2024 Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties in California Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties in California in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Lake County

• Frontier Farm Co. - Uses natural growing practices, carrots, eggplant, herbs or spices, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes,
  18525 S. State highway 29, Middletown, CA 95461. Phone: 707-355-1001. Email: kecia@frontierfarmco.com. Open: Seasonally July thru November Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10am to 6pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard.
  Frontier Farm Co. Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 707-987-6900. . We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Fresh, Local and Sustainable from Our Garden to Your Table. We grow our vegetables using organic methods and allowing nature to do its job. Through crop rotation and diversification we interrupt the life-cycles of soil borne diseases and encourage healthier crop production. To keep our pest populations low, we encourage predatory insects to make our garden their home by planting beneficial plants in our habitat gardens. Adequate pollination is accomplished by attracting bees using bee-loving plants such as lavender, rosemary and nepeta, oh and of course the blossoms from our fruit trees and vegetable plants.(UPDATED: May 07, 2018, JBS)

Sacramento County

• R Kelley Farms - Black-Eyes, Purple Hulls, Crowder peas, Green Beans, Italian Beans, Sweet Peas, Speckled Butter Beans, Cranberry Beans, Okra, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Onions, Bell Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Hot Hot Peppers, Squash, Cucumbers
  1120 Scribner Road, Sacramento, CA 95832. Phone: 916-665-1191. Email: fresh@rkelleyfarms.com. Open: July through October Wednesday through Sunday 8am to 6pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. . . See their website for availability and prices for u-pick. Our services include u-pick, we-pick; farm fresh eggs plus pea shelling and delivery. The farm specializes in growing black-eye, purple hull, crowder peas. We also offer green beans, speckled butter beans, garbanzo beans and cranberry beans. To compliment the fresh peas and beans, the farm has a variety of other items. This list includes tomatoes, okra, sweet corn, peppers, squash, cucumbers, yams, onions, winter greens and several types of sweet melons.
  Comments from a visitor on July 28, 2009: "They had everything.I counter about 7 different melons from casaba to savors to a yellow meat watermelon--they have black eye peas, purple hull peas, okra, squash, and the biggest onions in the world, and some beautiful purple bell peppers( never seen those before).the watermelon is to die for and I eat a passport melon(something new)on the way home. I was there on Sunday and they had Live Jazz on the farm. They said they do tours for kids and community groups. They had an employee restroom that they let me used, which was very clean. There is a nice pinic area with a manicured lawn, with BBQ pit access. This is not an organic farm however the farm said he only sprays when he has too. The crops look amazing you can but your items already picked and shelled or pick your own. Personally, I got a bag of shelled black eyes for $13.50 for 5lbs my mother was impressed. I was able to lie and say I picked them myself.I loved the veggies and people. From the diverse staff to the multi-cultural customers, I did not want to leave so they told me to go hang out on the lawn and eat my melons, so I did with the Jazz."
  Comments from a visitor on July 22, 2009: "Very sweet and a variety of melons. Very fresh produce and unique varieties. They specialize in fresh southern peas. Very friendly. They have restroom and a picnic area. You can schedule a tour. The owner is a Certified Crop Advisor and will conduct the tour. He also is a mentor for young adults. ( 10 yrs---18 yrs old) "

Solano County

• Erickson's Ranch - U-pick tomatoes, peppers, herbs, watermelon, pumpkins and flowers.
  2482 Cordelia Road, Suisun Valley, CA 94534. Phone: (707) 864-0557. Email: info@ericksonranch.com. Open: Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6 pm; Season: June through November. Click here for a map and directions. . The season starts in late June with Blenheim apricots and Dahlias. They have over 20 varieties of peaches & nectarines. They are affiliated with Suisun Valley Growers and they have Fun Family Farm Days in August, September and October and a wonderful field of you pick pumpkins each fall. (UPDATED: May 07, 2018, JBS)
• Larry's Produce - tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, eggplants, hot chili peppers, peppers
  4606 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield, CA 94534. Phone: 707-864-8068. Open: 9 am to 5 pm daily. Click here for a map and directions. . Their farmer's market offers local peaches, apricots, plums, pears, sweet corn, melons and much more. In October, they have a pumpkin patch, hay maze, and the have Christmas trees in December. Larry's offers local peaches, apricots, plums, pears, sweet corn, melons and much more. U-Pick crops available including tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, eggplants, hot chiles, peppers..you will find everything you need at Larry's. (UPDATED: May 07, 2018, JBS)

Yolo County (Sacramento area)

• Loving Nature Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, broad beans, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, peas, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Fresh eggs, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  38883 Z Line Road, Clarksburg, CA 95612. Phone: 916-899-1154. Email: michaelwong250@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm, all year round. Directions: On Jefferson Blvd heading south, make a right on Hamilton Road, at the end of Hamilton Road make a left on Z Line Road, go 0.4 mile and arrive at the first house on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Loving Nature Farm . All year round for a wide selection of U-pick seasonal fruit and vegetables. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We can grow a wide variety of all-natural vegetables on demand, lease small plots to those who are interested in growing organic food for themselves. We welcome all kinds of activities and functions by prior arrangements. We also deliver CSA boxes to homes and offices. (UPDATED: May 28, 2018, JBS)

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers