10 Farms To Pick Your Own Produce
The rain and sun have worked their magic and now our region is bursting with amazing produce—ready to be harvested by your own fair hands. Head to one of these farms for the cream of this season’s crop.
Boysenberries may sound like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but they’re a cross between a raspberry, blackberry, American dewberry, and loganberry. Amber Oaks Raspberries in Auburn is the place to pick ’em. amberoaksberryfarm.com
Summer wouldn’t be summer without sweet strawberries. Luckily, these juicy gems are available for u-pick at Granny Mays Strawberry Farm in Granite Bay. facebook.com/grannymaysfarm
You say tomato, I say cherry tomatoes. These juicy, flavor-packed gems are perfect to add to salads, pizzas, or snack on solo. Once you pop, you won’t be able to stop! Start picking at 24 Carrot Farm in Placerville. 24carrotfarms.com
Blueberries are a match made in pancake heaven, but they also have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. Grab yours at Once in a Blue Moon Berries in El Dorado Hills. onceinabluemoonberries.com
If berries aren’t your thing then lavender might just be the ticket. This pretty purple herb doesn’t only smell amazing, but the oil has antiseptic qualities to relieve burns and bug bites. Gather some for yourself at Charleston Lavender Farm in Colfax (open July 12, 14, 19, & 21). charlestonlavenderfarm.com
Whether it’s blackberry pie, cobbler, or jam, it’ll taste all the more delicious when you pick the fruit yourself at Harris Family Farm in Pollock Pines. Bonus: On July 28 they’re offering a “Blackberry Jam Making Class.” harristreefarm.com
American River Cherry Company in Placerville has eight varieties of u-pick cherries to choose from. The adjacent koi pond and one-acre, pine-shaded lawn—complete with picnic tables—is an ideal place to settle in for a post-picking lunch. americanrivercherryco.com
The goji berry isn’t called a superfood for nothing. Full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, it tastes like a cross between a cranberry and cherry, and is available at Garden Valley’s historic Berry Heaven. berryheavenusa.com
Apple Hill may have apples, but for those with a penchant for pears they have you covered, too. Bartlett pears, perfect for a pear crisp, are available beginning in August at Sloan Winters mountain Orchards in Camino. sloanwintersorchards.com