Cherry crop beats the odds at Niles orchard

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Lehman's Orchard in Niles kicked off tart cherry picking season on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jul 2, 2008 at 10:49 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM EST

NILES — Bad weather has meant a rough year for farmers so far. But Mother Nature has given one local family-run orchard a break, and Wednesday they celebrated the kick-off to picking season.

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For many, it's like clockwork. Every summer, they grab a bucket and begin picking a Southwest Michigan favorite — tart cherries.

For 60 years, one hot spot has been Lehman's Orchard in Niles.

“Well, we've just been lucky, but we had put irrigation in into the entire orchard, and that's been a big help,” explained Jane Lecklider of Lehman’s Orchard. “Up north they tell us that their crop was not as plentiful this year."

But for Lehman’s, a bumper crop has the cherry pit removal machine working over time.

The picking season attracts families from far and wide, and for many, it has become a family tradition.

“Well my family has brought me here for the last 20 or 30 years and now I’m bringing my daughter and nephew,” said Tony Badar, who made the trip from Chicago.

“We love the cherries of course and it’s a family thing — I brought my kids since they were real little,” said Niles resident Shelia Maines. “They love to pick, the trees are easy to pick from.”

“Well I've been coming here at least 20 years and we just love to pick sour cherries,” said Jean Kleinschmidt of Michigan City.

"About 40 years we [have been] coming here and some years we pick 250 pounds of cherries!” exclaimed South Bend resident Emma Szalay.

Weather permitting, you can pick your own tart cherries at Lehman's every day for the next two weeks.

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