California’s apple harvest is well underway, offering consumers fresh, local varieties and U-pick options
California is the nation’s fifth-largest apple producer, producing 1.5 million boxes of fruit and generating more than $105 million each year, according to the Fresno-based California Apple Commission.
The Golden State is also the second-largest exporter of apples in the United States, the commission said.
Although 75% of apples are shipped to domestic destinations, California growers expert apples to more than 27 countries, including Canada, Malaysia, Mexico and Taiwan.
However, the state’s apple harvest faces significant challenges, ranging from unpredictable weather patterns to rising fuel prices.
Here’s what shoppers should know:
Apple orchards are seen on the hill top at The Orchard at Meadow Lakes located along Auberry Road between Auberry and Shaver Lake Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 near Auberry. The Orchard at Meadow Lakes offers you-pick apples. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com How did weather impact California apple harvest?
California’s apple season “started a little earlier this year than normal” in 2026, according to California Apple Commission executive director Todd Sanders.
“Typically, our harvest begins in mid-July, but this year we got started a bit earlier due to the warm weather in the spring,” Sanders told The Fresno Bee via phone, kicking off three weeks sooner than usual.
Sanders said freezing temperatures in February and warmer spring weather adversely affected the harvest.
San Joaquin Valley farmer Jeff Colombini agreed.
“This year, we were abnormally warm during bloom. When it’s too warm, the flowers don’t live very long,” said Colombini, who has grown Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples in Lodi for the past four decades. “A lot of the flowers didn’t have a chance to get pollinated because apple flowers require bees. As a result, the crop was lighter than normal.”
Instead of harvesting Gala apples in late July or early August, “We picked everything in July,” the grower said.
Overall in California, “Our volume was down by about 25 to 30%,” Sanders said.
“Despite the reduction in quantity, the fruit quality has been exceptional,” the said. “The sweetness, firmness and finish are outstanding this year.”
Children on a school tour play on a tractor at The Orchard at Meadow Lakes near Auberry, which offers you-pick apple orchards. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Are high diesel prices hurting apple farmers?
According to Sanders, high fuel prices are hurting the entire agriculture industry in California, including apple growers.
In California, the average cost of a gallon of diesel hit $8.44 per gallon in September, setting a new record.
As of Wednesday, Oct. 14, diesel cost $8.41 a gallon on average across California, according to AAA.
“When you’re shipping apples from one location to another, they obviously go by truck, and diesel prices have impacted that,” Sanders said.
High electricity bills have also “driven up costs because we pump water to irrigate,” he said. “Combined with high diesel prices, it is having a significant impact on our profitability this year.”
Leigh Ann Spitzer from Clovis picks Red Fuji apples at The Orchard at Meadow Lakes near Auberry. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com How long will local orchards stay open for apple season?
Farm stands and U-pick orchards typically open their gates in early August and remain operational through late November, according to the California Apple Commission.
This provides locals with seasonal recreation and fresh farm produce through the Thanksgiving holiday, the industry group said.
Pink Lady apples are among the varieties grown in California’s Central Valley. Courtesy photo What are the most popular apple varieties in California?
California orchards grow nearly 7,000 varieties of apples, according to the California Apple Commission.
Gala apples lead production figures statewide followed by Granny Smith, Fuji and Pink Lady apples, according to the commission.
All are grown at the roughly 80 commercial farms in the Central Valley.
Sanders emphasized “the importance of looking for California-grown apples, as they guarantee freshness.”
“While our varieties mirror those from other regions, our growers focus entirely on fresh shipments without long-term storage, guaranteeing a 100% fresh product from orchard to consumer,” he said.
From left, Aleccia Garrido, 6; Kjera Schack, 10, and Natalie Azevedo, 9, stop at J & S Ramos Farms of Hughson’s fruit and vegetable stand to sample wedges of Pink Lady apples in November 2012. Elias Funez The Modesto Bee Which apples can I find in late fall and winter?
Late fall brings several specialty varieties to consumer markets.
One prominent example is the Modi apple, a crisp, eco-friendly cultivar originally developed in Italy and exclusively grown in California.
“It is a very good apple,” Sanders said.
Other apple varieties worth checking out include Wildfire Gala, Fuji and Pink Lady.
“Pink Lady is my favorite apple,” Colombini said. “It’s a nice blend of sweet and tart, and it’s also the best variety for apple pies.”
A family walks past orchards at The Orchard at Meadow Lakes near Auberry. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Where can I pick my own apples in the Fresno area?
According to Yelp, these were the best u-pick apple farms in the Fresno area as of October 2026:
Simonian Farms, FresnoMountain Brook Ranch, ClovisSunshine’s Farm, FresnoMeadow Lakes Apple, AuberryMasumoto Family Farm, Del ReyHome Grown Cellars, MaderaArnett Farms, FresnoBlossom Trail Fruit Stand, SangerSweet Thistle Farms, ClovisSierra Cider, Mariposa
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Gagandeep Singh is a service journalism reporter for The Fresno Bee. He holds a master’s degree in politics and global affairs from Columbia University. Prior to working at The Bee, he worked as a freelancer for CalMatters, BBC News and the Los Angeles Times. He focuses on migration, education, criminal justice and the South Asian diaspora in California.