by Crystal Han , Images by Andy ' s Orchard

An idea that began as a way to keep farmers afloat during the Great Depression , U-Pick farms have become a seasonal highlight . It ’ s a great way to get out of the house , get some fresh air , and connect with nature in a different way than usual . Picking your own produce can feel a bit like treasure hunting as you search for the best fruit or see how you can gather – which is fun no matter how old you are . It also fosters a sense of accomplishment . ( Somehow the produce feels more important and tastes better when you put the work into picking it .)

Not only are U-Pick farms a fun outing , but they can serve as a teaching moment for kids . “ There ’ s kids that think that hamburgers are made out of meat that comes from the back of a grocery store . They don ’ t know that an animal had to give its life so that they can eat a burger ,” explained Andy Mariani , who owns and runs Andy ’ s Orchard in Morgan Hill , “ With fruit , it ’ s a nicer way to show the origins of the things they eat .” Kids get a chance to have a more visceral experience with their food when they pick it from a tree or a vine or from the ground . That , in turn , increases their appreciation for both food and for nature .

Picking produce yourself is also much healthier for you . Typically , produce is at its healthiest when it ’ s fully ripe and freshly picked , but in order for it to make it to the grocery store it is often picked before it ’ s ripe and spends a lot of time going through transportation . “ When you get cherries from a grocery store , usually they ’ re anywhere from a week to three weeks old ,” Mariani said . Considering that most produce , whether its fruit or vegetables , lose at least thirty percent of their nutrients three days after being harvested , that means you ’ re probably not getting a whole lot of vitamins and minerals from store-bought produce . Whereas , U-Pick farms allow you to literally bring fruit and vegetables from orchard to table .

In terms of cost , U-Pick farms are beneficial for both the public and farmers . “ If you analyze the percentages of every produce dollar spent , probably over eighty percent of it is not the produce itself . It ’ s the picking cost , the storage cost , the transportation cost , and the packaging cost ,” Mariani explained . All these expenses drive up the total price of produce you buy prepicked . When farmers sell their produce commercially , such as to grocery chains , they also must meet quality standards , which usually results in half of their produce being rejected . Sometimes they ’ re able to sell this secondary produce to driers or other establishments , but it doesn ’ t cover the cost it took to harvest the produce in the first place .

With U-Pick operations , however , people tend to be less nitpicky . They don ’ t mind if a piece of fruit is smaller than normal or doesn ’ t look perfect , so less of the produce goes to waste . And because farmers don ’ t have to pay harvesting and transportation fees they can charge less to the public and still make a profit .

“ People get the joy of picking it , they ’ re charged less , and they can pick exactly what they want — if they want it riper or greener ,” Mariani said .

There really isn ’ t a reason not to visit a U-Pick farm this summer , and fortunately there are many to choose from . Andy ’ s Orchard offers different events throughout the summer where people get the chance to try a variety of different cherries and stone fruits not found in grocery stores , as well as to tour and pick from the orchards . These events require reservations . However Andy ’ s Orchard will also host a traditional U-Pick for cherries this summer . Since U-Picks are dependent on weather conditions and when the produce is ripe , Mariani recommends subscribing to the Andy ’ s Orchard newsletter and checking the website for exact dates for all of their events . The same is true for U-Pick farms like Berry Island Farms , Borello Family Farms U-Pick Orchard ( Ranch 1 ), Gilroy U-Pick , Gizditch Strawberry Patch , and Tru2Earth Farms .

Wherever you choose to go , you ’ ll come home with some of the best fruit the Bay Area has to offer , as well as a greater appreciation for your local farmer . And the next time you make a berry pie , a strawberry shortcake , or simply enjoy the fruit on its own , you can proudly proclaim , “ I picked that !”

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