🍎 U-Pick Apples

Q: How does the U-Pick work?

Guests can grab a bag when they arrive and head into the orchard to pick their own apples straight from the trees. Each bag holds around 15 pounds and costs $20 (a great deal at roughly $1.33 per pound). If you prefer to pick a smaller amount, apples are also available by weight at $2 per pound.

Q: What apple varieties do you have?
Our varieties change throughout the season, but you’ll usually find Fuji, Ambrosia, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, JonaPrince, Gala, and Pippin apples, among others. We recommend visiting early in the season for the best selection.

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Q: How old are your apple trees?

Our orchard is divided into two sections, a lower orchard, planted in 2021, and an upper orchard, planted in 2022. All of our apple trees are dwarf varieties, carefully pruned to grow no taller than about six feet.

We chose dwarf trees to make harvesting easy and enjoyable for everyone, adults, kids, and visitors of all ages can reach the fruit right from the ground without ladders.

 

Q: How big is the orchard?
Sweet Water Farms sits on approximately 14 acres, with about 4.5 acres dedicated to apple trees. Some of the remaining space includes gardens, lavender, pumpkins, and walking areas.

Q: Do you take credit cards or cash?
We accept Venmo, Zelle,  tap credit cards, and cash.

Q: Can we bring our own bags or baskets?
Yes!
 

🎃 Pumpkins, Gardens & Lavender

Q: Do you sell pumpkins too?
Yes! We have a beautiful selection of pumpkins in all shapes, colors, and sizes available for purchase throughout the month of October. 

Q: What else can we find on the farm?

Visitors can stroll through two gardens filled with seasonal plants, lavender, and garden goodies. Depending on the time of year, we also offer tomatoes, squash, dogwood berries, sunflower seeds, and poppy seeds, along with other fresh, seasonal items.

Everything we grow is pesticide-free and nurtured with care.

Q: Can I buy lavender or other farm products?
Absolutely! We often have dried lavender, garden bundles, and seasonal items available at our farm stand.

 

We’re also proud to share that some of our lavender is donated to the Capitola Senior Center to support their gift sales and community programs, a small way we give back to the local community that supports us.

🕒 Hours & Location

Q: When are you open?

We’re open every weekend during harvest season (typically late August through October). Check our Instagram or Google page for exact hours and seasonal updates.

Weekday visits can also be arranged by submitting a request through our Contact Us form on the website. Please provide about five days’ notice, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your visit.

Q: Where are you located?

Within mintes of Highway 1 - Super easy to get to!
📍 Sweet Water Farms
Watsonville, California
(Use “Sweet Water Farms Watsonville” on Google or Apple Maps for directions!)

 

Q: Do you have restrooms?
At this time, we do not have public restrooms available on-site. We appreciate your understanding as we continue developing the property.

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Q: Is there parking available?
Yes! We offer free on-site parking for all guests.

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🌱 About Our Farm

Q: Is this your first year open?
Yes! This is our first year, a soft opening, and we’re so grateful for the amazing community support as we grow.

 

Q: How large is the farm overall?
Our property spans approximately 14 acres, with 4.5 acres of apple trees and the remainder dedicated to gardens, lavender, and open space for future expansion.

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🧺 What to Bring

Q: What should we bring for our visit?
We recommend:

• Comfortable shoes (you’ll be walking on uneven ground)

• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)

• Water

• Your camera — the photo ops are endless! 📸

• Umbrella - towards the mid to end of October

Q: Can we bring food or have a picnic?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring a picnic or food but please help us keep the farm clean by packing out what you bring in.

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🐾 Families & Pets

Q: Is the farm family-friendly?
Definitely! Sweet Water Farms is a wonderful spot for kids and families to enjoy outdoor time together.

 

Q: Are pets allowed?

Absolutely! Pets are welcome at Sweet Water Farms.

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🌼 Pollinators & Sustainability

Q: Do you have bees on the farm?
Yes! We partner with a local beekeeper who manages hives on the property, helping with pollination and producing local honey.

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Q: Are you involved in environmental projects?
We are! Through the Pollinator Planting Project with the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, we’re expanding native plant habitats to support local bees, butterflies, and birds.

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Meet Our Pigs: Honey & Mustard 🐷

Q: Who are Honey and Mustard?
A: Honey and Mustard are two friendly farm pigs that live at Sweet Water Farms and are part of our living-agriculture experience. They help connect visitors—especially kids—to animals and the rhythms of a small working farm.

 

Q: What do they eat?
A: Honey and Mustard are fed a mix of farm-grown leftovers (think veggie scraps, orchard fallen fruit) plus a nutritionally balanced pig feed. ​

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