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Citrus Season in California 2026: U-Pick Farms & Festivals

June 10, 2026 · 7 min read

California citrus peaks in the cool months — roughly December through March — when navel oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit hit their sweet spot. But the season is longer than most people think: mandarins start in November, Valencia oranges carry into summer, and lemons hang on trees nearly year-round. Here's how the citrus calendar works, which regions to visit, and where to find u-pick farms and citrus festivals across the state.

When is citrus season in California?

Peak season runs December through March, but each region has its own rhythm:

  • San Joaquin Valley(Tulare County — Lindsay, Exeter, Porterville) — The heart of California's commercial citrus belt. Navel orange harvest runs December through February, and the orange blossom bloom in spring is a destination in its own right.
  • Sierra Foothills (Placer County — Newcastle, Penryn, Auburn) — Famous for Owari mandarins. The foothills mandarin harvest runs November through January, celebrated each fall at the Mountain Mandarin Festival.
  • Ventura County(Moorpark, Somis, Santa Paula, Ojai) — A historic lemon- and orange-growing region with a mild coastal climate that stretches the season. Ojai's seedless Pixie tangerines are a spring specialty, peaking in April.
  • Inland Empire (Riverside, Redlands, Highland, Upland) — The birthplace of the California orange industry. Riverside is home to the parent Washington navel orange tree, planted in the 1870s and still standing, and heritage groves are preserved at California Citrus State Historic Park.
  • San Diego County (Pauma Valley) — Inland valleys north of San Diego grow oranges and other citrus, with some small farms opening for summer picking.

Citrus varieties and when they peak

  • Navel oranges — The classic California winter orange: seedless, easy to peel, best for eating fresh. Peak harvest December through February.
  • Valencia oranges — The juicing orange. Valencias ripen after navels finish, carrying the orange season from spring into summer — one reason citrus festivals pop up on the calendar as late as July and August.
  • Mandarins— Satsumas and clementines lead the season from November through January. Placer County's Owari mandarins are the signature foothills crop.
  • Ojai Pixie tangerines — A small, seedless, late-season tangerine grown almost entirely in the Ojai Valley. Pixies ripen in spring, with April as the heart of the season.
  • Lemons — Eureka and Lisbon lemons bloom and fruit in flushes, so coastal trees carry fruit nearly year-round. Meyer lemons — sweeter and thinner-skinned — peak in winter.
  • Grapefruit — A long season that starts in winter and runs well into summer, especially in warmer inland areas.

Citrus doesn't ripen after picking — what you pick is what you get. Taste one before filling your bag, and store fruit at room temperature for about a week or refrigerate for several weeks.

Citrus festivals coming up in 2026

Because Valencias and lemons stretch the harvest into warm weather, citrus festival season runs nearly all year. Here's what's still ahead in 2026:

  • California Festival of Fruit (CRFG) — Fullerton, June 9–14, 2026. The California Rare Fruit Growers' multi-day celebration with orchard tours, expert talks, and tastings of rare fruit, citrus included.
  • Santa Paula Citrus Festival — Santa Paula, July 17–19, 2026. A three-day Kiwanis-run celebration of Ventura County's citrus heritage with carnival rides, food, and live music.
  • Chula Vista Lemon Festival — Chula Vista, August 15, 2026. A free street party honoring the city's heritage as the "Lemon Capital of the World."
  • Goleta Lemon Festival — Goleta, September 26–27, 2026. A free two-day celebration of Goleta's citrus history that draws over 100,000 visitors.
  • Mountain Mandarin Festival — November 20–22, 2026, held at The Grounds in Roseville this year. A 30-year Placer County tradition marking the start of the foothills' Owari mandarin harvest.
  • UC Lindcove Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting — Exeter, typically held in early December. Sample over 200 freshly harvested citrus varieties at UC's research center; check the official page to confirm this year's date.

The winter and spring events have already wrapped for 2026 but return annually — worth planning around for next season. The free Fresno County Blossom Trail (February 4 – March 15 in 2026) is a 62-mile self-guided drive through blooming Fresno County orchards. The Cloverdale Citrus Fair ran February 13–16 over Presidents' Day weekend, a century-old Sonoma County tradition. On March 28, the Highland Citrus Harvest Festival and the Riverside Citrus Festival — held at California Citrus State Historic Park — both celebrated the Inland Empire's citrus roots. April brought Ojai Pixie Tangerine Month (all month, across the valley's restaurants, shops, and farms), the National Orange Show Festival in San Bernardino (April 15–19), and the Lindsay Orange Blossom Festival (April 18) in the Tulare County citrus belt. The Upland Lemon Festival rounded out the spring run June 5–7 in Historic Downtown Upland.

U-pick citrus farms by region

Dedicated winter citrus u-pick is concentrated in the Placer County foothills and Ventura County; elsewhere, diversified farms fold citrus into broader picking seasons. Crop availability shifts week to week, so always confirm before driving out.

Sierra Foothills (Placer County mandarin country)

The Newcastle–Penryn area is the state's mandarin u-pick hub, with harvest running November through the winter months.

Reservations are recommended — demand runs high during mandarin season, so book through the farm's website and check their Instagram for weather updates before visiting.

Ventura County

Underwood's farms operate u-pick essentially year-round, so there's usually something to harvest whenever citrus is in.

At Moorpark, walk-up tickets are available at the gate and pull wagons go first-come, first-served — arrive early on busy days. For Somis, check social media or email ahead to confirm what's ready to pick.

San Diego County

Open for picking in summer (June through August), which lines up with the late-citrus end of the calendar. The schedule varies week to week — check their Instagram (@quixotefarm_) and message ahead via the website to confirm hours.

Central Valley

Both run multi-crop u-pick seasons from late spring through fall. Call Double Dutch ahead at (209) 581-3298 to confirm what's ready; The Urban Edge Farm posts current picking availability on Instagram and its events calendar.

Central Coast

A working university farm with u-pick from late spring through fall. Sign up for the farm email list at cpfarmmarket@calpoly.edu to confirm whether u-pick is happening each week before you visit.

Frequently asked questions

When is citrus season in California?

Peak citrus season runs December through March. Mandarins lead the way in November, navel oranges peak December through February, and Valencia oranges carry the season from spring into summer. Lemons are picked nearly year-round in coastal regions, with Meyer lemons peaking in winter.

Where can I pick mandarins in California?

The Placer County foothills around Newcastle and Penryn are the state's mandarin u-pick hub, with Owari mandarin harvest running November through January. Sunset Ridge Fine Fruits in Newcastle offers winter picking — reservations recommended. The Mountain Mandarin Festival (November 20–22, 2026, at The Grounds in Roseville) kicks off the harvest.

Can I pick citrus in the summer?

Yes — Valencia oranges ripen after navels finish and hang on trees into summer, and coastal lemons fruit nearly year-round. Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark runs u-pick year-round, and Quixote Farm in Pauma Valley opens for summer picking — message ahead to confirm what's ripe.

What citrus festivals are still coming up in 2026?

The Santa Paula Citrus Festival runs July 17–19, the Chula Vista Lemon Festival is August 15, the Goleta Lemon Festival is September 26–27, and the Mountain Mandarin Festival is November 20–22.

What is an Ojai Pixie tangerine?

A small, seedless, easy-peel tangerine grown almost entirely in the Ojai Valley in Ventura County. Pixies ripen later than most mandarins — spring rather than winter — and the whole valley celebrates Ojai Pixie Tangerine Month every April with tastings at restaurants, shops, and farms.