California Apple Statistics - California Apple Commission

- The California apple industry generates over $519,000,000
- California is the 5th largest producer of apples in the United States
- California is the 2nd largest exporter of apples in the United States
- 70% of apples produced are shipped domestic, 30% exported
- California has over 25,000 acres exclusively for apples
- California exports to over 60 different countries
- Top exports are to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom
- California specializes in 4 varieties: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Cripps Pink Ladies
- California's shipping season last from July to December

California's orchards are widely scattered and diverse, ranging from Mendocino and Sonoma in the north down through Tehachapi and into the Central Coast in Solvang area, through Julian (east of San Diego) in the south.

Some orchards offer events and apple picking. Here's a list of California Apple Orchards. You should always call before going to find out picking policies and whether they are open to the public.

The apple growing industry in the state, once booming from the Pajaro Valley near Watsonville to Sonoma and Mendocino, has lost most of its growing land to development and many of the orchards are gone. Pockets of growers catering to the retail trade are clustered around the towns of Julian, Oak Glen and Tehachapi in the southern part of the state, and in the Apple Hill region near Placerville in northern California. There are also survivors scattered around the state like Gowan's in Philo, and Noble Orchards in Paradise.

Apple Regions:

Central Coast north of Los Angeles
Julian east of San Diego
Oak Glen east of Los Angeles
Tehachapi near Bakersfield
Northern Coast Sonoma and Mendocino
Apple Hill Placerville area
Paradise near Chico

APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL AT HISTORIC LOS RIOS RANCHO

Riley's Farm
Phone: (909) 797-7534
12261 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA
losriosrancho.com or call (909) 797-1005.

Oak Glen (Yucaipa), CA - Rileys at Los Rios Rancho pays tribute to tradition with its Apple Butter Festival Thanksgiving weekend.
Pioneer families made a custom of gathering in late fall to cook up apple butter from the last of the season's crop. It was a practical way to preserve the apples throughout the year and a pleasurable way to preserve community spirit.

Families are invited to come up and share in this fine old tradition, which includes a hands-on demonstration of apple butter making the old-time (and slow!) way - outdoors in a big copper kettle. Guests can learn how to "start the snitz" and "add the money", plus enjoy pioneer crafts and games, music, carriage rides, and lots more.
Saturday's events include the "Lighting of the Ranch" at

Families are invited to come up and share in this fine old tradition, which includes a hands-on demonstration of apple butter making the old-time (and slow!) way - outdoors in a big copper kettle. Guests can learn how to start the snitz and add the money, plus enjoy pioneer crafts and games, music, carriage rides, and lots more. Saturday's events include the Lighting of the Ranch at dusk, when the giant pines at the Los Rios Rancho entrance will be illuminated to welcome in the Christmas season. An old-fashioned hoedown Saturday night will feature music by the Riley's Mountaineer Band.

Riley's Farm is one of the largest and oldest remaining orchards in Southern California, homesteaded by Joseph Wilshire in the 1880s. We feature apple picking, pumpkin picking, pears, raspberries and living history of all sorts, including the popular Revolutionary War Adventure, seen by 60,000 guests per year. Located in the mountains 45 minutes from Orange County, CA, it is also a working farm.