Photos by Foskett Creative Photography Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek

Visit these Arizona farms for baskets of fresh “u-pick” produce year-round.

Some shoppers avoid the fluorescent-lit aisles of chain grocery stores in favor of buying produce from growers at Valley farmers’ markets. But others skip the markets altogether and trek straight to the farm to pluck velvety peaches right off the branch, load up bags with sweet corn or apples, and brave the thorns to fill baskets with juicy berries.

The rugged pleasure of picking your own fruit and vegetables – known as “u-pick” in farm lingo – lures both D.I.Y.-types keen on the dirt-cheap prices (usually around $1.50 or $2 a pound) and home cooks who appreciate the unparalleled flavor and freshness of just-ripe, in-season foods. Bring friends or family along, and u-pick becomes an educational and entertaining day trip.

“You’re going to love the food so much more if you’re able to pick it or pull it right from the ground,” says Carrie Schnepf, who owns Schnepf Farms, a fourth-generation family farm in Queen Creek, with her husband, Mark. “It’s fun to make a day of it.”

Schnepf says she’s seen a shift in people’s attitudes about eating, and nowadays, more folks want to know where their food comes from.

“I’m speaking to an international group of farmers in February about u-pick and how it’s evolved,” she says. “We were actually the largest ‘truck farm’ in the state – meaning everything we grew was actually shipped out of state or out of the country. But then the economy changed and we said, ‘We gotta do something else if we’re gonna keep this around,’ so about 20 years ago, we started doing bigger crops for u-pick, and tried to make the farm more of a destination.”

 

Now, Schnepf Farms is perhaps the largest agritourist attraction in the state, with seven to 10 acres devoted to u-pick, along with tours, train rides and numerous festivals throughout the year.

Most Arizona farms that offer u-pick are much smaller operations, like RichCrest Farms in Cochise, which has been run by Etta Sechrest and Tom Richardson for roughly half of  its 40-year existence. Since their primary focus is selling produce at farmers’ markets in Tucson and other areas, they offered u-pick by appointment only in 2011.

Once at the farm, customers will find a cornucopia of vegetables: “Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, leafy greens – pretty much anything you can think of, from around June until October to November, depending on the first frost,” Sechrest says.

If the timing sounds vague, well, that’s Mother Nature for you. Since weather affects crop yields, it’s always a good idea for customers to call ahead to find out what’s harvestable and in season.

“They’ll come in January for watermelon, and aren’t too happy when we offer them arugula,” says Laurel Loew, who runs Agua Linda Farm with her husband about 30 minutes south of Tucson. 

While some farms provide bags or baskets, customers are usually encouraged to bring their own materials to transport fresh fruit and vegetables (cardboard boxes for peaches, baskets for berries, and bags for everything else). Sneakers or other closed-toe shoes are highly recommended, as are jeans or long pants, hats and sunscreen.

Ready to hit the road to gather ingredients for your next great meal? These Arizona farms will be happy to let you reap your own delicious harvest.

Apple Annie’s Produce & Pumpkins

COCHISE COUNTY
Apple Annie’s Orchard
Seven varieties of apples and peaches and two kinds of pears inhabit John and Anne Holcomb’s fruit tree orchard, and all are u-pick from July through October. If you happen to show up hungry, there’s also an on-site bakery, fudge kitchen and Burger Barn, where you can dig into an apple-smoked burger or an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. 2081 W. Hardy Rd., Willcox, 520-384-2084, appleannies.com

Apple Annie’s Produce & Pumpkins
The Holcombs’ vegetable farm, open daily from July through October, produces a wide range of u-pick crops, such as cucumbers, summer squash, green beans, sweet corn, bell and chile peppers, melons, tomatoes and pumpkins. There’s also a jam-packed event schedule, including the annual Fall Pumpkin Celebration and huge corn maze. 6405 W. Williams Rd., Willcox, 520-384-4685, appleannies.com

Brown’s Orchard
Along with four varieties of pears and 12 varieties of apples offered for u-pick August through mid-November, the nearly 50-year-old, pesticide-free orchard features just-pressed apple cider at its Sweet Cider Bar, as well as fresh lamb fed a diet of apples, pears and grass. 5774 N. Atwood Rd., Willcox, 520-384-3671, youpickapples.com

RichCrest Farms
Etta Sechrest and Tom Richardson’s farm, situated between Benson and Willcox in southern Arizona, produces a wide range of vegetables for u-pick, offered by appointment between June and October. By summer 2012, look for farm stays at a remodeled guest house and new adobe house on the property. 2768 N. Evelyn Ln., Cochise, 520-826-3434, richcrestfarms.blogspot.com

Date Creek Ranch

MARICOPA COUNTY
Date Creek Ranch 
This place is renowned for its natural grass-fed beef, but it also boasts orchards planted more than 35 years ago; the u-pick bounty includes apples, pears and peaches. To get to the ranch, take US 60 to Wickenburg, then Highway 93 north to Date Creek Ranch Road. Turn right at mile marker 177.5 and continue four miles on the dirt road to the ranch. 928-231-0704, datecreekranch.com

Fenway Park Orchards
From mid-May until early July, Allen and Carol Way’s farm – located less than 30 minutes from Sun City and Surprise – showcases four types of peaches, two types of apples, and blackberries. Ninety-five percent of their business is u-pick, but they’ll pick for those who aren’t able to do it themselves. 42610 Highway 60, Morristown (1/2 mile past Route 74), 623-388-2603, fenwayparkorchards.com

Mother Nature’s Farm
When Wade and Caroline Kelsall aren’t busy growing apples, peaches, pumpkins and a variety of vegetables available for u-pick, they’re promoting all kinds of family fun on the farm, from a spring social to a peach festival to a fall hay maze. 1663 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert, 480-892-5874, mothernaturesfarm.com

Schnepf Farms
Designated an “Arizona Treasure” in 2006, Schnepf Farms offers u-pick September through June, with pesticide-free green beans, lettuce, squash, radishes, apricots, plums and peaches galore. Festivals, tours, rides and a country store make this a year-round destination. 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., Queen Creek, 480-987-3100, schnepffarms.com

Vertuccio Farms
Founded in 1979 by Italian immigrants, this Mesa family farm has u-pick peaches available daily from May 1 until mid-June. Bring your own baskets. The farm also hosts guided field trips, a corn maze and  a fall festival. 4011 S. Power Rd., Mesa, 480-650-6606, vertucciofarms.com

Forever Yong Farm

PIMA COUNTY
Forever Yong Farm
Sustainably farmed for more than 100 years by its original settlers, the Moyza family, this certified-natural farm showcases four varieties of garlic at its early summer garlic festival (participants who help harvest receive a bundle of garlic) and u-pick pumpkins in October. 33225 S. Moyza Ranch Rd., Amado, 520-398-8030, foreveryongfarm.com

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Agua Linda Farm
Stewart and Laurel Loew’s idyllic, 63-acre organic farm features fresh produce for u-pick nine months of the year, including spring snow peas and fava beans; summer zucchini, okra and peppers; and fall pumpkins and squash. The farm also hosts tours, festivals, and a farm store stocked with jams, chutney, local honey, organic eggs, and beef. 2643 E. Frontage Rd., Amado, 520-891-5532, agualindafarm.net

YAVAPAI COUNTY
Mortimer Family Farms
In 2011, Gary and Sharla Mortimer began farming the old Young’s Farm location and have brought back the famous sweet corn, plus other summer crops, including tomatoes, peppers and squash. Harvest starts in late June. Fall brings pumpkins, gourds and winter squash. 12907 E. State Route 169 (southeast corner of Hwy. 69 and 169), Dewey-Humboldt, 928-830-1116, mortimerfamilyfarms.com

YUMA COUNTY
Silvas Farms
Sandy and Lee Silvas’ farm near Yuma offers u-pick bounties twice a year. In January and February, look for tangelos, lemons and grapefruit. May and June bring blackberries, peaches and apples. Visit their website to sign up for email updates and to find a prized blackberry or peach cobbler recipe. 3392 W. County 16 1/2 St., Somerton, 928-446-8706, silvasfarms.com

INFO: For the Arizona Farm Bureau’s month-by-month guide to in-season Arizona produce, visit fillyourplate.org/produce-season.html