On weekends when temperatures are in the 90’s, families can escape to U-pick farms where they can collect cherries, peaches and other fruit.   

Farms encourage customers to wear masks, social distance and use touchless forms of payment. Also, farms are required to provide hand washing stations and must sanitize surfaces frequently. 

“When we came in initially it was not that comfortable because where the entrance was that’s where most of the people were congregating,” Katerina Markova, who went cherry picking with her husband and two children, said. “It felt safer once we were actually in the field just because there was a lot more space and it wasn’t as crowded.” 

As alternatives to U-pick, some farms are turning to selling pre-picked fruits, holding farm stands and selling fruit online. This also provides an alternative to U-pick for individuals more vulnerable to the virus, such as the elderly or people with pre-existing medical conditions. 

“This was our first time and we didn’t know what to expect,” Markova said. “It was a lot of fun and I would want to do it again, and ideally without the coronavirus.”