Fall Fruit Picking – Make Apple Picking a new family tradition!

Apple picking season is almost here! Starting around Labor Day weekend and continuing through October, orchards around the bay area offer families the chance to pick their own apples.

Experience the most fun part of growing fruits, combined with fresh air, sunshine and a little sweat - it's a whole lot of fun for the kids and the entire family! Don't forget your camera!

The farms listed below are local farms, owned by local families that believe in providing healthier options to the community. Information about seasonal fruit picking gathered from their websites, so please check the calendar prior to your visit. 

Come back for updates throughout the season, as we will update the information regarding open and close dates, fruit availability and more.

Gizdich Ranch (55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville)
Apple U-Pick will open on September 14th, 2019 for about 3-4 weeks

www.gizdich-ranch.com

Apples varieties include Red-Delicious, Golden-Delicious, Newtown Pippin and Royal Gala.

After picking, take a self-guided tour of our apple orchard. If you're visiting on Saturdays (September-April only), you can watch the apples get pressed for juice!

When everyone's ready for lunch, picnic behind the sales barn and let the kids play. Read about our experience here.

Picking apples at Gizdich Ranch, September 2016

Live Earth Farm (172 Litchfield Ln, Watsonville)
Apple U-Pick will open in October
http://liveearthfarm.net/aboutus/buy-direct/farm-stand/live-earth-farm-u-pick-schedule/
When abundance in the field permits, U-Picks will be held on Saturdays and Sundays only from 10:00am – 3:00pm. Availability of crops varies from week to week – check the website for the status of available items. Discounts apply to produce the more you pick! Bring buckets, boxes, or other containers to harvest into, or purchase containers for a small fee.  Make sure to dress accordingly – layers, hats, sunblock. Load up the kids, pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it! No dogs other than guide dogs allowed in the orchard.

Clearview Organic Orchards (646 Trabing Rd, Watsonville)

Apple U-Pick will open on September 7th, 2019, through end of October.

www.clearvieworchards.com

Organic apples U-Pick will be open weekends beginning in September thru early November each year.

Whether you want to pick your own apples or simply pick up some organic fruit from the “Apple Hut” to take home, Clearview Orchards is the place to create memories. Bring the whole family out for the Watsonville apple picking experience.

The orchards are in a beautiful terraced setting overlooking the valley of Watsonville. Only a mile from the ocean and La Selva beach, the air is fresh and there is nothing better than wandering around the orchards for some genuine Watsonville apple picking.

Apples varieties include the delicious Fuji, Gala Apples, Cameos, Johnagold, and Granny Smiths.

No dogs other than guide dogs allowed in the orchard; No picnic area available and no outside food allowed inside the orchard; Limited parking, no street parking, try to carpool.

Clearview Orchards

 A Day Trip: Apple Picking in Santa Rosa

Thinking about the fall, evening breezes, beautiful leaves changing colors, sipping pumpkin spiced latte, and apple cider, this is a great time for a family vacation in the beautiful Sonoma County. Whether you stay the night or just make a day out of it, it is a great area for apple picking!

 

Hale's Apple Farm (1526 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol)
Organic apples U-pick will be open daily from late September to October.
Hale’s Apple Farm offers more than 30 varieties of juicy, fresh apples (including 3 rare ones: Hudson’s Golden Gem, Golden Russet, and Bramley’s Seedling).
In addition, the farm also boasts a nice assortment of pumpkins, gourds, squash, tomatoes, and locally produced apple cider. 

Hale's Apple Farm

Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch (13128 Occidental Rd., Sebastopol)
www.farmtrails.org/farm/apple-a-day-ratzlaff-ranch
Organic apples U-pick will be open from late September to October, closed Thursday and Saturday.

Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch offers Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome apples. U-pick is offered September & October. We also process and sell fresh apple juice.

This ranch is a part of the Sonoma Farm Trails, make sure to check the website before your trip, as they have great events going on!

Gabriel Farm (3175 Sullivan Rd. Sebastopol)
www.gabrielfarm.com
Organic apples and pears U-pick will be open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm) from late August to November.
Gabriel Farm reserves the u-pick experience for farm CSA members. Because of the high demand for the u-pick experience, and the limited size of our orchard, we decided to offer the experience to our committed customers who would like to establish an on-going relation with our farm and enjoy our various products during our 6-month harvest season. Price of membership is a case of our juice: for $36 you get 3 gallons of shelf-stable juice and the ability to pick and purchase whatever is in season. Farm memberships are purchased when you visit the farm and are renewed annually.
They also offer a variety of tours for groups and families. To book a tour you can email Lucy at: mcbrideolson@gmail.com or call the farm at (707) 829-0617.

Chileno Valley Ranch (5105 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma) www.mikeandsallygalebeefranch.com
Organic apples U-Pick requires booking a time slot online!
Chileno Valley Ranch includes an organic apple orchard, with varieties such as Orin, Pinova, Candy Crisp, and Jonagold. All the apple varieties are blind taste test winners, and can be purchased from the ranch during u-pick days.
Throughout the day, they offer farm tours so you can see the cows and sheep up close. You can even feed them fallen apples from the orchard, so nothing goes to waste.

Chileno Valley Ranch

You had a great day at the apple orchard, picking organic apples, and now you have too much apples at home? Here are a few apple recipes for kids and families to try. Whether you’ll let your children help out, or you’ll only let them lick the spoon, these recipes will be a great success!