MoFresh
MoFresh
Something’s always fresh in Modesto,
and our world-renowned fruit season runs April – August.
Farm Fresh & Ripe for the Picking—Your Guide to Local Produce
Savor the Season: Springtime in Modesto
The blossoms have settled, and Modesto’s legendary growing season is officially in motion. Spring in the Central Valley is a celebration of “firsts”—the first snap of local asparagus, the first sweet bite of sun-ripened strawberries, and the arrival of vibrant apricots and cherries. As our orchards transition from white petals to lush green canopies, our local farm stands are bursting with new life. Whether you’re filling your basket at the Modesto Certified Farmers Market or taking a scenic drive to a favorite roadside stand, now is the time to taste the very beginning of the harvest.
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Spring in the Central Valley means the orchards have fully awakened, with deep green leaves replacing the snowy blossoms of February. This is the vibrant heart of the growing season, where the tiny fruits that will become our world-famous harvest are beginning to take shape under the California sun. Local farm stands are now in full swing, moving beyond the pantry staples to offer the year’s first fresh yields. You’ll find the season’s best crisp asparagus, sweet spring peas, and the earliest berries and stone fruits beginning to emerge. As the countryside transforms into a lush landscape of produce and greenery, it’s the perfect time to explore our backroads and experience the bounty of Modesto’s harvest straight from the source.
Wondering why the Central Valley is such an agricultural powerhouse? Check out this TikTok explaining our unique geographical location!
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Learn a Little More About Modesto
Plan Your Spring Adventure
Ready to taste the season? From sun-drenched drives along our scenic farm trails to the hunt for the perfect basket of stunning red strawberries, Modesto is the ultimate destination for springtime adventures. Map out your route through our lush green orchards, explore the local treasures in our charming downtown shops, or enjoy a picnic fueled by fresh-picked berries and artisan treats. Don’t let these fleeting flavors pass you by—plan your seasonal outing today and savor the vibrant sights and fresh-from-the-branch bounty that only Modesto can offer.
Farm Stands, Nurseries, and Flowers!
Spring Events & Shows
What Is A Stone Fruit?
In case you were wondering what a ‘stone fruit’ is there are a few explanations but it all boils down to the pit (the stone). Any fruit that has pulp around a stone is considered a stone fruit. The stone is NOT the seed…the seed is inside the stone. Most commonly, stone fruits are considered peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines and cherries. Where it gets kind of odd is with the stone fruits often considered berries; cherries, raspberries and blackberries. That ‘odd list’ goes on with mangoes, coconuts and even olives being stone fruit. But we digress.
Let’s talk stone fruit right here in the heart of California’s Central Valley: Modesto. Many food and travel authors have listed the peaches from here as being the best you may ever find. There’s white, there’s yellow, there’s Fay Alberta and more. But those are not all on farm stands yet…you need to wait until the summer to really have peaches you’ll remember for years! Then there’s the pluot; these incredible fruits are a hybrid between the Japanese plum and an apricot. They were created right here in Modesto by the late Floyd Zaiger, founder of Zaiger’s Genetics and a legend in the business as a stone fruit breeder.
Don’t wait to grab peaches and pluots by the flat…start getting your fresh stone fruit right now. Whether it’s at the Modesto Certified Farmers Market or one of the many farm and ag stands in the area, you’ll find lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to take home. Check out our seasonality chart to see when your favorite fruits and vegetables are freshest. Looking forward to seeing you at a farm stand soon!
