Our u-pick season will look a little different this year with Guidelines that you must follow to keep you, your family and our staff safe. Below is a list of farms that are open this week. Some farms will require reservations while others will accept walk-ins and limiting the number of people into their orchard.
Harvest Time has long celebrated the opening of the U-Pick season in May. The harvest begins with strawberries and cherries and is followed up with a wide variety of stone-fruits and corn, to name a few of the delicious fruits and vegetables that come from our vibrant farming community. The global pandemic has put a pause on many local celebrations due to recommendations put forth for people the “Shelter-in-Place” and to practice social distancing that keeps us ‘safe at home.” Fortunately, health officials from the Contra Costa Department of Agriculture have approved the opening of our U-Pick season with proper adherence to special guidelines to keep the farms, farmers, and community members safe. Learn how you can enjoy the flavors of U-Pick this year while taking extra precautions during this unprecedented growing season.
Determine Which Farms Are Open
Keep in mind that not all of our Harvest Time members are open to the public. To ensure that the farm you desire is open for U-Pick guests, make sure you visit our “Find A Farm Page.” This page will outline which farms are open, what seasonal produce they have available, and the hours of operation.
A visit to the website before showing up at the farm will also tell you if there are any unique processes and procedures you need to follow to take advantage of the growing season. Every farm will follow the guidelines put forth by the Contra Costa Health Services and Contra Costa Department of Agriculture. However, they may also have their own precautionary measures in place for you to follow.
Be Respectful of the Rules As Outlined By Our County Regulatory Boards
It is always customary to respect the rules that farmers and our local regulatory boards put forth. However, due to the unique situation of the U-Pick season this year, there are other guidelines that you must follow to be permitted inside the orchard for picking. Please take note of the following rules.
All guests over the age of 2 must wear a mask at all times inside the orchard and waiting in line to pay. Guests under the age of 2 should not wear masks.
Do not bring bags, backpacks, or ice-chests inside the orchard. They will not be allowed.
Practice physical social distancing of at least 6-feet. You should maintain the 6-foot distance between you and other guests to the farm who are outside of your family unit. The 6-foot distance should be practiced inside the orchard and while waiting in lines.
If you touch the fruit, you pick the fruit. Do not just grab – be mindful of your preferred pieces of fruit and gently pull it. You are required to pay for all the produce you pick.
If you are bringing your children, please keep them with you at all times. These are working farms. Additionally, social distancing requires our children to practice a 6-foot distance from others.
While waiting in line, follow the designated markings points. Wait until the guest in front of you has collected their produce before you place yours down to pay.
Please contact your favorite farm for their preferred payment method. If cash, please try to bring exact change.
Extra Precautions You Can Expect From Harvest Time U-Pick Farms
As guests to the farms are asked to practice additional precautions during this U-Pick season, our farmers are also taking extra precautions to keep you and your family safe.
There will be a maximum number of guests allowed into the orchards. This will accommodate more natural social distancing practices. Plan your day accordingly to ensure you arrive at the farm at least impacted hours.
Farms will post instructions at the entrance of the orchard. These instructions will direct you to maintain 6-foot distances at all times from other guests, as well as other farm-specific rules.
Employees at the front end of the farm will direct guests to scale and pay areas to help maintain social distancing guidelines. Many farms will have designated cones or marking on the floor to indicate 6-foot increments.
Surfaces will be disinfected and sanitized regularly. These surfaces include tables, pay area, reusable bins and buckets, shared tools, railings, etc.
Checkout stations will meet distancing guidelines.
When possible, farms will provide handwashing stations and/or offer hand sanitizer to customers. Many farms will ask that you wash your hands before entering and upon leaving the farms.
Employees of the farm will be encouraged to follow respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.
U-Pick Will Provide Fresh, Flavorful Fruits and Vegetables
There is no doubt that the year has been full of challenges. Quickly changing recommendations and interest over the well-being of the community has planted much concern for many of us. However, the one thing we can commit to is ensuring there are fresh, flavorful, and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables available to you from our Harvest Time members. The guidelines are different this year – however, the quality of our products is exactly as you remember it.
Be sure to reach out to us if you have any questions. Reach out to your preferred farms and begin to schedule your day of U-Pick.
We encourage you to follow us on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM as we will be providing updates, along with a list of farms that will be offering fresh pre-picked options.
The following are best practices to help U-Pick farms maintain the health and safety of employees and guests while on the farm during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pay with Credit/Debit or other electronic payment method if possible
All guests must wear face-covering per County Health Directive. No entry without it (must supply your own)
Recommend guests wear gloves to protect you and others
If you show signs of illness please stay home or do not enter the farm.
Increase the frequency of handwashing and sanitizing, especially after touching public surfaces.
Wash or disinfect all products purchased before consumption
Don’t touch or pick fruit/products unless you intend to purchase it
Maintain at least 6 feet social distancing between other farm visitors and staff at all times
The farm is limited to a small number of guests at a time, so be prepared to wait.
Personal bags, containers, or ice chests are prohibited
Group gatherings on the farm are prohibited
No picnics or food consumption is allowed
Be prepared to wait until the customer in front of you has completed purchase before approaching the scale or pay area
Wash hands before and after interacting with anyone
Stay informed and responsible by checking updates purchase it on the CDC website as well as the Contra Costa Health website.
There has been no known transmission of COVID-19 through fresh produce. It is a respiratory virus that spreads through person-to-person contact. It is crucial that all guests take a proactive approach to avoid the spread of the virus.
The following are best practices to help U-Pick farms maintain the health and safety of employees and guests while on the farm during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Require employees to wear gloves when handling money and, if possible, use cards to limit the handling of cash.
Require all employees and guests wear face-covering per County Health Directive (eff. 4/22/20)
Ensure that all workers who show signs of illness stay home.
Review all health and safety rules with employees.
Increase the frequency of handwashing and sanitizing, especially after handling cash.
Disinfect all surfaces on a regular basis.
Provide increased handwashing stations and/or sanitizer to all guests and employees.
Require all guests sanitize or wash hands before entering the field
Enforce social distancing between farm visitors and also staff near the entrance, checkout, and exit
Enforce social distancing between farm visitors and also staff near the entrance, checkout and exit.
Consider using online ticketing to schedule u-pick times
Establish and maintain a maximum number of customers in picking area to maximize social distancing and avoid overcrowding
Place markers where guests line up to indicate 6ft spacing
Buckets can be replaced with single-use bags
Ask customers to wait until the customer in front of them has finished completed their purchase before approaching the scale or pay area.
Modify procedures to make interactions as “Contact-Free” as possible
Communicate all rules with visitors through increased signage in prominent locations on the farm.
Communicate with visitors that if they feel ill, they should not come to the farm.
Postpone all large gatherings to avoid crowds.
Post additional signage reminding customers to wash all produce well before consuming.
Communicate your enhanced practices to customers by posting on social media, newsletters, or website.
Stay informed and responsive by checking updates on the CDC website as well as the Contra Costa Health website. https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/
There has been no known transmission of COVID-19 through fresh produce. It is a respiratory virus that spreads through person-to-person contact. It is crucial that all farms take a proactive approach to avoid the spread of the virus.
Meredith Nunn leaves behind a legacy of love, joy, and agriculture. Born and raised in the open fields of Brentwood, Meredith is a piece of the Brentwood landscape. Meredith was the daughter of farmer George Stanley and grew up learning and working in fruit orchards and her family’s fruit stands. From her father’s farm, she blossomed into a recognized farmer, an entrepreneur, and a woman dedicated to giving back to the community she was raised in.
Meredith and her older brother, Stan Nunn.
Growing Up in Brentwood
Meredith always considered Brentwood home. Her family has long been embedded in the farming community. Her father was a long-time farmer and taught Meredith the foundation of farming and running a fruit stand. And, like generations of children raised in Brentwood, Meredith spent her summer working at her father’s roadside fruit stand. There, not only did she gain a sense of business, she began to make a name for herself in the community. People remembered her for the playful child exploring orchards and the old downtown Brentwood, but also for the compassionate, loving, and kind-hearted woman who had a passion for farming, but a heart for people.
The Iconic Big Red Barn
Nearly 40 years ago, Meredith opened up Farmer’s Daughter’s Produce, which has become an iconic landmark within the Brentwood community. Most everyone is familiar with the large red barn that had an expansive variety of produce and coffee for commuters heading out of town. Meredith was known for energy, excitement, and attention to her customers. She also had an innate ability to remember customer’s orders and fruit preferences. When you stopped at Farmer’s Daughter’s you felt like family. Farmer’s Daughter Produce evolved into the warm welcome into Brentwood for visitors stopping in and for community members returning home from work.
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com
Making a Mark on the Agricultural Community
The success of Farmer’s Daughter’s produce is said to have spurred agrotourism in Brentwood and the surrounding farming community. Meredith was a longtime member of the Harvest Time community while serving multiple terms on the leadership board as president. Her father, past mayor of Brentwood and Harvest Time founder, George Nunn, embedded in her a passion for the farming community – a baton she graciously took from him and passed on to her nephew, current Harvest Time VP Sam Nunn. Her business acumen paired with her agricultural knowledge was a powerful partnership. She was able to showcase the agricultural products of the community in a consumer-friendly way that just hadn’t existed before. She also contributed to 4H, FFA, the Brentwood Cornfest, the California State Fair and the Contra Costa Fair. There is little doubt that the passion and insight Meredith brought into the local agricultural community elevated the landscape to where it is today.
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com
More Than Just A Friendly Farmer
Meredith loved to give back to the community she lived in. Outside of serving on the Harvest Time board, Meredith was an active Lion’s Club member and dedicated time to special events and fundraisers. She held a special place in her heart for the Special Kid’s Day and Diabetes fundraiser sponsored by the Lion’s Club. She also hosted fundraising events at her farm, collected toys for underprivileged children in the community, and was always excited, and willing to volunteer and donate to local students and school events. Meredith also loved bringing people to experience the farm. It was said that Meredith had a knack for connecting people to the farm for the first time.
Meredith will always be remembered for her love of Brentwood and the Brentwood agricultural community. Her close friends and family will celebrate her passion for race cars, Disneyland, education, traveling, and children. The Harvest Time community will forever remember Meredith for her contagious joy and unending desire to expand and support the farming region in Contra Costa. There is no doubt she will be missed. However, her impact and inspiration will long impact the direction of the farming community.
Meredith with nephew, Sam Nunn, and his now-wife, Sara Nunn. Meredith threw Sara the most beautiful Bridal Shower at her barn to welcome Sara to the “Farmer’s Daughter Club!”
Honey is considered nature’s candy. The sweet nectar can be floral, fruity, spicy, nutty or even earthy and is enjoyed raw, in teas, or in cooking and baking as a natural sweetener. The benefits of enjoying honey are overwhelming. We are lucky enough to have several Harvest Time farmers who provide local, raw honey to our community. Here are the reasons why you should visit a Harvest Time farm or farm store and purchase local honey.
The Health Benefits of Eating Local Honey
We all know honey is delicious. What is more exciting is that consuming local honey brings many overlooked health benefits. First, you need to purchase raw honey. Raw honey is different than the typically processed honey you might find in a supermarket. Raw honey has not been processed and still contains the natural vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties that are otherwise filtered out during pasteurization processes. Plus, raw honey contains a blend of local pollens that can strengthen your immune system and reduce allergy symptoms. Other health benefits of consuming local raw honey include:
Healing properties. Adding local, raw honey to tea will soothe a sore throat and kill bacteria that is causing the sore throat in the first place.
Reduce lifespan of a cold
Work as a natural antiseptic. A bit of local, raw honey on a small wound will speed healing, diminish swelling, and reduce scarring.
Will tame the stomach flu.
Consuming Local Honey WIll Help Bee Populations
Outside of keeping you healthy, purchasing and consuming local, raw honey will help support bee populations. A dwindling bee population has been a daunting reality for several years. Honey bees play an important role in the pollination of important crops. Without pollinating bees, farming and food production will come to a grinding halt. When you take the time to purchase local honey, you are supporting local honey producers and bee populations.
Purchase Local, Raw Honey
There are several Harvest Time farms and farm stores where you can purchase local, raw honey. You will be able to benefit from the health advantages of consuming local, raw honey offers while supporting the local farm community and economy. To learn which Harvest Time farmers have local honey for sale, visit our farm finder page.
Local Honey at Gursky Ranch
Local Honey from McCauley Olive Groves Photo Credit to Ron Essex
Local Honey from Loose Rooster
Local Honey Can Be Found at Our Local Farms and Farm Stores
California is in the midst of a moderate drought after a very dry winter season. According to the United States Drought Monitor, 46% of California is considered abnormally dry, while 10% of the state is in a moderate drought. Our Harvest Time farmers are dependent on rainy winters for abundant spring and summer harvests. Luckily, our farmers are already beginning to see the beautiful blossoms of almonds – which means a healthy spring harvest is on the way. This is because our farmers have been proactive with their farming techniques.
The Impact Drought Can Be Severe
The impact of drought on farmers, and farming communities, can be drastic. The impact of a drought, even a moderate one, can be described as either direct or indirect. The first line of impact for farmers means that crops cannot thrive if there is not enough water. In fact, severe drought of the last decade has shown how devastating drought can be. Farmers lose crops, which means they cannot continue to employ a team or contribute back to the economy. Harvest Time farmers have all been impacted by drought. And because they understand the severity, our farmers have made important progress in land and crop management to prepare for drought.
Water and Land Management Strategies
Our farmers all have a good drought plan in place. This year we are only experiencing an abnormally dry winter. However, in considering worsening conditions, our farmers have completed a significant amount of work on their farms. Water and land management upgrades have included:
Updated and upgraded irrigation systems.
The construction of water storage systems.
Installation of water measurement tools that keep track of water use.
The use of conservation of tillage to increase soil moisture and reduce evaporation.
Application of conservation practices that reduce runoff from the soil.
Crop management strategies are also in play. Not only are water and land managed closely, but our farmers also plant crops that can hold water, withstand dryness and sometimes can even be dry-farmed! Interestingly, many of the olive groves and vineyards are dry-farmed, meaning they are not dependent on water at all!
Spring Blossoms Mean Farming Success
Urban Edge Farms – Spring BlossomsUrban Edge Farms – Spring Blossoms
Even though there are discussions in the news of the dry state of California, our Harvest Time farmers are already seeing the blossoms on almond trees! Soon after the almond blossoms, we will be seeing the brilliantly colored blossoms of cherries, peaches, plums, and other favorite stone fruits. Because of responsible farming strategies and proactive cultivation and water use, we will be able to enjoy a lush harvest this year. As the winter soon warms into spring, we will all be enjoying farm stands, U-picks farms, and the best flavors of local produce. Be sure to follow Harvest Time on Facebook and Instagram to learn when farms have produced and check in regularly at Harvest Time.
Sample award-winning wines without leaving the comfort of the community at our Harvest Time wineries and tasting rooms. The elusive San Francisco Wine Competition hosted over 1000 wineries and 6,700 wines, from 35 states at the 2020 competition. It is the largest American wine competition in the world, which makes it even more special that so many of our local wines won top awards.
Congratulations to Harvest Time Wineries and Vineyards for taking home a total of 26 medals!
A Bit About the San Francisco Wine Competition
Interestingly, the competition was founded in the 1980s as the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition. After growing in size, the organization partnered with the San Francisco Chronicle to bring the competition to San Francisco and continue to grow the competition. The competition is open to all commercial wineries in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who make wines with North American grapes.
The judging process at the competition is what sets this competition apart from other, smaller competitions. Over 60 expert judges use what is known as “West Coast style’ judging to determine winners. The sophisticated judging system entails a five-member panel which includes a winemaker, a wine trade representative, a wine writer or wine media professional. Wines are poured behind the scene by professional wine volunteers who bring wines to the judges in flights, with wine glasses numbered to correspond to the individually numbered bottles in the back. Judges come to a consensus for individual awards through a facilitated discussion by a professional panel coordinator. The process is slow and tedious but demonstrates credibility for winning wines.
Proceeds from the San Francisco Wine Competition support the non-profit Cloverdale Citrus Fair and support wine and food education at various educational institutions and non-profit organizations.
DOUBLE GOLD – 2015 Barbera
GOLD – 2017 Souzao
GOLD – 2016 Zinfandel
SILVER – 2016 Tinta de Vida
SILVER – 2017 Valdepena
SILVER – 2017 Knightsen Ruby
SILVER – 2015 Zero Manipulation Red Wine
SILVER – 2015 Zinfandel
BRONZE – 2018 Touriga Nacional
BRONZE – 2017 Diablo Sunset
Where You Can Taste Award-Winning Contra Costa Wines
There are many ways you can experience the flavors of the award-winning wines of Harvest Time members.
Bloomfield Wines: Award-winning wines that are served at many local restaurants and bars and enjoyed at Brentwood’s Coco County Wine Bar.
Brentwood’s Coco County Wine Bar: Coco’s winebar is a downtown location where you can sample the wines of local winemakers while enjoying live music and downtown festivities.
Campos Family Vineyards: With inviting outdoor space and an expansive meeting and event center inside, Campos Family Vineyards provides the details that promise an exquisite family-friendly wine tasting experience.
Petersen Vineyards: The variety of estate wines produced at Petersen Vineyards include a variety of red wines, ports, rose and white. They pride themselves in their Zero MOG production process.
Local Restaurants that are Associate Members of Harvest Time also carry wines from our local wineries and vineyards:
As the holidays sneak up, it is the perfect time to think about the exciting variety of farm stores of Harvest Time. Harvest Time farm stores offer the tastes, treats, and delicacies that make the holiday season unique. Even better, our Farm Stores provide items that are ideal for gifting. Here are some Farm Stores you should visit this holiday season.
Farm Stores
The variety of farm stores represented through Harvest Time provides an appealing shopping experience. They also ensure that the perfect specialty gift is available.
Gursky Ranch: Gursky Ranch has been a part of the agricultural community of Brentwood for many decades. The farm store specializes in gift baskets filled with local nuts, chocolates, dried fruits, honey, seasoning, culinary sauces and marinades, and local olive oils and vinegar. The artists at Gursky Ranch can weave your favorite specialty foods into magnificently designed gift baskets.
McCauley Olive Grove Olive Store: This store has a large display of beautifully designed specialty gift baskets. The store showcases a variety of extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar. You will also find a variety of pasta, local honey, stuffed olives, and olive-oil based soaps and lotions.
Smith Family Farm: At Smith Family Farm, you can spend the afternoon finding the perfect Christmas tree on their Christmas tree lot with fresh Douglas, Noble, and Nordmann firs. Then stop by the barn for photos with Santa and end your visit to the Country Store. Inside the store, you will be overwhelmed with the spectacular selection of holiday decorations, stocking stuffers, handmade gifts from local artisans, handmade wreaths, and garlands.
Tess’ Community Farm Market and Shop: A visit to the Farm Market and Shop will bring you to a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, California wines, and a variety of California specialty canned goods, spices, teas, and gift cards.
The Urban Edge Farm Store: The Urban Edge Farm Store offers fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables grown locally, sustainably, and organically. They also provide a variety of local honey, olive oil, pickles, soaps, sweet pies, homemade bread from a local cottage bakery, and other seasonal treats. The Urban Edge Farm Store also showcases and sells art from local artists.
Wineries and Vineyards
Harvest Time also has a variety of local Contra Costa wine-growers and wine-makers. A bottle of wine is a quintessential gift for dinners and family get-togethers. With unexpected guests, stocking up your wine cellar with local wines is ideal.
Bloomfield Wines:Bring home a bottle of award-winning red and white wines. OFFER: 20% off wines from Saturday, November 23rd to November 27th.
Campos Family Vineyards: This is a family-friendly event center with unforgettable sunsets where you can share estate wines with a purpose to the local community. OFFER: Case Sale from November 8 – December 29th
Hannah Nicole Winery: This local winery offers quality wines from a gorgeous event center. Wine clubs, ticketed events, and weddings are all available at this local winery. OFFER: $200 for a case of available Red Varietals and $125 a case for the Rose! (While supplies last) **Only available in the tasting room.
McCauley Estate Vineyards: This vineyard is an exquisite event center with a barrel room, gazebo overlooking a beautiful pond, and estate wines for your enjoyment.
Orchard and Vine: A Nunn Family Winery: Orchard and Vine offer gift boxes of estate wines and olive oils. The convenience of online ordering makes this an ideal option for gifting.
Petersen Vineyards: This vineyard is tucked quietly away in Knightsen and offers wine-tasting, live music, gift certificates, and a wine club. Enjoy the flavors of full-bodied wines from sustainable vineyards and wine-making processes.
Tamayo Family Vineyards: Tamayo Family Vineyards is a protected Harvest Certified Sustainable Vineyard and estate wines at their estate grounds during special events.
Learn More About Harvest Time Farms
Just as it is essential to support our local farmers during the summer harvest season, the holidays are another vital season. When you shop at local farm stores and wineries, you not only are supporting the farm community, you are supporting the local community at large. By shopping locally for items on your holiday list, you are helping stimulate the local economy and keep business booming! Plus, small businesses keep our community vibrant with fresh, unique, and one-of-a-kind gift items that are just not readily available anywhere else.
The members of Harvest Time offer a tasty variety of treats for the holiday season. Whether you want to indulge yourself or share the rich flavors from our local farms, you can trust that the farms of Harvest Time will have precisely the gift you are looking for.
Harvest Time members in East Contra are going all out to provide holiday activities, a bit of learning, and a whole lot of fun for the kids this fall.
From corn mazes to pumpkin patches, from pomegranates to pecan pie, your family can enjoy the best of what fall has to offer without leaving town. Special arrangements can also be made for schools, daycare providers or other youth groups to visit some members’ farms for an educational field trip.
Here are some of the things to check out:
Smith’s Family Farms
Smith’s Family Farms will be open from Sept. 28 to Oct. 31. Their Fall Activities list includes live music, encounters with farm animals, an observation beehive, an herb garden where you can make a bouquet to take home, a replica Native American village and a natural atmosphere you can only find on a real, working farm. A mile-long hayride takes visitors to our pumpkin patch, where each visitor gets their own pumpkin of any size. Pumpkins are free with admission, with additional pumpkins for sale at our fruit stand.
Smith Family Farms’ award-winning U-Pick also sells pomegranates and persimmons, and their stand is stocked with summer and fall produce like strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, apples, and butternut squash.
For more information, contact them at (925) 625-3544 or (925) 625-5966 or www.smithfamilyfarm.com
The Three Nunns
The Three Nunns Pumpkin Patch. Located at the corner of Vasco Road and Marsh Creek Road, a pumpkin patch with more than 25 varieties, and interactive corn maze are both great activities to explore the farm and let off some energy. There are tractor rides, too, and schools, daycares, and other groups are invited to enjoy a fun and educational group outing.
Also available is a variety of fresh produce, including pomegranates, cucumbers, watermelons, bell peppers, cantaloupes, peppers, and decorative corn stalks and olive branches.
From Marsh Creek Road turn north onto Old Marsh Creek Road and follow the signs until you see the farm stand. Please park along Old Marsh Creek Road or within designated parking areas. Cash or credit cards are accepted. Call 925.550.0870 or visit www.threenunns.com
G&S Farms
Activities are scheduled through Halloween at G&S include their giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, and classes in carving or painting pumpkins. They also offer grade-appropriate education programs and field trips, which include farm tours, one pumpkin per student for take-home learning, and crafts upon request. These customizable experiences tailored to your classroom curriculum and student interests.
A local tradition, G&S (Ghiggeri and Stonebarger) is run by third-generation farmers, who in the 1990s became the first to grow the famous Brentwood Diamond sweet corn, now enjoyed all across the country.
G&S Farms is located at 2490 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood. For more information, call 916.717.8143, or visit www.gsfarms.net/u-pick-pumpkins
Gursky Ranch
One of Harvest Time’s original members, Gursky Ranch is a 3-acre farm holdout in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Stop in and pick some pomegranates or walnuts, and pick up a fresh pumpkin for carving or for cooking. There’s also a wide variety of gift baskets, or the friendly folks at the Ranch will put something custom for you.
Nuts, dried fruit, and gourmet food items are also available at Gursky’s, where they provide not only fall specials, but year-round access to delicious offerings by ordering through their web site or by phone. Store hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit (925) 634-4913. gurskyranch.com
Dwelley Family Farms
Growing in Brentwood since 1921, Dwelley Family Farms offers a large variety of organic as well as conventionally grown produce. Organic offerings at Dwelley’s currently include 5 varieties of Green beans, sweet corn, summer and winter squashes. Conventionally grown products include Sweet Corn, 5 varieties of green beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, pluots and much more including the amazing fruit pies. For Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating, come check out their varieties of decorative Pumpkins and colored corn.
This fall, the 5th-generation family farm has extended its season’s hours to be open Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information. call (925) 634-6508 or visit http://54.245.40.194/dwelley-farms/.
Dwelley’s address is 515 Delta Road in Oakley.
Click on the map below to view a map of all farms offering Fall Events and Activities.
It seems that when the weather starts to shift, people are motivated to get out and explore what the world has to offer. As we leave the hot days of summer, the cooler fall temperatures mean we can get back outside to enjoy the local backroads of Contra Costa County. Today, we are excited to share three fall events that allow us to celebrate the Fall season.
FALL HARVEST
Fall Harvest is a celebration of pumpkins, hayrides, tractors rides and the chance to get lost in a giant corn maze. This year, the farms of Harvest Time are coming together to celebrate their first Fall Harvest. Families, young and old, are invited out to explore our local farms.
Three Nunns Farm – Harvest Time Brentwood
To welcome the fall, families can spend a day finding the perfect pumpkin at one of several U-pick pumpkin farms. You can treat your kids to a tractor ride, or enjoy a tour around a farm on a good old fashioned hayride. Before you leave the farms for the day, make sure you enjoy the adrenaline rush of making your way through an enormous corn maze.
U-Pick Pumpkins at G&S farms
Several other ways you can enjoy Fall Harvest is by enjoying the tomato Harvest, enjoying locally grown fall veggies, or visit one of the farm stores to bring home local honey, treats or a beautifully prepared gift basket. Schools that are interested in introducing their students to Fall Harvest can schedule a day at one of several farms.
When you are looking for a way to spend the day with your family, visit 54.245.40.194/ and learn which farms are participating to schedule your visit.
Contra Costa Winegrowers Vintner’s Dinner
Another way to welcome Fall into East County is by attending the annual Contra Costa WinegrowersVintner’s Dinner. This is a perfect event for all of you looking for a special night out. For families with young kids at home, book a babysitter and get ready for a night centered on enjoying award-winning wines from Contra Costa wine growers paired with a specially designed menu at one of East County’s only waterfront fine dining restaurants.
Photo by Ron Essex
When it comes to one-of-a-kind experiences, Vintner’s dinners are at the top of the list. You will enjoy a marvelous evening as our local winemakers share the stories and flavors of their wines. In an intimate setting, you will be treated to special wines that flow as freely as the conversation, outstanding culinary flavors, and spectacular waterfront setting. EachVintner’s Dinnerhas its own unique experience, carefully crafted by your hosts. After spending a stunning evening at this annual Contra Costa winegrowers event, you will be ready to purchase tickets for next year.
Oktoberfest is an agricultural celebration that has its roots planted over 200 years ago in Munich Germany. Brentwood’s Oktoberfest is a free, family-friendly event that is held in the downtown City Park. At this event, you can expect many of the traditional Oktoberfest activities, such as live German music and dancing, a stein-hoisting race, lederhosen, German brats, pretzels and a large sampling of beer and wine for you to enjoy while exploring the different vendors and activities set up throughout the downtown Brentwood corridor.
Oktoberfest Brentwood CA
While looking for ways to welcome in the Fall, Oktoberfest allows you to spend the day with your family downtown. While children play at City Park, parents can sit back and enjoy live music and traditional drinks under the shade of the trees. A VIP experience is also offered, which includes drink tokens, beer or wine mug, access to private restrooms, a T-shirt and a VIP lanyard. To learn more about the event and purchase your VIP experience, visit the Downtown Brentwood Coalititions event page.
Enjoy Local Fall Events
There are so many ways to welcome the spirit of fall in with the variety of fall events we have in East Contra Costa County. You can choose from family-friendly events, with options for picture-perfect Fall memories to exquisite evenings out to celebrate you and a loved one…and everything in between. Fall is a wonderful time to be in Contra Costa County. Make sure you follow our events calendar to never miss a way to welcome the spirit of Fall.
Nunn Better Farms is the brand many people associate with Nunn Family Farms. Boasting a delicious variety of plump cherries, they are a ‘go-to’ name when it comes to u-pick and pre-picked Brentwood cherries. In fact, the family has been an integral piece of the agricultural history of Contra Costa. Recently, the Nunn family took an exciting step to expand their agricultural offerings to include vineyards, which produce their five red wines. The family’s commitment to growth and a new type of harvest shows a steadfast passion for the land and a respect for the areas agricultural roots – all which culminates in the announcement that their inaugural vintage, from a 2016 harvest, is available for purchase.
Nunn Family Farms Expands into Wines
The Nunn family is passionate about each wine coming to the Contra Costa wine market, all which are available for purchase on their website and through email. Wines include a bold and intense Cabernet Sauvignon; a Merlot noted for its smooth, fruity finish; and a Mourvedre that is intensely flavored, with wild and earthy tones. The Nunn family is also adding two red blends to the family of Contra Costa wines, including a Rincon Red blend, and the Orchard & Vine blend. With each tasting, prepare to be enveloped by the warmth and comfort of the Nunn family.
What makes these wines special to the Contra Costa wine scene is that the Nunn Family wines are truly estate wines. This means that every drop of every wine produced by the Nunn family is made from grapes grown by the Nunn’s at the Orchard and Vine vineyards. As many winemakers depend on the grapes of other growers to complete their vintages, the Nunn family is proud to produce wine that is made purely from their own grapevines.
The Orchard & Vine Brand
The Orchard & Vine brand represents the ‘coming-soon’ tasting room, winery, vineyard, and small farm store. You may have seen signs along Walnut Blvd, reading “Orchard & Vine #55” that lead to the Nunn Family cherry orchards. The #55 designates the Harvest Time stop – while the long winding road that brings you to the middle of the cherry orchard is where the winery and tasting room are touted to open. A quiet creek runs along the backside of the property, where visitors will be able to take in the fresh essence of the orchard as they enjoy the surprisingly smooth flavors of the 2016 vintages. For now, the Harvest Time stop is allocated to cherries, but soon – #55 will also designate the way to a quaint and peaceful tasting experience, unique to Brentwood as a well as a cozy farm store where Harvest Time visitors can make purchases reflective of the agricultural roots of the community.
Photo by Ron Essex Photography
Photo by Ron Essex Photography
A Harvest Time Delight
Orchard & Vine and the Nunn Family Farms are eager to bring their wines to Harvest Time this year! The rich soils of Contra Costa have long been celebrated as ideal for growing. From cherries, apricots, corn, and strawberries, the land has long produced some of the best produce around. Recently, wines have become part of the growing landscape and are an ideal balance to the Harvest Time community.
Today, as you follow Walnut Blvd toward Vasco road, you will see rolling hills lined harmoniously with 15 varietal grapevines that will ultimately be made into 5 different Nunn Family wines. Be sure that stop #55 is on your list. Not only will you find the beloved Nunn Better cherries you grew up with, but you will also soon have the opportunity to explore the taste of Nunn Family Farms at Orchard & Vine with one of five delectable red Contra Costa wines.
Meredith and her older brother, Stan Nunn.
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com 
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com 
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com 
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com
Photo Credit to RonEssexphotography.com
