PickYourOwn.org
Where you can find a pick-your-own farm near you!
Fresno - Monterey area
Click here to add this page to your favorites list! - Updated daily!
This month's notes: May 2008: Spring is here!: strawberries are here in the deep South and are peaking or fading in California, Texas and Florida!  Find a strawberry festival near you! And see mid summer Blueberry festivals here. Organic farms are still not common, but any that are, have the word ORGANIC by their name! Check out my easy canning directions, and canning equipment or How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals
Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!!

This page provides a detailed list of the Fresno / Monterey area of California's pick- your- own (PYO, U-pick, pick-it-yourself) farms for everything from apples, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, other fruit, pumpkins, vegetables to cut-you-own Christmas trees!   There are loads of related resources here, too.

We also have our own free and simple, step-by-step, illustrated instructions on canning, freezing and drying  many fruits and vegetables, such as  how to make jam, apple butter, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, ketchup or freezing corn .   If you are looking for Canners, mixes, jars, pectin and other canning supplies at the best prices anywhere!

I'm always looking for suggestions of more farms and events to add and feedback about any you have visited, so if you encounter any, just click on the preceding link, as appropriate!  And if you have a farm and want to add it or correct the information, please click on the link to "add my farm".

Does anyone know where there are pick-your-own grape vineyards in California?  There MUST be plenty, but I've only found a couple!  

Current Weather - Click on a map for forecast, or enter a zip code for a different location.
San Fran area (Brentwood) Julian - Ramona near San Diego Fresno Bakersfield

U-Pick Farms and Orchards, sorted by county

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

Fresno County

  • Chateau Fresno Nursery - FOLLOWS ORGANIC PRACTICES, tomatoes, prepicked produce, restrooms
    13505 S. Chateau Fresno, Caruthers, CA 93609. Phone: 559-896-4225. Fax: 559-896-1528. Email us at: bosaitaly@aol.com. Directions: 20 minute from Fresno. 10 minute from high way 41 Main street MT. View west Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. Open: Monday to Sunday 8 am to 7 pm We are certified organic for all crops! Payment: Cash, only. Organic vine- ripe Tomatoes Greenhouses
  • Ens' Vintage Estate - corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs/spices, melons, peppers, persimmons, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, restrooms, farm animals
    Herndon Avenue near Hwy 99, Fresno , CA 93723. Phone: (559) 269-3143. Email: estate@lightspeed.net. Directions: Please call And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August, September, October, November. Open: By appointment. You can contact us by phone either at the barn (559) 269-3143 or (559) 275-2912 Pumpkin picking, all varieties, colors and sizes and HORSE-DRAWN WAGON RIDES Oct/Nov only, weekends by appointment. Beautiful wagon holds 12, circles farm, see the San Joaquin River meet our Giant English Shires (fee for excursion) Payment: Cash, only. BROWN EGGS available year round. POMEGRANATES, Dried luffa sponges, Blue Lake green beans, Okra, Brussels sprouts Farm friendly Llamas! Tours for Home Schoolers available w/picnic area.
  • Farley Family Vineyard - grapes, UPDATE August 11, 2006 - closed - the phone number is now a private residence - but see their son's new operation in Kings County (below)!
    7523 S. Kenneth, Fowler, CA 93625. Phone: (559)834-3138. Email us at: pcfs@hotmail.com. Directions: From highway 99 and Clovis Ave. Go south on Clovis Ave. to Sumner and turn right. Go a quarter of a mile to the Farley Family Vineyard. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open August, September. Our hours are: Daily from 7am-7pm August 10-Labor Day Weekend every year. All picking tools and boxes for your grapes are provided for free. A shaded picnic area is provided. This is a great way to teach children about agriculture. Tours are provided Thursdays at 8am and 9am with a two day notice. The business is run by some of the Farley's 10 children and 11 grandchildren.
  • Huebert Farms - Peaches, nectarines, plums. Scary Corn Maze at Halloween Time.
    21570 E Lincoln Ave, Reedley, CA, 93654. Phone: 559-638-5650. Phone: 559-638-4740. Email: peggyhuebert@yahoo.com. Open: May 15 - September 15. Directions: From Hwy 99 take Manning Ave Exit. Go East through Reedley. Turn left on Alta Ave. Take a left when the road T's into American Ave. We are the first packing house on left. Alta is the main road taken by buses to go up to Kings Canyon Park. We are one-eigth of a mile off the route.
  • Pumpkin King Pumkin Patch - winter squash, pumpkins, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg
    100 W. Shaw Avenue N/W corner of Blackstone & Shaw Avenues, Fresno, CA 93711. Phone: 559 658-2006. Fax: 559 658-2015. Email: pumpkinking@sierratel.com. Directions: West of Highway 41 at the Shaw Avenue exit on the North West corner of Blackstone & Shaw Avenues And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in October. Open: 9 AM to 9 PM 7 days a week Pumpkin Patch and Straw Bale maze is open from October 1st through October 31st. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard. The Great Bumpkin Blood Drive 8 AM to 6 PM Friday October 12 and Saturday October 13th.
  • The Shafer Family Farm - Grapes
    13378 E South Ave, Parlier, CA. Phone: 559-646-2586.  Grapes for the home winemaker on either a "u-pick" or a "we-pick" basis

Kings County

  • J & K Farley Farms - grapes, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo
    512 N. 7th Ave, Kingsburg, CA 93631. Phone: 559-897-7112. Email us at: upickgrapes@hotmail.com. Directions: Take the Bethel / Kamm exit off of FWY 99. Go south on Bethel 3 miles. Take a right on Elkhorn. Take a left on Bethel (this is a "jog" in the road. Second house on the right. Follow signs. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in August, September. Open: Seven days a week, 7am to 7pm Open August 18th through September 24th Payment: Cash, Check. All picking supplies provided for free. A visitor writes: "I went by the new farm and picked more than 60 lbs. It was great! Although. they only have the Thompson Seedless green grapes now, but, they will have the Red Flame grapes in a couple of years! But, the green ones are still really wonderful."
  • Rancho Notso Grande - FOLLOWS ORGANIC PRACTICES, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, flowers, nectarines, olallieberries, other berries, peaches, pecans , raspberries, tayberries, walnuts, prepicked produce
    5051 12th. Avenue, Hanford, CA 93230. Phone: 559-269-1152. Fax: 559-589-0420. Email us at: RanchoNotsoGrande@hughes.net. Directions: South East corner of 12th and Excelsior Avenues in Hanford, CA. This is 30 minutes south of Fresno, 25 minutes West of Visalia. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August. Open: We have a refrigerated, pre-picked fruit stand that is open from 7 AM to 7PM for seven days a week during the harvest season. During the season we are open for you pick and roadside sales from 7AM to 7 PM Tuesday through Saturday and all other times by appointment.  We follow organic methods, but are not yet certified. Payment: Cash, Check.

Madera County

  • Pizza Farm - U-Pick Christmas Trees, Pizza Farm, Cornfield Maze
    27877 Ave 8, Madera, CA, 93637. Phone: 559-439-0606. Phone: 559-661-2172. Email: pizzafarmer@cobbranch.com. Open: March - December. Directions: Hwy 41 at the San Joaquin River (take Rio Mesa Exit). 5 miles North of Fresno - 15 miles East of Madera on the way to Yosemite National Park.
  • Sweetwater Berry Farm - blackberries, raspberries, tomatoes, prepicked produce
    42961 Rd 628 , Ahwahnee, CA 93601. Phone: 559-658-8511. Email: sweetwaterberryfarm@msn.com. Directions: Highway 49 to Road 628 (Roundhouse Rd) And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in September. Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Blackberries July 14 thru August 20. Raspberries September thru Ocy 14. Public bathroom available. We follow organic methods, but are not yet certified. Payment: Cash, Check.

Merced County

  • Riverdance Farm - ORGANIC, Blueberries - on two annual you-pick weekends
    12230 Lingston-Cressey Road, Livingston, California 95334. Phone: 209-761-0081. Email: riverdancefarms@clearwire.net. Also, Prepicked: Certified-organic walnuts, almonds, pecans, blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, persimmons, cut flowers, lavender, and, in the winter, oat hay. They host you-pick days during the 8th annual Heartland Festival with the Merced River Fair on June 2, 2007 with a lower key, breakfast, u-pick and farm tour morning on Sunday June 3, 2007. Our second blueberry u-pick will be Fathers' Day weekend, F-S-S, June 15-17, 2007. Call with any questions (209) 761-0081. In the future, they would also like to offer flowers, stone fruits, and pumpkins on a you-pick basis.

Monterey County

  • Mahon Ranch - Watermelon, peppers
    Star Route Box 2260, Bradley, CA 93426. Phone: 805-472-2465.
  • Morris Estate Vineyard - grapes
    53600 Bradley-Lockwood Road, Lockwood, CA 93932. Phone: 831-385-9463. Fax: 831-385-9463. Email us at: bcv@inreach.com. Directions: From King City: 30 miles on Hwy G-18 towards Ft Hunter Liggett on Jolon Road. Cross over Interelake Rd continue another 2 miles to the 2nd Bradley-Lockwood Road, stay to the left. Road will bend around to the left go until you reach 3 grain silos turn right on Dirt Rd ( Murphy Rd ) go 3rd gate on right (Black Metal Gate). From the South: From Hwy 101 get off at Jolon / Ft Hunter liggett exit go aprox 10 miles, you will pass the Pleyto Store/Gas station and then 1 mile more on LEFT (stop sign) you will see Bradley-Lockwood Road. Continue down hill to 3 grain cylos, turn left on dirt rd ( Murphy ) go to 3rd gate on right (black) and you have arrived. Welcome. Crops are usually available in September. Open: Depending are ripeness of fruit, please call for availability. Cabernet Sauvignon-Sold by the pound $1.50 or Ton $1,200.00 Prior reservations necessary ! ! Call for tour and assistance. Payment: Cash, only.

Tulare County

  • Springville Lavender Gardens - flowers, Other fruit or veg, prepicked produce, gift shop
    34515 Highway 190 P. O. Box 697, Springville, CA 93265. Phone: 559-539-2048. Email us at: info@springvillelavendergardens.com. Directions: 17 miles from Porterville on Highway 190 one mile before town of Springville. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in April through October. Open: Wednesday thru Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., or call for an appointment. Closed January and February. Lavender u-pick/we pick May 15 to July 15; pre-picked fresh herbs, roses & flowers March to October; pre-picked dried lavender & floral arrangements all months; some pre-picked in season apples, grapes, lemons, peaches. We follow organic methods, but are not yet certified. Payment: Cash, Check. Self-guided tour. Guided group tours by appointment. Available to speak about growing lavender & flowers. Raised bed, xeriscape, native plant, rose, herb & fruit demonstration gardens. Products made with lavender. Fresh & dried floral arrangements. Herbal & botanical gifts.
  • I haven't found any PYO fruit / vegetable farms in this county.  If you know of any, please write me using the Feedback form!

Home Canning Kits

Features:


* All the tools you need for hot waterbath canning - in one comprehensive set!
* Complete with 21 1/2 qt. enameled waterbath canner and "Ball Blue Book" of canning.
* Also includes canning rack, funnel, jar lifter, jar wrencher, bubble freer, tongs and lid lifter.
* A Kitchen Krafts exclusive collection.

This is the same type of  standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce!. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars and lids (and the jars are reusable). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!
 

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Usually ships in 1-2 business days

 

 

     Salsa Tomato Mix

Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.

Need lids, rings and replacement jars?  Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes?  Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store!

Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!


 

Other related links:

  • Apple Hill Growers Association - An association of apple growers, not a PYO. (pick your own) Various activities - 55 ranches involved, some apple ranches, 4 wineries, 1 micro-brewing operation. Fruit, baked goods, wine, Christmas trees.  P.O. Box 494, Camino, CA.  Phone: 530-644-7692
  • California Food and Agricultural Festivals and Tours
  • Ukiah County
  • October
    9
    Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off - From 10 am to 1 pm, Ukiah Safeway on South State Street. Come see the giant pumpkins! Food, Music & Fun!!! Call the City Parks and Recreation Department for more information or to find out how to enter your pumpkin at 468-3063
    October
    16-17
    Ukiah Country PumpkinFest - The Annual Harvest Street Festival boasts a parade along State Street at 11:00 am on Saturday and a Fiddle Contest Sunday. Enjoy the continuous live entertainment, children's carnival, Scarecrow City, arts & crafts and food booths all weekend in downtown on School Street and in Alex R. Thomas Plaza. 10am- 5pm Saturday, 11am- 4pm Sunday. Admission is free.
    October
    30-31
    Hopland Fall Passport - Join the Hopland wineries this weekend and be sure to get your passport stamped at Brutocao Cellars! Fun, food, and wine for a minimal charge. Sign up to stomp grapes and win a t-shirt! Info & RSVP: Phone: 800-433-3689 $25.00.
    May through October   Orchard Plaza Farmer's Market: May-October - every Saturday from 8:30am - 12noon at the Orchard Plaza in downtown Ukiah. Shop for locally grown fruits, vegetables and other products from the land such as honey, eggs, jams, wool, lavender and much more. Meet a friend, listen to music, watch a cooking demonstration and get some fresh air. Local artists display their work at this social event. Call Lee Rossavick at 707-743-1342 or visit quietmountain.org/clients/ufm/main.html

     

   
   


Remember to ALWAYS call the farm or orchard BEFORE you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can always affect their hours and crops!

PYO Farms in Other Countries: [ Australia ] [ Canada ] [ South Africa ] [ New Zealand ] [ United Kingdom ]

Our other free, informative sites you may like:

Questions, comments, corrections and suggestions or want to recommend a farm to add? 
Or write me at 

All images and text  Copyright ©
Benivia, LLC 2004,2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 All rights reserved.    Disclaimer
Permission is given to link to any page on www.pickyourown.org 

Looking for jobs on farms?

Farmers: If you'd like to advertise or have your own web page(s), click here!