Pick your own adventure at this Yarra Valley orchard this spring

This year, just as they have for four decades, this Yarra Valley family are opening the farm gate for punters to come and pick their own fresh fruit.

Life’s been pretty sweet for the Chapman family for the past 130 years, where multiple generations have grown cherries and berries in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.

This weekend marks the start of the season for the family’s Blue Hills Berries Cherries, when the gates open to the public to pick-their-own.

Tracy Chapman, whose husband Kevin’s great-grandfather founded the orchard at Silvan, said many families had made the pilgrimage to the farm to pick fresh fruit for many years in a row.

“We’ve got some families who have been coming for 40 years, and they’re now bringing their children,” Tracy said.

The Chapman family has been growing fruit and berries at their Silvan-based orchard for 130 years this year. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I think it appeals to everyone, it’s a good day out, you see families picnicking, and kids running up and down cherry rows.”

The Chapmans, according to Tracy, were one of the first families in the region to start pick-your-own fruit picking.

This season, similar to last, the cherries have come into fruit several weeks early, with cherry picking officially opening at Blue Hills on Saturday.

“The last couple of years, everything has come on early, but so far the cherry crop is looking pretty good,” Tracy said.

Cherry Season with Tracy Chapman Picture: Zoe Phillips

“The quality is so far, so good. Some varieties are cropping really well, a medium to heavy crop on some varieties.”