So Cal’s U-pick paradise
![Alison Willot helps son Jacob and daughter Abby hunt for green beans at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. The working farm has 160 acres and features U-pick fields of fruits and vegetables, a large produce stand and a petting zoo for kids.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e9b3e3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x388+0+0/resize/586x388!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F80%2F4572c10168efbc12feb24484846a%2Fla-fo-pickyo-01-k5q5aunc.jpg)
Alison Willot helps son Jacob and daughter Abby hunt for green beans at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. The working farm has 160 acres and features U-pick fields of fruits and vegetables, a large produce stand and a petting zoo for kids. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/656eb74/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x361+0+0/resize/586x361!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2Ff2%2Fed0d4bc56eedea6169a637f2f4e3%2Fla-fo-pickyo-02-k5q59unc.jpg)
The Orr kids make a day of picking bell peppers at Underwood Family Farms. From left: Brenna, 11, Kylie, 13, and Cadin, 9. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6225386/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x447+0+0/resize/586x447!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0e%2F9d%2F2821fe344d0f0d91643a72699326%2Fla-fo-pickyo-03-k5q5bsnc.jpg)
The Rivas family filled a cart full of green beans at Underwood Family Farms. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d202e5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x343+0+0/resize/586x343!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2F81%2F8da03a3218265e57c20e04479291%2Fla-fo-pickyo-04-k5q5fync.jpg)
Families get a tour of the fields at Underwood via cow-shaped carts pulled by a tractor. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
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Allison Pickard, 6, enjoys a wagon ride past the fields where families scope out the produce. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7ef3242/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x384+0+0/resize/586x384!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7c%2F93%2F5ae843ccd8472703a841884285a0%2Fla-fo-pickyo-06-k5q5b8nc.jpg)
Emeley Merino looks through the bell peppers at Underwood. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbac9b1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x331+0+0/resize/586x331!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd9%2F76%2F361b0d49f7be1454bd6de724e3e1%2Fla-fo-pickyo-07-k5q58wnc.jpg)
A family passes under a green bean-layered arch at Underwood. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01555bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x424+0+0/resize/586x424!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F09%2Fe3%2Fd41eef82b2341f3a34718f5c8ff4%2Fla-fo-pickyo-08-k5q5eonc.jpg)
It’s tomatoes all week long for the person who picked this wagon-load of produce at Underwood. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
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A family watches goats traverse an overhead crossing at Underwood, a fully operating farm. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5d13af1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x377+0+0/resize/586x377!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe9%2F18%2F8336e8598aa5b5e861db93bf2016%2Fla-fo-pickyo-10-k5q5acnc.jpg)
Sandra Merino, 6, picked a ripe pepper. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1f522ff/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x405+0+0/resize/586x405!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F56%2F26%2Fb6905f0d864d7dba79bf630fa492%2Fla-fo-pickyo-11-k5m9ggnc.jpg)
Apples and pears are some of the produce to be found at pick-your-own farms in Southern California. Pears are in their last burst of ripeness while the season’s first fragrant apples have just begun to pop up. (Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)
![Pick Your Own](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/731d16f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2F5c%2Ff583c9b4d4c3d7a8da9886dfc1dc%2Fla-fo-pickyo-12-k5mei2nc.jpg)
Make an apple galette from the fruit picked with your own hands. (Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)
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Sweet, firm apples such as Galas and Braeburns are the best for this recipe and pears, peaches or a combination of fruit can also be used. (Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)