I Pick, U-Pick: California Fruit Farms

Road Journals Blog—Looking for ripe fruit that's literally just been picked? You'll find plenty at one of Northern and Central California's many u-pick farms. The seasonal parade of fruits begins in spring with arrivals like cherries and strawberries, then marches right through summer with favorites like peaches, melons, nectarines, and more, and winds up with fall offerings like apples, pears, and pumpkins. Here’s a sampling of farms to get you out and pickin'. Call ahead to the individual farms to find out what juicy produce has come in.

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Pluck juicy peaches, melons, and other colorful fruits at u-pick farms in Northern and Central California. | Courtesy of Agricultural Research Service

Farley Farms In the San Joaquin Valley, south of Fresno, you can choose from eight varieties of freestone peaches, plus green and red table grapes, plums and tomatoes. 512 N. 7th Ave., Kingsburg, (559) 897-7112, upickgrapes.com [3].

Gabriel Farm Load up on organic apples at this Sonoma County farm, including McIntosh, Gilbert Golden Delicious, Fuji and Rome Beauty varietals; don't leave without a quart of their Asian pear-apple juice.  3175 Sullivan Rd., Sebastopol, (707) 829-0617, gabrielfarm.com [4].

Impossible Acres A veritable cornucopia in Davis offers u-pick berries, peaches, cherries, tomatoes, apricots, and more. 26565 Rd., 97D, Davis, (530) 750-0451, impossibleacres.com [5].

Tachella Family Farms Cherries, cherries, and more cherries, with at least a dozen varieties that include Bing, Utah Giants, Burlat, Rainier, and Chelan, satisfy your craving at this Contra Costa County farm. 2017 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood, (925) 513-8495, tachellafamilyfarms.com [6].

Webb Ranch An organic berry haven sits smack dab in Silicon Valley, with olallieberries, kid-friendly thornless Navajo blackberries, golden and red raspberries, and loganberries, plus pumpkins later in the season. 2720 Alpine Rd., Portola Valley, (650) 854-3134, webbranchinc.com [7].

What are your favorite u-pick places?

This blog post was first published in June 2012. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.