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Apple-picking in California

If apple-picking sounds like an East Coast kind of thing to do, you might be surprised to learn that California is among our country’s top apple-producing states. According to the California Apple Commission, Washington, New York, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Virginia — in that order — are our country’s primary sources of apples. California has more than 25,000 acres of land dedicated to the undertaking.

So venture out and get a first-hand taste of fall’s fiber/pectin-rich fruit: Some orchards and farms welcome visitors for picking trips or even overnight stays.

Read a Los Angeles Times article from last fall, “Finding autumn amidst Oak Glen’s apple orchards,” for a rundown on places to visit in Oak Glen, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles. Now through early November at working orchard Riley’s Farm, you can pick Rome Beauty, Granny Smith and Antique Delicious apples straight off the trees. Also ripe for the picking are strawberries, raspberries, pears, watermelons and pumpkins. Starting Oct. 4, 2008, fetch your own Stayman Winesap apples, and make apple cider using an old-fashioned press, at Willowbrook Apple Farm.

Julian, about 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles, is perhaps Southern California’s most well-known apple haunt. A handful of orchards offer “U-pick” opportunities, including Peacefield Orchard. See a list of orchards in the area on the San Diego Farm Bureau website.

Heading north? Do a little research and you’ll find apples aplenty. In the Paso Robles area, for instance, small, family-owned Windrose Farm, whose organic produce is available at Santa Monica’s Wednesday farmers market, allows camping on its grounds from April through October, if you make arrangements in advance. In Placerville, east of Sacramento, Abel’s Apple Acres offers tours of its working apple ranch, complete with pony rides, hay rides and homemade caramel apples.

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: California Apple Commission, CalApple.org]

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:40 am by Susan Derby and is filed under California, California's Central Coast, Fall, Family & Kids, Gourmet, Los Angeles, Northern California, Paso Robles, San Diego. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

5 Comments on “Apple-picking in California”

Jill Morales-Ratner Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Abel’s is just one of many in the area east of Placerville, known as Apple Hill. I was just there yesterday. It’s modeled after Oak Glen and is breathtaking and so much fun! Lots to do up there, including wineries and spas,as well as apple picking and eating. You can find Pumpkins and Christmas Trees too!
Tom Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 am
Also in Sonoma County, west of Sebastapol there are many Gravenstein and Golden Delicious orchards. They have an Apple Blossom festival in April and should be harvesting soon in October. Check out Twin Hills Orchard.
John Larson Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
In southern SLO County near Avila Beach, See Canyon is the site of several well established apple orchards, the largest of which seems to be “Gopher Glen Farms”, featuring over 20 different varieties of apples. They’ve been a local favorite for years. They have a website where you can see when each variety is being picked. While the road is narrow and winding, the farms along the way feature great products and are pretty tourist friendly.
merliza nasala Says:
April 8th, 2009 at 2:32 am
can i apply for apple picking?
Dorie Adoobie Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 11:31 am
I did not have to go that far to pick apples I went to a Farm Called Sky Meadow Farms In Leona Valley and picked from 7 Varieties of apples and Peaches too. the apples were the sweetest i ever tasted and Juicy