Southern California has the perfect year-round weather for growing fruits and vegetables. Many farms and Orchards allow you to pick their products right from the vine. Available for picking in Southern California are apples, cherries, citrus fruit, strawberries, pumpkins, and vegetables. Some destinations offer farm tours only.
Underwood Family Farms
Take your family to Underwood Farm for year-round U-Pick fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, Lettuce, Carrots, Sweet Peas, Cucumbers, citrus, just about anything that grows can be picked (depending on season) at Underwood Family Farms. Horse pulled hayrides, petting zoo, farm tours and seasonal festivals. 3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021
Tanaka Farms Irvine
Tanaka Farms is one of the few remaining farms in Orange County. One of the most popular U-Pick activities here is Strawberries. Tomatoes, watermelon, and pumpkins are also on the U-Pick menu depending on the season. Tractor-pulled farm tours take visitors through the farm fields where they learn about how food is grown. 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
Julian U-Pick Apples
Julian is a former gold mining town located in Northern San Diego County. Once a year local apple growers open their orchards for U-Pick. Julian apple picking has grown very popular over the years and some farms require a reservation for picking. Julian is a fun destination any time of the year. Season late August through October. Julian is 60 miles east of downtown San Diego
Oak Glen U-Pick Apple Orchards
Oak Glen apple orchards produce many unique varieties, such as the Vasquez and King David, as well as “antique varieties” no longer commercially available. Seasonal U-Pick apples, berries, and pumpkins. Apple picking season starts Labor Day weekend and runs through the end of November. Oak Glen is located in the mountains above the San Bernardino Valley
Leona Valley Cherry Picking
Leona Valley is Southern California’s cherry picking capital. Prime cherry picking season is May through mid-July. Leona Valley has eight family-run farms that offer cherry picking. U-pick pricing is by the bucket or you can purchase pre-picked boxes of cherries. Leona Valley is about a one-hour drive north of Los Angeles.
Heritage Park U-Pick Oranges
Heritage Park is a small community park in the town of La Verne. January through mid-March, The La Verne Heritage Society offers U-Pick oranges on Saturdays. For $5.00 visitors get a bag that they can fill with oranges or grapefruits. U-Pick is available until the trees are picked clean. 5001 Vía De Mansion, La Verne, CA 91750
Ambers Cherry Farm
Ambers is one of the most popular cherry farms in the Leona Valley. If you are looking for fresh off the tree juicy sweet cherries, Ambers is the place. Ambers offers 11 varieties of cherries. You can taste before you pick. Grab a pail and start picking. 9300 Leona Ave, Leona Valley, CA 93551
Riley’s Farm Apple Picking
Rely’s Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm. The main U-Pick crop is apples. During the year, other crops include raspberries and peaches. Gift shop, bakery, and seasonal events. 12261 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Carlsbad Strawberry Company
Southern California U-Pick strawberries at its best. The fields here overlook Carlsbad Lagoon and are on some very expensive land. So far no developer has managed to purchase this land. A small bucket cost 10 dollars one person entrance. A Large bucket is 20 dollars with 2 person entrance. Kids under five are free. If you don’t want to pick there are boxed strawberries for sale at the produce stand. 1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Kenny’s Strawberry Farm Fallbrook
Kenny’s is a fun place to take the kids. The strawberries are always big, juicy, and the price is comparable to other U-Pick strawberry places. Strawberries are usually available from February to July, or until the fields are picked clean. Watermelon is available in July and pumpkins in October. 953 Rainbow Valley Blvd. website.
Avila Apple Trail
Apple season runs between September and December when the fruit is sweet, crisp, and perfect. Delicious and nutritious by themselves, the apples are also be made into cider, pies, and preserves. Apple picking may be offered by some farms depending on the size of the harvest. Avila Beach is located along California’s Central Coast.
SoCal Farm Tours
Bennetts Honey Farm
Bennetts Honey Farm is located north of Los Angeles in the Heritage Valley. Once a year during the annual Heritage Valley Honey Festival Bennets offers farm tours. These tours are unique in that visitors ride a train to the honey farm. Bennetts Honey Farm is open year round and has a small store where you can taste and purchase honey and honey made products. 3176 Honey Ln, Fillmore, CA 93015
Fairview Gardens Farm Tour
Fairview Gardens Organic Farm in Goleta California offers self-guided and guided tours of the 12-acre farm. All of the produce is grown organically and available for sale at the farm’s popular produce stand and local farmers markets. 598 N Fairview Ave, Goleta, CA 93117
Centennial Farm Tour
Centennial Farm is located on the grounds of the OC Fair & Event Center. The three-acre farm is home to numerous farm animals along with vegetable gardens. Crops are grown for educational purposes only and donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Free admission and parking. Guided tours for schools are available. 598 N Fairview Ave, Goleta, CA 93117
Highland Springs Lavender Fields
Highland Springs Resort is home to a very popular Lavender Festival in June. Stroll through the organic lavender fields. Take a guided tour in a horse-drawn hay wagon. Learn how lavender is processed and discover lavender-infused products, food, and drinks. 10600 Highland Springs Ave, Cherry Valley, CA 92223
Oasis Camel Dairy Farm
Oasis Camel Dairy offers public tours once a month on weekends. Guests usually begin arriving around 1:00, and then a camel show begins at 1:30. Following the show, visitors take a stroll down to the pastures to get up close to the camels and snap some souvenir photographs.
Limoneira Ranch Tours
Limoneira ranch has nearly 8,000 acres of agricultural production. including lemons, avocados, oranges, specialty citrus. Tours include a ranch tour and packing house tour. Adjacent to the Visitor’s Center is the original Sunkist lemon packinghouse. Reservations are required for tours. 1141 Cummings Road Santa Paula, CA 93060.
Bates Nut Farm Tour
Bates Nut Farm offers educational tours for schools and groups. Seasonal Farm Life, Nuts For You, Harvest, and Pumpkin Patch tours are offered for groups of 15 or more. Bates Nut Farm store is open year round selling nuts, dried fruits, candy, jams, and assorted gifts and food items. 15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082.
Whalley’s Orchard
No U-pick here but freshly harvested Peaches, Apples, Plums, Pluots, Cherries, and Asian Pears. Whalley’s does the picking, you do the eating. Farmstand is located Located on 87th Street East in Littlerock, CA, north of Pearblossom Hwy (CA Hwy 138) and south of Avenue T.
Northern California U-Pick Farms and Orchards
Use the comments section below to suggest Southern California U-Pick Farms and Orchards to this list.
Please check out whalleys-orchard.com.