Time to find your buckets and head to the orchards in the coming days.

Cherry growers have been checking their trees to make sure their sweet and tart varieties are ready for picking. That means about 1,900 acres need to be harvested before the fruit can be picked from the branches, whether by hand or by machine.

Soren's Valhalla Orchards' Toni Sorenson has been taste-testing some of her varieties over the last few days to see what is ready and what still needs more time. She finds it interesting how different varieties can taste different depending on the growing season and how the fruit develops on the tree.

While some cherry orchards are already inviting people into their fields, Sorenson says her orchard will open to the public in the coming days. When you get the chance to pick cherries, she suggests carefully removing the fruit from the tree and placing it gently into your bucket to prevent bruising. She also encourages visitors to take in the beauty of the orchard.