Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch

Let me just start off by saying that I’m allergic to apples. I’ve tried them all from granny greens to pink ladies to braeburns to crabs and nothing, I mean nothing stops my throat from closing up when consuming them. Then comes Apple-​A-​Day. Mind you, my first taste was when I had a cold and depleted of vitamin c… but guess what… YES…you guessed it – I was able to drink a full 6 ounces before even a hint of tickle in my throat. This speaks to the quality, and I think the organic goodness! Their choice in apples, the way it’s prepared/​processed and the lack of toxins made it a miracle vitamin c delivery system. Now, now don’t think I’m telling you to eat things you’re allergic to or take the risk of going into shock. Somehow I just knew my body would receive it and it did! It was so delicious (no pun intended) and I often cook with it now using it in any recipes that require apple juice… my first choice, always! The green one is my preference but hands down, the BEST apple juice ever!

Apple picking in Sebastopol. This is a real working apple farm with real home town people. They have three varieties of apples, Gravensteins, yellow delicious, and Roman Beauties. The Gravensteins are only available in August, but they had plenty of Romans and some Yellows still in late October. Pick yourself and only $ 1.50 per pound. They have a beautiful persimmon tree. Picnic tables.
The very best thing about this property is the home made juice. You can buy pint, half gallon and gallon sized Apple juice. Delicious and cold.
It is totally worth the visit and the owners are super nice.
Next door to the Pumpkin Patch.

Nice people, good price on u-​pick apples, great cider with free samples, pumpkin patch next door — what more could you ask for?

Apples and the freshest apples is all you get here. You want anything more ?
They have very nice 4 acre apple orchard. I visited along with my uncle and aunt and they had a really nice time.

Let me start by saying, «they make the best apple juice I have ever tasted.» It’s my favorite! The juice taste sweet, a bit sour at the end, and most importantly fresh. As if it was freshly squeezed right their for you. I found their apple juice at my local organic store in Healdsburg, CA. The store is called Shelton. It well worth the price. I never been to there Apple ranch but I sure will like too some time and explore it. I’m curious at what other fruits and products they have. I think from now on I will be buying this apple juice for often.

Really liked the apple picking here, Rome Beauty’s the choice. Excellent apple juice. Also like the pumpkin patch next door.

great apples, Their juice won first place in SF Chronicle Tasting Contest.
The juice are always fresh!
Aug 2014 they’ll be charging $ 1.50 per lb for their apple picking.

A co-​worker brought in their apple juice and it is seriously the best apple juice I’ve ever tasted! I haven’t tasted the apples yet but I plan to visit soon.

Great apple juice for ½ the price of what you pay at the grocery store (in the gallon jugs instead of the small quart size). Friendly folks and pleasant country setting. If the cost of gas doesn’t eat up all your savings, I recommend coming out to pick some up today. I’m headed back out there today for more.

I asked around for recommendations on apple farms and got a few names, but ended up picking Ratzlaff because of the reviews on Unilocal.Some of the other farms looked to be a little dilapidated after doing a little bit more research, and one of the nicer ones had completely run out of apples two weeks ago. We arrived at this dusty little farm on a chilly but sunny day, and realized that we had driven all the way into the middle of nowhere without bothering to get cash. (Totally our bad — apparently we’ve been living in San Francisco too long and forgot that not everyone takes credit cards.)
Luckily, the owner was kind enough to accommodate us (his brother, who operates the pumpkin patch near the entrance, has Square). He handed us a big bag to do our harvesting, and we happily walked around the five acres of apples, picking and taking photos. We ended up picking 20 lbs. of apples (very easy to do when the crops is plentiful and looks great) — and the apples were perfectly crisp and slightly tart, ideal for baking too.
We also ended up buying a half gallon of raw organic apple juice. These are the best apples you can get for half the price of Whole Foods, and picking them is fun — for kids AND adults. Highly recommend this farm.
Now what do I do with 20 lbs. of apples, exactly?

Family apple picking on a small family farm on a gorgeous fall day. Not sure it gets a lot better than this.
Driving in, the entry is that of a dusty small farm. Definitely nothing that is going to wow you. But just remember you are there for the trees and the family farm atmosphere.
We brought along a picnic, and although they didn’t already have tables out, the kind owner got a couple out for us and set them up in the shade.
We then spent an hour or two picking Roman Beauty and Golden Delicious apples. No ladders needed; the trees were plenty short that even my younger boys could reach. The Roman Beauty trees were more plentiful and the fruit looked fabulous. Cost was $ 1 per pound; quite a deal.
We also tried their apple juice on the way out. I don’t normally even like apple juice, but wow this stuff is good.
*Caveat*
This was our first family apple picking excursion, so we don’t really have any basis for comparison. It was very fun and the owners were quite friendly. It was also a very «no frills» experience… so just worth understanding what you are getting into.

I’m so delighted to have an occasion to write a five star review! They really are my favorite. :)
This past Sunday was my first time apple picking and it was so much fun. It’s kind of addictive. Once my shoulder started to ache a little from the weight of apples in my bag, I forced myself to stop. We picked Golden Delicious and Roman Beauties. $ 1/​pound.
The farm has over 5 acres of apple trees. Fun fact: The owner’s grandfather started the farm back in ’24!
Oh, and yes, the apples are DELICIOUS!!!

I am so glad I found this little gem! It’s about a 10 – 15 minute drive down Occidental Road from Santa Rosa (depending on where in Santa Rosa you’re coming from), and the drive alone is worth the trip. Everyone was incredibly friendly and the prices are better than any apple orchard or pumpkin patch I’ve been to in Sonoma County. Apples are $ 1/​lb and the largest pumpkin prices range from just $ 3 to $ 13 each. The property is gorgeous and the trees are bursting with fruit. They also welcomed our dog (which was not necessary but a definite plus). I don’t think I will be able to buy apples anywhere else when they’re in season.

Simply the best apple juice that I have ever tasted.

Apple-​A-​Day is the very best apple juice my husband and I have ever tasted. Other than at the ranch in Sabastopol and local farmers markets, is it sold anywhere else? We live in southeastern Arizona, and would love to be able to buy it.

We had a great time at the ranch! We walked into the Ranch and just apples everywhere! We didn’t want to pick too many because we had to fly back home next day but my 2 and ½ year old son had a blast just being there and picking apples on a big ladder. Roman Beauties were super crisp and sweet. We will visit the ranch again next time we’re in northern California again.

We had a fun time apple-​picking at Apple-​A-​Day Ratzlaff Ranch! Doesn’t seem as well known as other places, but trust me, this place was an apple bonanza! The friendly lady (Marlene) gave us each a mailman style bag that we loaded up with Golden Delicious and Rome apples (all that were in season this late).
Cash or check only. Apples were $ 1/​lb! And so delicious! They also sell apple joice but sadly we were out of cash from having spent too much at another place. We definitely should have come here first!!!
You may want to call first because I think they are only open for u-​pick on Sunday. They also have a cute pumpkin patch out front.

Absolutely delicious apple juice! We rocked up to Ratzlaff Ranch and ordered a half gallon of the raw organic apple juice and a pint of the apple blackberry juice, both of which came frozen. We let them thaw and by evening we were drinking the best apple juice we’ve tasted yet!