FAQ

Regenerative Farming

  • Our fruit is regeneratively grown — farming that builds soil health, supports pollinators, and restores the land. By feeding the soil with natural amendments we nurture microbes and fungi that deliver nutrients straight to the roots. Healthier soil means our trees absorb more nourishment, producing fruit that’s naturally richer in flavor and nutrition.

  • We take a holistic approach to soil health, plant nutrition, and pest management. Guided by detailed soil tests, we plant diverse cover crops that prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and naturally return nitrogen and other key nutrients to the soil—strengthening the health and vitality of our fruit trees.

    We supplement the soil with compost and natural amendments such as algae, worm emulsion, and chicken litter, while significantly cutting back on synthetic fertilizers and eliminating herbicides entirely. Watering is done deeply but infrequently to encourage strong, resilient root systems that can access nutrients more effectively. When treatments are necessary, we rely only on OMRI-listed products approved for organic production.

    To encourage natural pest control, we’ve installed bird boxes and a bat box, inviting insect-eating wildlife into the orchard to help manage pests. Bee boxes have been added to enhance pollination, supporting both our fruit trees and our cover crops, which in turn improves yields and biodiversity across the orchard ecosystem.

  • Cherrywood Orchard is Regenerative Verified through Soil Regen. Their two-step process includes certified soil testing to confirm soil biology and organic matter are improving, along with production management verification to ensure our practices build living soil rather than deplete it.

    To our knowledge, Cherrywood Orchard is the first regeneratively verified Flathead cherry orchard around Flathead Lake, achieving verification in May 2025.

  • Organic and regenerative farming are similar, but they’re not the same.

    Organic farming mainly focuses on what not to use — like synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. It’s a huge improvement over conventional farming, but organic doesn’t always focus on building soil health or improving the nutrition in the food itself. So, while organic produce is cleaner, its nutrient levels can still vary.

    Regenerative farming takes things a step further. It’s not just about avoiding chemicals — it’s about improving the land. Regenerative farmers build healthy soil, increase biodiversity, and restore the natural ecosystem. The soil becomes alive with microbes and minerals that help plants absorb more nutrients. Healthier soil means more nutrient-rich, flavorful fruit.

    Research from places like the Rodale Institute shows that regeneratively grown crops often contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than conventionally or even organically grown produce. For example, regenerative vegetables often have higher levels of zinc and iron because the soil is more biologically active.

    You can think of it like this:
    Conventional → Organic → Regenerative

    Each step improves both the land and the food. Organic gets rid of the bad stuff. Regenerative adds back the good stuff — rebuilding the soil so it can nourish the trees and, in turn, grow more nutritious fruit.

    When organic and regenerative methods come together, that’s called regenerative organic — the gold standard.
    That’s what we’re working toward at Cherrywood Orchard.

    Healthy Soil = Healthier Trees = More Nutritious Fruit = Healthier People.

Flathead Cherries

  • Flathead cherries are sweet red cherries grown in the unique climate around Flathead Lake, Montana. The cool nights and warm days create ideal conditions for producing large, flavorful fruit. While several varieties thrive in the region, Cherrywood Orchard specializes in Skeena cherries, which are known for their size, sweetness, and deep flavor.

  • Flathead cherries are harvested once a year from late July through early August. At Cherrywood Orchard, we grow the Skeena variety, which ripens later than some other Flathead varieties but is not the very latest harvest.

  • Cherrywood Orchard offers U-Pick cherries from mid to late July. Visitors can enjoy the views of the Mission Mountains while picking fresh Flathead Skeena cherries straight from the tree. We’re just two minutes from Yellow Bay State Park, so after picking, you can head down to the lake and enjoy the water. Book your U-Pick experience on our website.

Shipping & Refunds

  • We currently ship only Flathead Skeena cherries and Italian plums. Skeena cherries are among the best cherry varieties for shipping—they have firm skin and hold up incredibly well. When properly stored and refrigerated, they have a long shelf life and can last up to three weeks once you receive them.

  • All cherry orders are pre-orders for the upcoming harvest. Many customers mistakenly expect cherries to be available year-round, but cherries are only harvested once each summer. When you place an order, you are reserving fruit from the next crop, which is picked, packed, and shipped between late July and early August. Once your order leaves the orchard, you’ll receive a shipping notification with tracking information.

  • Cherry harvest begins in late July, and all pre-orders are shipped by early August. To ensure freshness, we ship only Monday through Wednesday so that deliveries arrive within one to two days after leaving the orchard.

  • Orders are available in five- or seven-pound boxes of premium Flathead Skeena cherries. The fruit is pre-chilled and packed in insulated boxes with cold packs to preserve freshness during transit.

  • We deliver to the contiguous 48 states, excluding California.

  • Cherry orders and orders for other seasonal fruit can be canceled up to two weeks before harvest for a full refund. After that point, cancellations are not guaranteed since fresh fruit is perishable and harvest planning depends on pre-orders. If we are unable to fulfill your order due to crop loss or unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a full refund.

    Read our full Shipping, Returns & Refund Policy

Know Before You Buy

  • Here’s when you can expect each of our fruits to be in season and ready for harvest:

    • Flathead Cherries (Skeena, Sweet Cherries) – Late July to Early August

    • Rainiers (Sweet Cherries) – Late July to Early August

    • Montmorency (Pie Cherries) – Late July to Early August

    • Yellow Plums – Late August

    • Peaches – Early September

    • Italian Plums – Mid-September

    • Pears – Mid-to-Late September

    • Apples – Mid-October

  • A pre-order reserves your fruit for the upcoming harvest. It is not an immediate purchase—you won’t receive your fruit right away.

    When you place a pre-order, you’re making a paid reservation to secure fruit from the next harvest season. Once harvest begins, we’ll carefully pack and deliver or prepare your order for pickup.

  • Spraying gets a bad rap — people hear “spray” and think “toxic chemicals,” but not all sprays are bad. At Cherrywood Orchard, we use natural foliar feeding sprays like algae to keep our trees healthy. Foliar feeding means applying nutrients directly to the leaves, which helps trees absorb them quickly — especially important with Montana’s short growing season.

    By law, all cherry orchards around Flathead Lake must control the western cherry fruit fly. This rule covers Flathead and Lake Counties and protects the Montana Flathead cherry industry, which produces about 2.5 million pounds of cherries each year.

    The only effective way to manage this pest is to spray — and every orchard must do it. No exceptions. There are two options: a synthetic spray or an OMRI-listed spray approved for organic farms.

    We use the OMRI-listed spray, the same one certified organic orchards use. It’s reviewed by the Organic Materials Review Institute to make sure it meets organic standards.

    So yes — we spray, but only with natural and organic-approved foliar products that are safe, effective, and required to protect our trees, our fruit, and the entire Flathead cherry industry.