2024 Eastern Central California Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

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.

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

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

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!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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