2024 Central Washington State Apricot U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Apricot U-Pick Orchards in Central Washington State in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for apricots that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have apricots 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.

Yakima County

• Blackberries Jubilee - Uses natural growing practices, apricots, blackberries,
  600 Arrowsmith Rd, Sunnyside, WA 98944. Phone: 509-830-0689. Email: aegb57@hotmail.com. Open: June 10,2016 to August ?; daily, 7 am to dusk Directions: Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Directions: Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Head to 1st street \(the first light into or out of town on the west end\) We are north west of town. Take 1st streetaka SCOON Road North two miles and turn left on to Arrowsmith \(just after you cross the irrigation canal on Scoon\). Look for the Big Red and white Barn! And trellised vines. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . June 10,2016 to August (?); daily, 7 am to dusk Take Sunnyside exits and follow signs to Yakima Valley Highway. Head to 1st street (the first light into or out of town on the west end) We are north west of town. Take 1st street/aka SCOON Road North two miles and turn left on to Arrowsmith (just after you cross the irrigation canal on Scoon). Look for the Big Red and white Barn! And trellised vines. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. Very Family and group friendly! We love giving informational tours, recipes and helping you make our farm a fun family outing! Our berries are fun and easy to pick! We love when families come-little ones are delighted when they can find berries right at eye level, and there are plenty up higher, as our vines are on six foot trellises. The best time to pick is early in the morning. We provide buckets, with plastic bag liners. If you are traveling very far we recommend bringing several flat boxes, or a cooler. We have a 28 ft above ground pool, a gas grill and picnic table that is available to rent for a picnic or party-$50hr. Call ahead.
• West Valley U-Pick - Uses natural growing practices, apples, blueberries, pears, tomatoes, tomatillos, apricots, marionberriies, peaches, pluots, grapes, apricots and prepicked produce, restrooms
  11901 Zier Road, Yakima, WA 98908. Phone: 509-945-5406. Email: yakimaberries@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, Saturday 8 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm. Directions: We are located in the beautiful West Valley area of Yakima, WA. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  West Valley U-Pick Facebook page. . Blueberries and Raspberries July, August and the first two weeks of September Pears Bartlett and Anjou August through early September Apples Gala and Red and Golden Delicious September through October Pumpkins October Garden veggies all summer. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We have an area to park your motorhome and large field for camping, a hose for water, and a primitive bathroom, for those who would like to spend the night. Please call for availability. Crops are usually available in July, August, September, October. Cherries: Rainier, Bing, Skeena, and Sour Pie Cherries available for u-pick in early July. Pre-picked cherries are available early-mid July. Important note: all of their u-pick cherries are often all been picked on opening day. Apples: Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Blondee apples are available for u-pick mid-August to October. Note: You can press your own apple cider on their old-fashioned hand-cranked cider presses! The presses are free to use if you buy our apples. We have cider jugs to purchase, or you can bring your own jugs if you prefer.Blueberries - Duke and Chandler blueberries are available in mid-to-late July, Aurora blueberries are available late-July to September. The best picking times are mid-July and mid-August when the most berries are ripe . Peaches - Clingstone peach variety Early Elberta is available for u-pick in late July. Freestone peach varieties Golden Elberta and Red Haven peaches are available in late August. Peaches tend to go quickly,Pears - Bartlet and Danjou pears. Available for u-pick mid-August to mid-September.Pluots - Available for u-pick mid-August to mid-September. Grapes - Assorted varieties of table grapes are available for u-pick straight off the trellises in late August and early September. Guests are also welcome to pick grape leaves at no charge!Marionberries - They have a small number of marionberry bushes for u-pick available in mid-to-late August. Apricots - They have a few small apricot trees for u-pick available in early July. Supplies are very limited, please call ahead of time to inquire for availability.Tomatoes - more than 20 varieties of vine-ripe tomatoes including Roma, Beefsteak, Solar flare, Market, Maria, and other heirloom tomatoes. Available for u-pick mid-August to October.Eggplant - Italian and Asian Eggplant are available for u-pick from early August to late September.Peppers - Assorted varieties of sweet and hot peppers are available for u-pick from late July to late September. Varieties include Jalapeno, Poblano, Habanero, Shishito, Bell, and a few melt-your-face-hot Carolina ReapersTomatillos - available for u-pick late July to October. SWe use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. You may e-mail us for my phone number, current crops, and picking times. We look forward to seeing you on our farm. We Have Raspberries, Blueberries, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Apricots, Plums, Pluots and . Formerly called All Natural U Pick and Scenic Acres Orchard (UPDATED: August 7, 2023, JBS)

 

Apricot

Apricot Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S., Apricots typically peak from June through July in the South, and July and August in the North. In order to produce good local apricots, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts. If you want to know which are the best varieties of apricots for home canning, see this page!

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - Apricots are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for apricots, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Apricots on top of each other will bruise the fruit on the bottom. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers, so you can spread them out.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.
5. You might want to ask whether the apricots are! There are two major types of apricots: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone apricots and nectarines have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain, because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most apricot varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone. 

How to tell if the apricots are ripe!

• Attached to the tree: Apricots are best picked when the fruit separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it isn't ripe! Apricots will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they only "soften")
• Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as an indicator of how ripe a apricot is. Different apricot varieties have differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination). The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
• Softness: unless you like your apricots very firm, pick your apricots with just a little "give" when gently pressed. Apricots at this stage are great for eating, freezing, and baking. Apricots won't ripen very much after picking!
• Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!

Tips on How to Pick Apricots

A apricot is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a apricot gently, with little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to avoid bruising.  Grab the apricot firmly and pull it straight off the branch. DON'T drop the apricot into the basket, but set it in gently!

Marks on the Apricots: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs) bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the apricot. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit.  These look like dents in the apricots if the apricots were bitten by a bug when they were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle in the apricot. There's nothing wrong with these apricots. They may look funny, but they will taste just as good as blemish-free apricots, and it's better not to have the pesticides!

When you get home

1. Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or damaged fruit to use immediately.
2. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and freeze them up!
3. Even under ideal conditions apricots will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase
4. Now, get ready to make Apricot jam or canned apricots - It is VERY easy - especially with our free  directions and recipes:

Apricot Canning, Freezing and Recipes

• How to make Apricot jam
• Canning apricots
• How to freeze apricots
• Here are some great and easy apricot desert recipes, like easy apricot cobbler.

How much do you need?

Raw measures:

• About 6 medium apricots = 1 cup sliced apricots.
• About 4 medium apricots = 1 cup pureed apricot.
• 1 pound fresh apricots = 8 to 12 whole fruits

Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)

• 2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh apricots yields 1 quart canned
• 2-1/2 pounds fresh apricots = 2 to 3 pints frozen
• 1 lb of fresh apricots typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced apricots or 2 cups or puree.
• It takes about 5 good sizes apricots or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to fill one quart jar of canned apricots.
• An average of 17 -1/2 pounds of fresh apricots are needed per canner load of 7 quarts;
• An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
• 1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.

Apricots-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

Canned Apricots

• 16-ounce can apricots = 2 cups drained

Dried Apricots

• 6 pounds fresh apricots = 1 pound dried apricots
• 1 pound dried apricots = 2-3/4 cups
• 1 pound dried apricots = 5 cups cooked
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 1 cup
• 6 ounces dried apricots = 2 cups cooked

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