If Phil the Farmer filled a flat of fruits for Fran, how full would Phil the Farmer/s full flat of fruits feel? Or, more importantly, what if Fran wanted to pick her own?

Luckily for Fran, there are several you-pick operations in the San Luis Obispo County area that offer a diverse selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Most you-pick operations 7 commonly referred to as U-pick 7 open after Memorial Day and, depending on their location, stay open through the fall.

Blackberries, olallieberries, loganberries and raspberries ripen in early June and can be found at Blue Sky Gardens in Atascadero, which has approximately 4 acres on which it grows several seasonal varieties of blackberries and raspberries.

The delicious berries are great on ice cream, in jam and fresh off the vine.

Blue Sky Gardens is open for U-pick operations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during the season, which lasts from four to six weeks. For more information, visit www.blueskygardens.sanityonline.com.

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A little farther north and a little later in the summer, Jack Creek Ranch, located on Highway 46 West, offers a mouth-watering selection of vegetables.

In July, the Barlogio family offers U-pick summer squash (zucchini, patty pan, crookneck), sweet onions (Candy, Walla Walla, Savannah Sweet, Sweet Spanish Crisp), cucumbers (Armenian, Lemon, Painted Serpent, Sugar Stix) beans (lots of unusual heirlooms), eggplant, sweet peppers and 40 varieties of heirloom tomatoes.

One stop at the Jack Creek Ranch and you will be hooked on U-pick. The ranch is open weekends at the beginning of the summer, expanding hours as production and business increases.

For more information, visit www.jackcreekfarms.com.

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In August and September, U-pick and prepicked peaches, pears and apples can be found at Avila Valley Barn, north of Pismo Beach, where they grow 12 varieties of apples and 16 varieties of peaches.

Take the kids on a hay ride out to the orchards at Avila Valley Barn, which opens at 9 a.m. May through December, for a family experience you will not soon forget. For more information, visit www.avilavalleybarn.com.

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During the last few months of the year, these U-pick businesses normally are going full bore, with the majority of their production ready for market in the fall.

For families looking for that perfect pumpkin, several U-pick pumpkin farms, like the three above, are scattered around the county and begin selling their pumpkins in late September through October.

All of the U-pick farms also offer a wide selection at their farm stores, open throughout the growing season. One reason for this incredible bounty is because of the climate in which we live.

San Luis Obispo County, south of Cuesta Grade, to San Diego is blessed with a Mediterranean climate that allows the growing of many different varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Mediterranean climate is found between the latitudes of 30 degrees north and 45 degrees south of the equator. That relatively small area, known for its mild seasons with average temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees, includes regions of South America, South Africa and southern Australia.

That is why fruits, vegetable and flowers from those geographical regions grow well in San Luis Obispo County.

In addition, geographical microclimates in the northern part of our county have both cooler- and warmer-than-average temperatures and lend themselves especially well to specialty crops that wouldn/t normally grow well north of Cuesta Grade.

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The Central Coast Agtourism Council promotes the farms mentioned above and many more agriculture businesses through their mission of increasing the profitability and sustainability of local farms and ranches by promoting agricultural-related tourism, marketing and education.

Pick up a free Ag Adventures of the Central Coast map at the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau office or your local chamber of commerce or visit the Ag Adventures Web site at www.agadventures.org for more information about U-pick farms and farm stands across the county.

As for Fran and her full flat of fruits from the field, farmer Phil told her to bring the family for lots of fun on the Farm.

Steven Knudsen is outreach coordinator for the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. He can be reached at 543-3654 or steven@slofarmbureau.org

June 10, 2007