U-PICK Wagon Rides at Tanaka Farms
DETAILS:
Location: 5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine, CA 92612
Hours of Operation:
Various U-PICK tours, wagon rides, educational events, & activities are available throughout the year which can be booked via there website. Please see the link below under “resources” for schedule and current info.
Drive-thru produce market is open daily from 9AM to 5PM.
Parking: Free parking lot available on site.
Cost: Varies by activity.
$20 for 1hr U-PIck wagon tours.
Time Commitment: 1 hour.
MISC.
No dogs allowed.
U-Pick wagon tours are approximately 1hr.
U-Pick wagon tours gains you access to the “Barnyard” petting zoo.
U-Pick wagons tour also gain you access to the produce market and gift shop.
Tanaka Farms is the grand legacy of its eponymous Japanese-American family who can trace their agricultural roots all the way back to the 1920s. A multi-generational family venture, Tanaka Farms moved to its current 30-acre location in Irvine in 1988. While the backbone of Tanaka Farms has always been its strawberry yield, Tanaka family has always made sure to innovate its brand in order to stay as viable as possible.
One such innovation is its U-Pick Wagon tours which is the only such event offered by any farm in the area. During the 1 hour tour, you’ll enjoy a relaxed ride throughout the property as you learn interesting facts about the farm narrated by your tour guide. But the fun doesn’t stop there! The definition of interactive participation, you’ll make 2 stops along the way to hand-pick 2 different types of produce that you’ll get to bring home with you. You can’t get any fresher than that! While Tanaka Farms grows over 60 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, you are at the whim of what’s in season (and plentiful) during your scheduled tour, but that just means a return visit will always offer a different experience. On our visit, we picked onions and strawberries. When you consider the fact that the produce you leave with is at least a $10 value, the $20 cost of the tour is actually a ridiculous deal in your favor. To top it all off, the tour ends with a visit to the “Barnyard” petting zoo. While its similar to any other petting zoo you might come across, who doesn’t love seeing furry hogs and miniature ponies?!
RESOURCES:
Tanaka Farms website.
