2024 Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties in California Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties in California in 2024, by county

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

Yolo County (Sacramento area)

• Impossible Acres (also called The Pickin' Patch) - boysenberries, blackberries, raspberries..cherries, peaches, apples..pumpkins, corn, gourds
  26565 Road 97D, Davis, CA . Phone: 530-750-0451. Email: impossibleacres@aol.com. Open: from late May through July each year,from 9 am to 6 pm on Wednesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except if a holiday falls on a Monday; always check their website or call before you go . Directions: West of Davis, East of Winters, South of Woodland, North of Dixon. Follow signs from the corner of County Road 98 and County Road 31 \(Covell\). Call for hours; Petting zoo and school tours. Pick-your-own produce: boysenberries, blackberries, raspberries..cherries, peaches, apples..pumpkins, corn, gourds..goats, ponies, chickens..hayrides, mazes, scarecrows. Most of our produce is marketed as pick-your-own so we have set up the farm to provide easy access to the picking fields. We grow many varieties of each crop to extend the picking season, and we provide containers to pick into and scales to weigh your produce. During the various seasons we have a wonderful variety of fruits for you to pick: Boysenberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Peaches, Apples, Pumpkins, Cherries, Tomatoes, Apricots. We have small orchards and berry patches set up for people to pick their own produce. You can get tree or vine ripened apricots, plums, pluots, apriums, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, nectarines and peaches. \(Other stuff, too!\) It is hard to predict when the different . Click here for a map and directions. . . West of Davis, East of Winters, South of Woodland, North of Dixon. Follow signs from the corner of County Road 98 and County Road 31 (Covell). Call for hours; Petting zoo and school tours. Pick-your-own produce: ..goats, ponies, chickens..hayrides, mazes, scarecrows. Most of our produce is marketed as pick-your-own so we have set up the farm to provide easy access to the picking fields. We grow many varieties of each crop to extend the picking season, and we provide containers to pick into and scales to weigh your produce. During the various seasons we have a wonderful variety of fruits for you to pick: Boysenberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Peaches, Apples, Pumpkins, Cherries, Tomatoes, Apricots. We have small orchards and berry patches set up for people to pick their own produce. You can get tree or vine ripened apricots, plums, pluots, apriums, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, nectarines and peaches. (Other stuff, too!) It is hard to predict when the different crops will be ripe each year, so you never know what you might be picking when you come. There is no charge to enter the farm and parking is free. You only pay for the produce you pick.(UPDATED: May 07, 2018, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on May 23, 2010: "Last summer, I went to Impossible Acres in Yolo County (I live in Sacramento). They had a huge selection of you-pick apricots, plums, hybrids thereof, as well as tons of blackberries and some strawberries. They were friendly and easygoing and my friends and I all had a great time - not to mention that we got tasty fresh fruit for free!"
• Loving Nature Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, broad beans, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, herbs or spices, peas, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, Fresh eggs, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  38883 Z Line Road, Clarksburg, CA 95612. Phone: 916-899-1154. Email: michaelwong250@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm, all year round. Directions: On Jefferson Blvd heading south, make a right on Hamilton Road, at the end of Hamilton Road make a left on Z Line Road, go 0.4 mile and arrive at the first house on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. Loving Nature Farm . All year round for a wide selection of U-pick seasonal fruit and vegetables. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. We can grow a wide variety of all-natural vegetables on demand, lease small plots to those who are interested in growing organic food for themselves. We welcome all kinds of activities and functions by prior arrangements. We also deliver CSA boxes to homes and offices. (UPDATED: May 28, 2018, JBS)

Yuba County

• Bishop's Pumpkin Farm - Apples, pumpkins, walnuts, Corn maze.
  1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA 95692. Phone: 530-633-2568. Open: Pumpkin patch last week in September thru October 31. Click here for a map and directions. . Sunday to Thursday 9-6; Friday and Saturday 9-7. Company picnics, from April thru August. From the north, drive south on Hwy 65 to Wheatland. Turn right on 4th St and drive one half mile to the farm. From Interstate 80 east of Roseville, take Hwy 65 turnoff. Wheatland is approximately 21 miles north. Turn left on 4th St and drive one half mile to the farm. (UPDATED: May 28, 2018, JBS)

 

 

Choosing and Picking Corn

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

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