Orange groves/orchards in Southern California?

Question

Does anyone know where in the LA or San Diego area (say... within 125 miles of each city center) there is an orange grove/citrus orchard open to the public? Or where there are freshly picked California navel oranges available for purchase?

I'll be traveling to Southern California during a time when that fruit is in season. What I want to be able to do, more than anything, is either be able to pick an orange or watch someone pick an orange... and be able to eat that fresh picked orange. (I love California navel oranges)

Thanks ahead of time for any help or input!

Answer 1

I suggest a visit to the California Citrus State HIstoric Park in Riverside.

Here's a description from the park's website (http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page...

"This park preserves some of the rapidly vanishing cultural landscape of the citrus industry and to tell the story of this industry's role in the history and development of California. The park recaptures the time when "Citrus was King" in California, recognizing the importance of the citrus industry in southern California.

In the early 1900s, an effort to promote citrus ranching in the state brought hundreds of would-be citrus barons to California for the "second Gold Rush." The lush groves of oranges, lemons and grapefruit gave California another legacy - its lingering image as the Golden State - the land of sunshine and opportunity.

The design of the park is reminiscent of a 1900s city park, complete with an activity center, interpretive structure, amphitheater, picnic area, and demonstration groves. The land contained within the park still continues to produce high-quality fruits."

I believe it is operated with help from a non-profit sponsored by Sunkist, so if you can't get an orange there, I'd be shocked."

Answer 2

There are citrus groves all over Corona.  Just walk into one and pick a lemon or orange!   Most people have at least 1 citrus tree in their yard too, so if you're visiting someone, they'll have trees.  Irvine Ranch Market, or other farmer's markets, would have local produce......You might also want to go down Highway 79 in Temecula, and stop at al the wineries there for wine-tasting;  and buy good local wines (they have tours too)

Answer 3

Well I never thought about it but there must be a bunch of places all over Orange County.....