The Brentwood Loop
Eleven u-pick farms in one easy loop through East Contra Costa orchard country — the Bay Area's cherry and stone-fruit capital, an hour from San Francisco.
What's ripe, month by month
- April – May — Strawberries and cut-your-own flowers at Creswell Family Farms; the first cherries arrive at the very end of April in warm years.
- May – mid-June — Peak season. Cherries everywhere — this is what Brentwood is famous for. Apricots begin in late May. Expect weekend crowds; go early or midweek.
- mid-June – August — Stone-fruit summer: peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots, and apricots at Airaya, Farmer's Daughter, Wolfe Ranch, and The Urban Edge Farm.
- September – October — The Urban Edge Farm carries figs, pomegranates, and persimmons into fall; G&S Farms opens its pumpkin patch and corn maze in October.
The stops, in drive order
A suggested order — every stop is minutes from the next, so reshuffle freely around what's ripe and what's open the day you go.
- 1Bacchini's Fruit TreePickable nowSeason: May–Jun
A classic first stop on the west side of the loop — ladder-free cherries, peaches, berries, and sunflowers. Opens only when fruit is ripe, so check their morning post before heading out.
CherriesApricotsPeachesMixed BerriesSunflowersNectarines - 2The Urban Edge FarmPickable nowSeason: Apr–OctCertified organic
The longest season on the loop: a 34-acre certified-organic farm picking from April clear through October, with a year-round farm store. If you only make one summer-into-fall stop, make it this one.
CherriesApricotsPeachesPlumsFigsApples - 3Creswell Family FarmsPickable nowSeason: Apr–JunReservation required
The loop's spring opener — u-pick strawberries and cut-your-own flower bouquets. Reservations required, and the patch sells out fast on weekends.
Strawberries - 4G&S FarmsPickable nowSeason: May–OctReservation required
Fourth-generation cherry growers; booking slots are released on social media during cherry season. Come back in October for the pumpkin patch and corn maze.
CherriesPumpkins - 5Farmer's Daughter ProducePickable nowSeason: May–Aug
Open daily all summer with the broadest stone-fruit lineup on the east side — peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots — plus lavender and sweet corn at the stand.
ApricotsPeachesPlumsMixed BerriesLavenderCorn - 6Airaya U-Pick FarmPickable nowSeason: May–Aug
Twenty-two rare varieties of peaches, nectarines, apricots, pluots, and Asian pears, picked May through August. The variety nerd's favorite stop.
PeachesApricotsPlumsCherriesPearsNectarines - 7Diablo CherriesPickable nowSeason: May–Jun
Eight-plus cherry varieties on low-pruned, kid-friendly trees — the easiest picking on the loop for small children. Strawberries too, while they last.
CherriesStrawberries - 8Marsh Creek CherriesPickable nowSeason: May–Jun
Forty acres of sweet cherries at the north end of the loop. Call the cherry hotline before you swing by — the season is short and weather-dependent.
Cherries - 9Dwelley Family FarmsPickable nowSeason: May–JunCertified organic
A century-old farm with certified-organic cherries. Print and sign their waiver before arriving — it's required at the gate.
Cherries - 10Wolfe RanchPickable nowSeason: May–Aug
U-pick peaches and cherries from late spring into summer. Opens seasonally — a quick call ahead saves the detour.
PeachesCherries - 11Mike's U-PickPickable nowSeason: May–Jun
The loop's cult favorite finish: white peaches and nectarines for only one to four weeks each season. When it's open, drop everything.
PeachesNectarines
Apricots
Peaches
Mixed Berries
NectarinesA suggested day
- 8:30 AMStart at the west-side farms (Bacchini's or The Urban Edge) right at opening — the fruit is cool, the light is good, and the crowds are an hour behind you.
- 10:30 AMWork the east-side cluster: Farmer's Daughter, Airaya, and Diablo Cherries sit within a few minutes of each other.
- 12:30 PMLunch in downtown Brentwood, a few minutes from every farm on the loop.
- 2:00 PMOne last stop on the north end (Marsh Creek or Dwelley), then load the cooler and head home before the Delta heat peaks.
Before you go
- ✓Check each farm's Instagram or website the morning you go — Brentwood farms open and close day-to-day based on what's ripe, and several post same-day availability.
- ✓Bring cash, sun protection, and a cooler with ice for the drive home; picked cherries hate a hot trunk.
- ✓Weekday mornings beat weekends by a mile during cherry season. If you must come on a Saturday, arrive at opening.
- ✓Most farms charge by the pound with no admission fee, but a few require reservations (Creswell, and G&S during cherry season) — book before you drive.
- ✓Three to four farms is a realistic day. Pick one anchor stop for serious picking and treat the rest as tastings.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to do the Brentwood Loop?
- Mid-May through mid-June is peak — that's cherry season, the loop's signature crop. For peaches and other stone fruit with smaller crowds, July is excellent. Strawberries run April through June, and there's a fall encore in October with pumpkins at G&S Farms.
- How far is Brentwood from San Francisco?
- About 55 miles east — roughly an hour's drive via Highway 4, at the edge of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. From Sacramento it's about 60 miles south.
- Do Brentwood u-pick farms require reservations?
- Most don't — you pay by the pound for what you pick. Creswell Family Farms requires reservations, and G&S Farms releases booking slots on social media during cherry season. Every farm's page on Gather Grove notes its policy.
- How many farms can I visit in one day?
- Three or four comfortably. The farms sit within a 15-mile loop, so driving time is minimal — your limit is picking time and how much fruit your cooler holds.
- Is the Brentwood Loop good for kids?
- Very. Diablo Cherries grows low-pruned trees specifically so kids can reach the fruit, Bacchini's offers ladder-free picking, and the distances between farms are short enough that nobody melts down in the car.