Apple Picking in the Bay Area– The notion of apple picking is one that conjures up romantic images of happy families exploring picturesque orchards and picking crisp red fruit with golden leaves. The perfect family activity has been created, with no tech in sight! As you explore the Bay Area in the autumn be sure to get out into the countryside to enjoy the delights of the traditional, bucolic orchards and take some time enjoying the most classic of fall activities – pick-your-own apples! Apple picking season in the Bay Area begins in mid August and continues through to the end of October.
Please do check opening times and more details with each farm before your visit, just in case anything has changed since we published this post. Enjoy your apple picking!
Apple A Day
13128 Occidental Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Apple-A-Day at Ratzlaff Ranch is a “local, family-run business in Sebastopol, CA. We raise apples and pears and make our award winning Apple-A-Day apple juice. Our juice/cider is made using 100% pure premium apples, absolutely nothing added. Our ranch grows Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome apples. U-pick is offered September & October.”
Clearview Orchards
646 Trabing Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Clearview Orchards produces the finest “CCOF certified organic apples. Whether you want to pick your own apples or simply pick up some organic fruit from our Apple Barn to take home, Our orchards are the place to create lifelong memories with the whole family. In addition to apples, Clearview Orchards sells fresh apple juice, delicious apple turnovers, organic squash, pumpkins, dried lavender, honey, and more. The orchards are in a beautiful terraced setting overlooking the valley of Watsonville, Only 3 miles from the ocean and La Selva beach. We hope to see you here soon!”
Gizdich Ranch
723 Lakeview Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Gizdich Ranch offer various u-pick fruits. “Pik-Yor-Self – Strawberries, Olallie berries, Boysenberries, and Apples are available in our Pik-Yor-Self program. Experience the most fun part of growing fruits, here at the Ranch! 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.
Call for our opening dates and prepare for a fun day of picking delicious fruit. Bring your own containers or let us provide boxes for a small fee.
When everyone’s ready for lunch, picnic behind our sales barn and let the kids play. Plan to see us soon!”
Cloverfield Organic Farm
501 La Paloma Rd, El Sobrante, CA 94803
Cloverfield Organic Farm “are the first certified organic farm in El Sobrante. We grow a wide variety of small amounts of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and potted plants. We host weekly u-picks on Fri., Sat. and Sun. We offer different sizes to meet everyone’s needs. No need to call ahead, if the open sign is out, please drive on down and we will give you a tour and tell you what is ready for ‘the pickin’. Alternate u-picking times and farm visits can be arranged by calling ahead to Farmer Michael.
In May and June – Elderflowers, green wild plums, a few strawberries, mints (chocolate, apple, and strawberry-flavored), horseradish roots and leaves, Greek oregano, lemon balm, German thyme, Greek mountain tea flower stems, nopales pads, young grape leaves, rau ram, garlics, potatoes, green onions, chives, lettuce, beets, kale, marshmallow leaves, calendula flowers and seed heads, arugula, komatsuna, rosemary, sweetheart pink roses, catnip, epazote, lavender flowers, asparagus, chamomile, wormwood, purslane, bay leaves, borage leaves and flowers, dandelion greens, and rhubarb
Things that we expect to have available for u-picking in September include the following – Autumn berries, apples, Chilean guavas, Emeryville pink grapes, tomatoes, beets, sweet peppers, mild hot peppers, fiery hot red manzano peppers, rhubarb, squashes, a few figs, cucumbers, horseradish, lemon verbena, mints, and oregano.“
Swanton Pacific Ranch
480 Swanton Road, Davenport, CA
Swanton Pacific Ranch “CCOF Certified Organic U-Pick Apple Orchard opens at the end of September.
We are excited to open our orchard gates once again. There have been many changes in the valley but we are glad to be serving the community again!
Friendly reminders: (1) payments must be cash or check; (2) no pets are allowed in the orchard; (3) park inside the orchard gates.
Enjoy the harvest!”
Chileno Valley Ranch
5105 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952
Chileno Valley Ranch is located in the rolling hills of Coastal Marin.
Tucked in a spectacular valley outside Petaluma, Ranchers Mike and Sally Gale raise grass-fed beef, offer u-pick apple picking in the fall, and host a small number of farm weddings and corporate events each year.
Enjoy a day of family apple picking in our orchard with organically grown varieties such as Orin, Pinova, Candy Crisp, and Jonagold. We are open for u-pick on Sundays only, during August, September and sometimes October.”
EARTHseed Farm
Established in March, 2021, EARTHseed Farm is a “14-acre solar-powered organic farm and orchard located on the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Peoples in Sonoma County, California.
This list includes what is generally available according to the season.
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July: Plums, Pluots, Blackberries
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August: Pluots, Gravenstein Apples, McIntosh Apples, Blackberries, Raspberries
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September: Gilbert Golden Delicious Apples, Gala Apples, Braeburn Apples, Raspberries
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October: Fuji Apples, Rome Apples
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November: Fuji Apples, Persimmons, Pineapple Guava
August-November: We also grow a variety of Asian Pears, including Hosui, Shinseiki, 20th Century, Chojuro, Niitaka, Shinko, Ya Li. Pears are available mid August through mid November, at the farm store.”
Also see our post on Apple Picking in other states, and fruit farms in the Bay Area.
