Yes, Giovanna, you can absolutely visit. We photographed the Sunnyvale orchard, though the trees were not bearing fruit at that time.
There is an adjacent interpretative exhibit on the lives of the orchard workers, most of whom were Italian.
In fact, immigrants from Italy brought many/most of the fruit cultivation skills in the Valley when they arrived in the U.S.
Pictures of the processing plants showed largely women working in them.
There’s another small heritage garden of plum, apricot and cherry trees in Saratoga that we passed on the way to the family wedding. Evidently, residents who show proof of residency can register to pick fruit each year.
Even Steve Jobs and George Packard grew apricots while they were building their companies!
I did not know that Silicon Valley used to be covered in orchards. How fascinating. It leaves me feeling weirdly nostalgic for a time and place in which I’ve never belonged but would love to visit.
Thanks for sharing. I love PYO experiences. I didn't know you could pick cherries and this is added to a travel wish list. And thanks for the galette recipe.
Thanks. Mira. We have friends with a multi-acre, beautifully manicured property with fig trees, 3 types of cherries and numerous other fruit trees including apples. They kindly offer us the opportunity to pick!
Thanks very much, Emily.
Thanks for sharing this, Linda, I didn’t know. Can people visit the three heritage orchards? PS I’d love a slice or two of that galette
Yes, Giovanna, you can absolutely visit. We photographed the Sunnyvale orchard, though the trees were not bearing fruit at that time.
There is an adjacent interpretative exhibit on the lives of the orchard workers, most of whom were Italian.
In fact, immigrants from Italy brought many/most of the fruit cultivation skills in the Valley when they arrived in the U.S.
Pictures of the processing plants showed largely women working in them.
There’s another small heritage garden of plum, apricot and cherry trees in Saratoga that we passed on the way to the family wedding. Evidently, residents who show proof of residency can register to pick fruit each year.
Even Steve Jobs and George Packard grew apricots while they were building their companies!
I did not know that Silicon Valley used to be covered in orchards. How fascinating. It leaves me feeling weirdly nostalgic for a time and place in which I’ve never belonged but would love to visit.
Thanks for sharing. I love PYO experiences. I didn't know you could pick cherries and this is added to a travel wish list. And thanks for the galette recipe.
Thanks. Mira. We have friends with a multi-acre, beautifully manicured property with fig trees, 3 types of cherries and numerous other fruit trees including apples. They kindly offer us the opportunity to pick!