Here are 4 orchards where you can pick your own apples in the Sacramento region this year
As the fall season is ushered in, some local farms are offering guests a chance to venture into their orchards to harvest their own apples.
Apples are the fruit of the season, especially in the Sacramento region where you’ll find people making an annual trek to El Dorado County’s Apple Hill for its apple cider doughnuts, pies and jams. Of the more than 50 farms that make up Apple Hill, some offer you-pick.
Pine-O-Mine Ranch
2620 Carson Road, Placerville; 530-212-0535
Pine-O-Mine Ranch has more than 1,000 apple trees, as well as berries and other fruits, according to its website. There are Fuji, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith apples that you can choose from.
Apple picking is $5 per person and it’s $3.75 per pound. The ranch also serves hard cider, beer and barbecue.
When is the farm open:
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday and Thursday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday
9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Argyres Orchard
4220 North Canyon Road, Camino; 530-644-3862
Argyres Orchard is home to some apple trees that are more than 70 years old.
For $20, guests can pick as many apples as they’d like, as well as eat them while picking. You can also pick grapes in five-pound pails.
The price has been the same for seven years, said Maryann Argyres, who has been the owner of the farm for 50 years.
“I want them to have fun,” she said.
Argyres said her fruits will blossom later in the season and that apple picking will likely only be open for three weekends. The first weekend will be Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, and the farm will be open for picking two weekends after that.
The orchard takes cash or check only.
When is the farm open:
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Harris Family Farm
2640 Blair Road, Pollock Pines; 530-644-2194
Harris Tree Farm has been running for more than 170 years and has been passed down seven generations, according to its website.
The farm offers you-pick for Golden Delicious apples, a wide variety of flowers — including sunflowers — berries and pumpkins. They also have apple cider, fresh eggs and a bakery where you’ll find jams, strudel, pies and other desserts.
It’s $3 per pound for apples.
When is the farm open:
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday to Sunday
Smokey Ridge Ranch
2160 Carson Road, Placerville; 530-626-5077
Smokey Ridge Ranch is a family-owned farm and has been passed down three generations.
According to the ranch website, it is home to 17 varieties of apples, pears, persimmon, five varieties of wine grapes, olives, figs, and chestnuts.
Guests can pick from Golden Delicious, Ginger Golds, Fuji, Honey Crisp, McIntosh, Jona-Golds and Jonathan apples, as well as chestnuts and flowers. The ranch also offers wine tasting and hard apple cider.
When is the farm open:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday to Sunday
What else can I pick this season?
Other farms and orchards in the area are letting people pick other fruits too, including pumpkins.
High Hill Ranch at 2901 High Hill Road, Placerville, has a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own for $0.89 a pound, according to its website. They also have apple pies, doughnuts, cider, wine tasting, hayrides and a fishing pond.
O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch at 2261 Cable Road, Camino, also has a three-acre pumpkin patch you can pick from. You’ll also find specialty gourd and squash.
Smith Family Farm at 4350 Sellers Ave, Brentwood, isn’t an Apple Hill farm, but it is offering you-pick pumpkins, pomegranates and persimmons. For $15 admission fee, you can explore the pumpkin patch, snag one pumpkin, enjoy live music and see farm animals. The pumpkin patch opens Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, cash or check only.
What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
