The pick-your-own cherry season started fully around Orange on the weekend but the heat, with temperatures forecast for well over 30 degrees this week, and bushfire smoke have caused problems.

Borrodell orchard owner Borry Gartrell said they had abandoned this year's pick-your-own program because they needed to get the cherries off the trees before they were affected by the heat.

"The faster we can get them off the better," he said.

"It's been a difficult year. It is disappointing.

"We're hoping to get everything off by Wednesday or Thursday.

"We're going to grab everything we can."

Mr Gartrell said with staff needed to pick the cherries and a busy weekend for his winery's restaurant and a wedding to host, they had decided not to offer pick-your-own.

He said he was directing customers to a nearby orchard that had pick-your-own.

"We did it fairly big time last year, but it was a cooler year."

Thornbrook Orchard's Paula Charnock said they had moved to reassure people from Sydney there were no bushfires in Orange and it was safe to come and pick.

She said the lack of rain had meant it was a lighter crop this year and some cherries would not get big enough to pick.

"We're moving through the blocks a lot faster this year. We expect to be out of cherries by Christmas. Last year we went up to January 6," she said.

"The trees are struggling. They look like they need a drink."

PICK YOUR OWN, WHAT'S AVAILABLE