Happy volunteer with apricots

Volunteer Newsletter
June 11, 2025
Palo Alto Apricot Orchard Harvest
 
It's (almost) time for apricots!

Apricots were one the crops that made our area famous as the "Valley of Heart's Delight" and the biggest fruit producing region in the world into the 1960's.

We're excited to announce an apricot orchard harvest on Saturday June 21 at an historic location in Palo Alto. Details and the sign up link are below; please submit your sign up request within the next 24 hours.

Unfortunately, this year we are only able to arrange this one larger apricot orchard harvest; we're sorry we have a limited number of apricot harvesting volunteer opportunities.

As an alternative for your stone fruit and cherry picking cravings, we encourage volunteers to visit two longstanding partners of Village Harvest:  Andy's Orchard in Morgan Hill (stone fruit tastings and orchard tours, see website for dates) and the Lazy K Ranch in Gilroy for U-Pick cherries (season opens this Friday June 13). 

In other news, I'm sad to announce that our Orchard Harvest Coordinator Megan Elmore is leaving her Village Harvest staff role in mid-June. As Megan said, "I've been honored to work with all our volunteers and staff members, and I hope to see you again soon as I continue to volunteer at harvests."

Susan, Tracy, and I are grateful for her being part of our staff team and her organizing harvests over the past 2 years.

Join our harvest, visit a orchard, or find local fruit in the market - we hope you enjoy the sweet apricot season in the Bay Area!

Craig Diserens

Executive Director
craig@villageharvest.org
 

Palo Alto Apricot Orchard Harvest, Saturday June 21

Volunteer holding a big apricotThis historic Palo Alto apricot orchard has been a long-time favorite of many volunteers, but it's been several years since there's been a good-enough crop to hold a harvest. We're looking forward to a fun morning picking fruit by hand from the ground and from ladders.
  • This harvest will be kept open for sign up requests for at least 24 hours but likely closed after that time limit.
  • The maximum size of a party is 2 people so we can include as many parties as possible.
  • Sign ups are not first-come-first-served, and we generally give priority to and select people who haven't been able to get into a harvest most recently or are waiting to get into their first harvest. If demand is extra-high for this harvest we may choose participants by lottery. (Volunteer FAQ).
  • We're harvesting the fruit to help people in need in the community, but there'll be fruit seconds for volunteers to take home (including extra-ripe soft fruit that's perfect for jam).
Sign up through the link below or on the Events calendar. We'll notify volunteers of their status (confirmed, wait list, or unable to include) by email.
 
Date Time Location Volunteers Needed
Sat Jun 21 9:00 am - 12:30 pm New! Palo Alto Apricot Orchard Harvest 25 spaces available
Maximum 2 per party
Minimum age 12 with their parent, 16 otherwise