Miller Orchards

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

The Paddy Go Fire was spotted yesterday, August 10, by hikers on the Wenatchee River Ranger District. It is in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, SE of Granite Mountain. Four smoke jumpers were inserted during initial attack shortly after being discovered and they were supported on the ground by Type 1 helicopters. This is a full suppression fire located in steep, rocky, inaccessible terrain.

The fire is currently estimated at 4-5 acres. Rocky natural features in the fire area are being utilized for containment. Firefighters inserted pumps and hose delivered by helicopter from the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery this afternoon to secure lines, with water being pumped from French Pothole Lake. Three rappelers were inserted this evening. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has three large fires burning from the Methow Valley Ranger District on the Canadian border to the Cle Elum Ranger District located along I-90. Please be aware of the Stage 2 fire restrictions on the forest that prohibit all wood, wood stove, and charcoal briquette stoves and other open flames forest wide. Use of pressurized liquid gas stoves is an acceptable alternative, provided such devices are used in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material. Your help is needed to keep additional human caused fires from starting during this challenging fire season, where extremely dry fuels are enabling rapid fire spread.

Photo: Paddy Go Fire taken on August 11 by Air Attack 651, USDA Forest Service

07/12/2026

Working this weekend This is the last weekend for rainier cherries and these are some of the largest our block has produced

Get them while you can!

06/13/2026

We are open with fresh cherries

We have Santina and Rainers

06/11/2026

🍒 **ORCHARD HISTORY FACT #2: CHELAN CHERRY**

We wrapped up Chelan harvest just a few days ago, and it got me thinking about this variety.

The Chelan cherry was developed by the Washington State University breeding program in Prosser, Washington from a cross of Stella × Beaulieu. It ripens about 10–12 days before Bing, making it one of the first major sweet cherries harvested in Washington.

Now, I'll probably get myself in trouble for saying this... 😄

Chelan isn't my favorite cherry.

If I'm picking a cherry just for eating, there are other varieties I'd reach for first.

But after all these years, I've come to appreciate what makes Chelan unique.

Its greatest quality isn't its flavor—it's its timing.

Every season, Chelan gets the harvest rolling. It gets crews into the orchard, fruit into the packing house, and gives growers an early start to the season. It wasn't bred to replace Bing. It was bred to fill a need.

I think there's a lesson in that.

Timing can be a quality all its own. Perhaps that's true beyond the orchard too. Sometimes one's greatest strength isn't being the sweetest fruit on the tree—it's simply being ready when the season calls.🍒

**Question for growers:**
Was Chelan your first pick this season? If not, what variety kicked off harvest in your orchard? We'd love to hear where you're growing from!

06/09/2026

Listen to how many cherries are from this state