SLO’s Crispest Apple-Picking Spots Are Within Arm’s Reach
Apple-picking season began to delight us with its crisp, rosy baubles several weeks early this year. Orchard tenders were finding that varieties were ripening earlier than expected. Even the early-ripening, tartly-sweet Gravensteins came early to our orchards this year, which meant pies also came early — and pie lovers across the county have had to shoulder that heavy burden. But the early harvest also means it’s time to get out to the orchards with your loved ones, going early or braving the August heat with orchard-made apple cider pops and lots of water. Soon, you’ll be in your kitchen making apple butter, pies and crisps — but first, you’ll need to know which farms grow which varieties. Our handy guide will lead you to the right orchard.
Jack Creek Farms
5000 Highway 46 West, Templeton, CA 93465
Charming Jack Creek Farms, also known for its sweet summer blackberries, grows between six and twenty trees for each variety of apple. Their orchard includes Gala, Gravenstein, and Gordon apples. Take the whole family to pick from their six Gordon trees, which are loaded up with this variety that’s sweet and softer than other apples — and thus, great for smoothies, apple butter and applesauce. Visiting this multi-generational family farm is always a fun trip, especially when you leave with Olallieberry fudge, dark wildflower honey, a dozen cage-free eggs, and a bushel of Gordon apples to make homemade apple butter.
Gopher Glen Apple Farm
2899 See Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Farmed by Jake and Raven Lukehart-Smith and their son, this spot has a long history as a family farm. In the 1880s, early Mennonite settlers planted a small orchard, and those trees still grace the orchard, along with hundreds of others. In fact, Gopher Glen grows 112 different types of apples, with 65 sold at its fruit stand. The current varieties include Gravenstein, Burgundy, Gala, Tohoku, Empire, Laura Red, and Mollies Delicious, with many types peaking a couple weeks early this year. If you don’t know what you like, you can taste before you pick, since the farm store offers tastings. Their store also sells housemade apple crisp, hard cider, house-pressed fresh apple cider, and apple cider pops.
SLO Creek Farms
6455 Monte Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Forty acres of organic apples await you at SLO Creek, including Jonalicious, Empire, Early Fuji, Gala, September Wonders, Sundancers, Granny Smith, and Braeburn. This family-friendly farm is extensively involved in local community activities, including coordinating with the Food Bank Coalition and GleanSLO to glean apples for the hungry. The farm uses no pesticides on its apples, and is also home to a thriving community garden. Though you can find their apples at various local farmers markets, picking them yourself is the most exciting. Maybe while you’re there, you can even pick up a little apple brandy and hard cider — and of course, some caramel apples.
Avila Valley Barn
560 Avila Beach Drive, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 595-2816
Rustic Avila Valley Barn, located just off highway 101, is home to a splendid farm, orchard and barn — truly a one-stop shop, with everything you need for a delicious weekend repast. Stroll ten minutes down to the orchard hosting a small grove of 20 trees, where Gala and Gravenstein are yours for the picking. Wander through the orchard, snap a photo of your tots in front of some cute goats, and stop into the sweetshop and country bakery before you leave for some extraordinary apple pie, apple strudel, iced apple cider, and caramel apples. Avila Valley is practicing social distancing, limiting and distancing visitors in line. The farm also uses healthy soil practices like composting, green ground cover, animal grazing, biodiversity and a no-pesticide policy.
