We didn't grow cherries but I know from reading extension service tree fruit bulletins that the western cherry fruit fly has seriously damaged cherry production in Western CO over the past 20 years. Previously, cherry trees were mostly a spray free fruit culture except for early spring tree oil application. There are many old cherry orchards around Palisade that have been productive with 75 year old trees.

One should be prepared to control insect pests. With some fruits all it takes is one negligent backyard fruit tree grower within 3-5 miles to cost farmers tens of thousands of dollars in chemical costs and lost fruit production. When I had an active orchard I made deals with several surrounding neighbors to pull out their backyard fruit trees in exchange for a couple bushels of fruit each year. It worked and made for good neighbors. All they had were wormy apples and weeping peaches anyway.

It might not be an issue where you live but effective pest control is key wherever you garden.

At our mountain container veggie garden we're using wire surrounds to exclude voles, chipmunks, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and lately, a yellow-bellied marmot. I built big screen panels for the raised garden to discourage the mule deer. One of them really likes kale. We don't want to harm the wildlife so our job is to effectively exclude it.