Cherry-picking season in the Golan Heights is now in full swing, and many Israeli families and weekend travelers have been coming in recent weeks for self-pick outings. Because the orchards are in high, cool areas, the season starts and ends quickly, and once the weather turns hot it is over. Most self-pick sites in the Golan opened in late May or early June, with the southern sites likely to have their final weekend this coming Friday and Saturday, while the higher northern sites should continue a little further into July.
The report says the timing is especially welcome amid an unstable security situation, particularly in the north, since the harvest offers a pleasant summer activity, fresh fruit, and the satisfaction of picking it yourself. The writer visited Mishk Malul in Moshav Sha’al, one of the more southern picking sites in the Golan, meaning it began earlier and will also close earlier. Visitors who want to go there should do so this coming weekend, because there will not be much left afterward.
At Mishk Malul, visitors can pick cherries, red raspberries, black raspberries, mulberries, and strawberries. Entry costs 35 shekels, and fruit taken home costs 40 shekels per kilogram. The farm also has shaded seating areas, though the article notes that a picnic under the cherry trees is part of the appeal. A dairy coffee cart called "Kafka" also operates there, serving sandwiches, sweets, and coffee.
Mishk Malul is open Sunday through Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00, with updates posted on its Facebook page. Directions are signposted from the entrance to Moshav Sha’al, and Waze lists it as "self-picking Mishk Malul." The farm can also be reached by phone at 052-7331357.
