AROUND HOME : Picking Apples

THIS TIME OF YEAR, California apple fanciers (who will have none of the cold-storage variety) rummage through their closets for sensible shoes, travel to one of the many area apple ranchers and do their own picking. Or they simply drive up to apple country and purchase an abundance of freshly picked apples.

Opening today, Oct. 1, is Apple Creek Orchard, at 12215 Oak Glen Road in Yucaipa, in the heart of apple country. There, you can pick ‘Staymen Winesap’ apples, press your own cider and dip as much of your harvest as you wish in homemade caramel. The orchard is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Near Julian, another part of Southern California famous for its apples, you can pick ‘Red Delicious,’ ‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Rome Beauty,’ ‘Jonathan,’ ‘Winesap’ and ‘McIntosh’ apples--and the very rare ‘Maiden’s Blush’--at Wandering Wood Farm. Three pear varieties--’Bartlett,’ ‘Red Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’--also may be available. Ask for Roberta Woods’ pear pie recipe. Located 2 miles east of town off Highway 78 at 1804 Whispering Pines Drive, the orchards are open on weekends during October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekdays by appointment.

At Rancho Arnaz the varieties available include the semisweet ‘Antique Pearmain,’ ‘Red Delicious,’ ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Winesap.’ They also sell an excellent cider apple. Rancho Arnaz is about halfway between Ojai and Ventura on Highway 33, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their pick-your-own hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At Four Oaks Apple Ranch, 13163 Mile High Road, Cherry Valley, you can pick your own Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ranch offers a large selection, and you can buy pressed cider or press your own. At Meyer Orchards, 4200 Highway 78, halfway between Julian and Santa Ysabel, the you-pick varieties are ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Rome Beauty’; telephone (619) 765-0233 for hours. At their stand, a variety of already-picked apples will be sold through the first of the year, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

On Oct. 7 in downtown Los Olivos the Apple Harvest Festival and street dance. At the nearby Los Olivos Apple Orchard, 2665 Santa Ynez St., Los Olivos, already-picked ‘Granny Smith’ apples are available. Area apple harvest information is available by telephoning (805) 688-8785.

Parrish Ranch, 38561 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, offers many types of ready-picked apples and raw cider. Open daily year-round from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ready-picked ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘California Delicious’ apples and bulk apple juice (if the crop permits) are available at G. R. Bones Ranch, 8300 Pearblossom Highway, Littlerock; open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Nunes Ranch, 21001 Dennison Road, Tehachapi, will hold its Annual Apple Fest today, Oct. 1. Then it will sell fresh-picked apples, raw cider and gifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through December.

A large variety of fresh-picked apples is sold at The Apple Stop, 12222 Poway Road, Poway (25 minutes north of San Diego on Interstate 15), open Monday through Saturday year-round from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.