

As summer comes to a close, we say goodbye to peaches and look forward to fall’s apples and pumpkins.

Peach Ice Cream Days is a fundraiser by the Lions Club Crozet at Chiles Peach Orchard

Summer peaches come to a close in late August

Summer was just peachy this year, with excellent weather contributing to some of the biggest, juiciest, more flavorful peaches we have ever grown. The 35th Annual Homemade Peach Ice Cream Festival in early August was a huge success; we sold out of all of the homemade ice cream for the Crozet Lions Club fundraiser.

Fresh tomatoes for sale at Chiles Peach Orchard

Vegetables available through October

Farm fresh vegetables are available pre-picked in our Farm Market through October. Mother Nature has the final say on vegetable availability but we expect to offer tomatoes, peppers, green beans, zucchini, squash, and more produce throughout the season.

Apple on a tree at a Virginia orchard

Apple picking through November

Pick-your-own apple season generally begins in August and ends in November. We’ll have a variety of apples throughout the fall; view our availability of specific varieties guide to see when your favorite apples are in season.

Learn more about apples, including apple picking tips and apple variety flavor profiles and recommended uses.

Pumpkin puree recipe

Pumpkins and gourds through November

Fall is nearly here and we’ve got pumpkin fever! Pumpkin picking begins at the end of September during our annual Fall Into Fun Festival on September 21 and 22. C’mon out to our pumpkin patch to find your perfect pumpkins to carve into jack-o-lanterns, bake into pies, and decorate the front porch.

For pumpkin cooking and baking ideas, read our recipes for homemade pumpkin puree and cream cheese pumpkin bread.

GIVE THANKS wooden and metal sign from Orchard gift shop

During fall, the Farm Market will be stocked with harvest decorations, including locally made crafts and our homegrown squash and gourds, perfect for setting a Thanksgiving table. Don’t forget to pre-order our famous apple and pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving dessert!

C’mon out to our family farm for an altogether perfect day: we’re open daily! View orchard hours and visitor guidelines.