Orange County, California U-Pick Farms - 2024 PickYourOwn.ORG

Looking for a local, pick-your-own farm in Orange County, California? Scroll down this page and you will see the U-Pick farms in Orange County, California, sorted by county. Those that offer organic or sustainably grown produce are identified by the words "organic" and/or "sustainable" in Green, next to their name  (see "What does Organic mean?"). The U-pick crops they offer follow the name of the farm. To search the page for a specific crop, use Ctrl-F (or on an ipad or Mac, use their "search on this page" function) If they have a website, the name will be in blue and underlined; click on it and it will open their website. If you find anything outdated or inaccurate, see the customer and farmer menus (as appropriate) at the top menu bar to submit updates and corrections and help me keep each current!

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Note: Beware the copycat websites like the one that stole our name and uses .farm extension: they copied my work and do NOT even update the info! I make updates EVERY day. They use tech tricks to get higher rankings, but have many more inaccuracies and out-dated info. Obviously, I cannot check every farm every day, but I do check as many as I can every day, and respond to all requests.  They don't. Don't support the scammers!

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! And if you know of any farms I missed and want to add a farm, please let me know!   I'm making updates for this year as fast as I can - if you find anything out-of-date, wrong or not working - please let me know! This website is supported by purchases you make through the links to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This allows me to continue to maintain the website and make improvements!

What's in season in April 2024, and other timely information:

Notes for April 2024: Spring is here! Strawberry season is here.  It started in February in Florida, Texas, southern California and a few other areas of the Deep South; then March along the Gulf coast, April in the Deep South and west coast, May through much of the country, and June in northern areas. Blueberries are next, about a month later. Of course, cool weather crops, like Rhubarb, asparagus and greens should be available almost everywhere. Check your area's copy calendar (see this page) and call your local farms for seasonal updates.

You may also be interested in finding a local:

• Children's Consignment Sale happening now; save money on children's clothes, toys, books, etc, find a local children's consignment sale, also often held by churches in the Spring and Fall, click here!
• Fun factory tours - usually free, fun and educational, find them in every state here!
• Road trip or a Camping trip - Find free and low-cost, but fun, interesting places to visit and things to do and see!

We also have home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! It is easy to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. Also note, there are many copycat website listing U-pick farms now.  They have all copied their information from here and usually do not ever update.  Since 2002, I've been updating the information every day but Christmas; so if you see anything wrong or outdated, please write me!

Orange County, California U-Pick Farms and Orchards in 2024, by county

Click on the resources drop-down above, if you need a county map

Orange County

• Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center - Uses natural growing practices, lemons, oranges, other citrus, restrooms, ziplines, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  2 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869. Phone: (714) 923-3191. Email: outdoor@ocbsa.org. Open: U - Pick by reservation only. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Take Jamboree Road north and enter Irvine Regional Park. Follow the direction to the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center. U-Pick open December through April or while supplies last; Navel Oranges start to ripen in late November - so check back for details. Recreation and educational programs open year-round by reservation only;. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Payment: Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Click here for our Facebook page. (UPDATED: March 05, 2021)  There is an interesting story with photos about Picking Oranges and Lemons at Irvine Ranch here.
• South Coast Farms - Uses natural growing practices, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, farm market, porta-potties
  33201 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Phone: (949) 661-9381. Email: ibpelon@hotmail.com. Open:  from mid May (in 2020,  May 18th) on  Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm; Closed Sundays;  picking continues until strawberry season ends sometime in July. Directions: East on Ortega highway 7 miles. Left at Tree of Life Nursery. Follow U pick signs to fields. Click here for a map and directions. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. South Coast Farms Facebook page.(UPDATED: May 18, 2020)
  Comments from a visitor on July 16, 2011: "The ONLY pyo crops offered are: Strawberries, and only at the end of the season, for one day. This year (2011), it was Sunday, July 11th. They also have a pumpkin patch, fresh apple cider and crafts for Hallowe'en. Primarily, this is a farmstand and CSA. "
  Comments from a visitor on July 02, 2010: "Apparently they grow everything organic. They also have a CSA program. I have only been there once, but I am going back to pick strawberries this weekend! $1.25 a pound for organic strawberries! That's a great deal in this neck o'the woods!"
• Tanaka Farms - strawberries, vegetables, pumpkins,
  5380 3/4 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612. Phone: 949-653-2100. Fax: 949-653-9050. Email: info@tanakafarms.com. Open: There are strawberry U-pick tours in the Spring and vegetable u-pick tours in the summer; Sign up for a U-Pick Wagon Ride! U- Pick Tour times will be posted on our website when available; see their website or call about pumpkins in October (Saturdays & Sundays (now until July) every half hour from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. No reservations needed. In 2018, STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL DAYS: 5/5 & 5/6, 5/12 & 5/13, 5/19 & 5/20, 5/26 & 5/27 with Food, games, vendors, crafts, and more). Directions: 2 miles north of I-5 and I-405 interchange, take I-405 to University Dr - South to Strawberry Farms Rd on corner. Click here for a map to our farm. and another map is here. Strawberry tours: This is a guided tour around the farm that takes approximately one hour on a tractor- pulled wagon. You will see how fruits & vegetables grow and sample many of those that are in season. The last stop on this tour is in the strawberry patch will you be able to pick and eat strawberries! Each person will take home a one (1) pound basket of strawberries! How Does It Work? Weekday school tours and group tours are available by reservation only. No reservations are needed for our weekend tours unless the group is large. Please arrive 25 minutes before to check in and receive instructions. Make Strawberry Tour reservations by calling (949) 653-2100 ext. 204 with the name, phone number, date, the time you wish to attend, the number of adults, children, and children ages 2 years old and under who will be attending. A confirmation will be sent to you by email. Harvest items TBD. (Will not include strawberries.) Vegetable U-pick harvest tours: What Is a Harvest Tour? This is a FREE, guided wagon ride around the farm, where you will be able to pick your own fresh fruits and vegetables in the fields! This tour takes 45 min to 1 1/4 hours. Remember to wear closed-toed shoes as you will be walking through the fields! How Does It Work? This tour is seasonal and generally runs during the off-season. No reservations are necessary; simply arrive 15-20 min previous to the start of the tour so you don't miss the tractor. Vegetable picking is seasonal and based on availability, but U-Pick produce may include: carrots, tomatoes, beets, baby bok choy, lettuce, kale, butternut squash and more. It's a surprise every day! Pay for what you've picked at the end of your tour. Group rates are available call for details. We also have CSA fundraiser available.  ( (UPDATED: September 22, 2023, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on April 15, 2011: "Further clarification on the "U-Pic" part of the farm. For $15, you get to ride on the tractor, get a tour of the many fruits and vegetables on the farm, and a ONE POUND basket for you to fill up with strawberries."
  Comments from a visitor on March 27, 2011: "Tanaka Farms has a CSA program through Farm2Table Connect. There is no membership fee, you only pay for the box of fruits/vegetables. The large box is $30 and the small is $20. They will also donate a portion from each box to participating schools. Visit this website for more info. "
  Comments from a visitor on August 8, 2008: "I took my husband & son to Tanaka Farms for their "Pick-your-own- strawberries" we went on a guided wagon tour that included several stops to taste fresh picked produce from their farm, we then had 15 minutes to pick and eat as many strawberries as we could.  Our 1 1/2 year old son LOVED it. Sure they were the most expensive basket of strawberries ($13 per basket) my husband or I had ever purchased, but those pictures were priceless !!  They also offer a Watermelon tour which we intend to go do as well."
• The Ecology Center - Certified Organic, pumpkins, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, gift shop, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
  32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Phone: (949) 443-4223. Email: info@theecologycenter.org. Open: Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm from spring through summer and from 9 am to 5 pm from autumn through winter. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: From the 5 freeway exit Camino Capistrano and take Camino Capistrano north. Take a left on Del Obispo followed by another left on Alipaz. Continue on Alipaz and The Ecology Center will be on your right. TASTE Strawberry Festival U-pick will be from April 24 on Saturdays and Sundays to May 23;. We are certified organic for all crops! Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers, SNAP Vouchers. Click here for our Facebook page. (ADDED: April 26, 2021)
• University of California Ag & Natural Resources- South Coast - Uses integrated pest management practices, persimmons, beans, beets, carrots, herbs or spices, onions, Sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, beets, celery, onions, butterleaf lettuce, redleaf lettuce, sage, parsley,
  7601 Irvine Blvd, Irvine, CA 92618. Phone: (949) 653-1802. Email: jrsuppes@ucanr.edu. Open: This is a one day event; Saturday, November 23rd; Two picking sessions, 9am and 11am. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Visa, MasterCard, AmEx. Click here for our Facebook page. Thanksgiving Veggie U-Pick Sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, beets, celery, onions, butterleaf lettuce, redleaf lettuce, sage, parsley. Pre-registration only at: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=28323. (UPDATED: October 29, 2019) (ADDED: May 22, 2019)

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

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