Tanaka Farms Watermelon Tour

Summer temperatures have officially reached Southern California, so this week might not have been the best time to go watermelon picking in Irvine. But I’d heard such great things about the tours at Tanaka Farms that I couldn’t resist the chance to take the big explorer for a visit.

Lucky for us, the heat wasn’t as fierce as it can get. There were intermittent breezes and thanks to a taste-testing stop along the tour under cover from the sun, everything turned out to be divine.

Especially the watermelon.

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR NATURE LOVERS
What’s not to like about seeing how fruits and vegetables grow right on the farm? The Tanaka family has been farming for some 100 years and this 30-acre location features 40 different types of vegetables, plus fruits like strawberries, watermelons and honeydew.

What left the biggest impression on me is the effort Tanaka Farms makes to teach you about their farming processes (all organic, by the way). We learned natural ways to fend off bugs, how to tell when a watermelon is ripe and why certain vegetables are grown next to others. The big explorer told me he learned that squash and zucchini are grown amongst corn to hide from them from the bugs.

Each tour includes plenty of fresh-from-the-field taste testing (as evidenced below). I watched the big explorer devour carrots, corn, zucchini, watermelon and more like it was Halloween candy.

The farm generates most of its income from these tours, so I feel good about where my money is going.

OUR NOTES FROM THE FIELD
The big explorer was excited to pick watermelon, but the sight of our tractor-led wagon had him hooked. He positioned himself front and center, of course.

Our first stop was to check out some green beans that didn’t go over so well with the big guy. I was a little worried that he wasn’t feeling it, but luckily our saving grace wasn’t far off: corn.

While we sat alongside some of the numerous cornstalks, we were given a bit of corn to taste. The big explorer loved it (as did I).

There were more scrumptious fresh veggies to try, like these cherry tomatoes (plus yummy carrots, which the big explorer always loves eating right out of the ground).

All of this was nice, but to be honest, we came for the watermelons, right?! About 45 minutes into the tour, we stopped and unloaded from our wagons to partake in some serious snacking. First there was zucchini, followed by cucumber, honeydew,

and finally … watermelon!

Are you feeling how much fresh produce we got to taste?! I hope so! After finishing up the last of the watermelon, it was time to tour the watermelon patch. We weren’t able to pick any for ourselves; field experts had already selected the ripest for our choosing.

But we were able to walk through the fields and take a close up look at the watermelons growing, which was a treat for the big explorer and I. Who knew this is how they started out?

After ogling all the melons, bees, bugs and other cool stuff we didn’t want to miss, the big explorer and I chose our take-home loot.

We hopped back on the wagon for a quick ride back to the Produce Stand, then enjoyed a smallish yummy lunch (of our own creation) under cover of tent and out of the sun. Neither of us was especially hungry, but it was a nice way to end a fun and informative morning on the farm.

PLANNING ESSENTIALS

• Farm tours are available year round; watermelon tours run in July and August only (call ahead to book: 949-653-2100 ext. 204)
• Watermelon tours cost $13 per person; kids 2 and under are free (price includes a watermelon to take home)
• Tours last about 1 ½ hours, which includes a stop for taste testing several yummy fruits and veggies, plus perusing the watermelon patch
• The Farm’s Produce Stand is open daily year round
• Parking is plentiful and free
• No flush toilets, but several portable potties are available near the Produce Stand; another is located in the fields adjacent to the watermelon patch
• No restaurant facilities are available, but you are welcome to enjoy your own lunch under any of the tented areas (read: your table will be made of hay!)

MY TIPS FOR A GREAT VISIT

• Be prepared for the heat. July and August in Irvine are hot. Come prepared with hats for everyone, sunscreen and more water than you think you’ll need.

• Check out the Produce Stand. Had we not gone grocery shopping the day before, I definitely would have purchased some fresh produce from the farm’s Produce Stand. If you come during strawberry tours, you can also grab a basket (or more) of berries.

Tanaka Farms is located at:

5380 ¾ University Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
Directions to Tanaka Farms