2024 Eastern Central California Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
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Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Central 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.
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Nevada County
Linda Grace's Place Farm - Uses natural growing practices, apples, blackberries, cucumbers, figs, herbs or spices, lavender, nectarines, pears, peaches, peppers, plums, pomegranates, raspberries (red), summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, walnuts, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, U-pick and already picked, farm animals, weddings and wedding parties 17458 Friendly Valley Place, Grass Valley, CA 95949. Phone: 530-272-5156. Email: linda.menge@hotmail.com. Open: Call for appointment, hours and days vary according to crops, generally weekends. Directions: Off McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, Ca. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . We use only our own Artesian well water for irrigation, absolutely NO treated water used here! :) Some canned goods may be available for sale, hopefully fresh pies in the future!. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. See Linda Grace's Place on Facebook for updated information! (UPDATED: July 02, 2020)
Placer County
Amber Oaks Raspberries - Uses integrated pest management practices, blackberries, boysenberries, chestnuts, olallieberries, other berries, pumpkins, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, U-pick and already picked, farm market, restrooms, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours 2770 Shanley Rd, Auburn, CA 95603. Phone: 530 885-3420. Email: amberoaksraspberries@gmail.com.. Open: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday By appointment, from 8:30am to 1 pm May to November. Directions: From Sacramento take interstate 80 east to Auburn. Exit Highway 49 turn left at the light. Travel about 3 miles on 49 turn left onto Atwood Road. Travel 1.5 miles turn left onto Shanley Road. Our drive way is the second left, just past the mail boxes. Look for the wooden carved sign Tim and Rhonda Berry Farm. Follow the gravel drive and keep to your right and follow signs for parking. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Amber Oaks Raspberries Facebook page. . Boysenberries and Olallieberries: End of May to June 16, Thorn-less blackberries: July to August, Chestnuts: Middle September to end of October, Pumpkins: October, Kiwi: November, also pick your own. We use integrated pest management practices. We also Have other produce available for sale by orders. They include Rhubarb, loquats, summer squash, basil, amaranth, blueberries, sun gold tomatoes, early girl tomatoes, potatoes, pomegranates, concord grapes, eggplant, figs, persimmons, Corn and melons from another farm. Please just give us a call for availability and to place an order for pick up by appointment Monday to Saturday. We are hoping to have U-Pick Blackberries the first week of July. Our U-PICK days are by appointment on: Mondays: 8 am to 2 pm; Wednesdays: 8 am to 2 pm; Saturdays: 8 am to 2 pm/ PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT in advance before the day you want to pick. Please do not schedule an appointment by e-mail or Facebook. We do not check e-mail daily. Comments from a visitor on September 07, 2009: "Had a great time picking blackberries. Very abundant, large, sweet berries. Very reasonably priced. Unfortunately I found out about this farm at end of berry picking season but will plan next year to get out more often to pick. They have kiwis and clementines in the fall. I believe you can pick those as well. Also have available a wide variety of tomatoes, delicious Stinsen watermelon(which they shared with us)figs, chestnuts and much more. They also have homemade jams and honey."
Flower Farm - corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs or spices, melons, onions, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, weddings and wedding parties, school tours 9280 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis, CA 95650. Phone: (866) 819-4899. Email: flowerfarmnursery@gmail.com. Open: Daily, 8 am to 6 p. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Flower Farm Facebook page. . m. except Mondays Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Crops are usually available all year. We are certified organic for some crops. Click here for their Facebook page. Call before you go - Their website is gone, (Does anyone have current information, are they still offering pick your own? If so, please write me!)
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
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!