As the weather cools and the days grow shorter, fall comes in full swing, and what better way to indulge in the sweater weather than to go to a pumpkin patch?
It’s almost as if pumpkins are the unwritten mascots of fall, and we’ve put together a list of places to find the best pumpkins.
Four of the closest pumpkin patches are ABC Farms & Pomeroy Pumpkin Patch in Daly City. And Emerald Forest Christmas Trees, Great Pumpkin Patch and Hawk Creek Farms in South San Francisco.
ABC Farms
If you’re looking for reliable pumpkins and activities for children, ABC Farms in Daly City has features such as bouncy houses, slides and a concession stand. We all know pumpkins can be expensive, but accessibility is a big factor that makes the patch stand out.
ABC Farms associate Ashley Isabel says the farm’s appeal comes from reliable prices that aren’t limited.
“A lot of people have their own preferences, and we price match here, which makes us more accessible,” Isabel said.
Another feature that makes the farm a staple is its several locations. ABC Farms operates 12 locations in the Bay Area and a total of 14 in California, making it one of the biggest farm franchises in the Bay. This adds to its reputation and reliability.
“We operate all around the Bay, so people constantly hear about us or are customers,” Isabel said.
Emerald Forest Christmas Trees & Great Pumpkin Patch
On the other hand, Emerald Forest is one of the only pumpkin patches in South San Francisco, as this is their only location. The pumpkin patch is family-owned and one of the oldest in the greater Bay Area.
Owner Juliet Pries elaborates on how the family-owned business and its staple activities have become part of many families’ traditions.
“We have all the classics like a haunted house and the train, but we also have only one location, so it’s cool to see people grow up with the patch,” Pries said. “We kind of have our own way of doing it, we are family-owned and we’ve been here 36years, so it’s sort of a tradition.”
But unlike other farms, Emerald Forest doesn’t grow their own pumpkins, they partner with various farms, giving others an outlet to highlight their products.
“We don’t grow them, instead we partner with various farms that we like from sunnier areas which makes our pumpkins tend to be nicer, and the colors more vibrant,” Pries said.
Moreover, Emerald Forest is a great family-owned patch if you’re looking for a fun time for family and friends.
Pomeroy Pumpkin Patch
For those seeking to give back, The Pomeroy Pumpkin Patch, which partnered with the Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center, is a great place to do so.
Pumpkin Patch Representative Terry Gross says partners put on a pumpkin patch each year to fund a prom for students with autism, since their school doesn’t have one.
“Around ten years ago we did a prom, so one of the old supervisors had an idea of why don’t we do a pumpkin patch to raise money,” Gross said.
Gross said the community is highly engaged , with many local vendors and suppliers donating supplies to make the patch possible and fund the prom.
“Everything is donated, from our pumpkins to the hay barrels for the hay maze,” Gross said. “Our whole community tries to come together to donate and fund a prom for our students, which is pretty cool.”
As the season of giving approaches, this is a great way to give back and fund an amazing cause in the peninsula.
Hawk Creek Farm
Lastly, like Emerald Forest, Hawk Creek Farm is another notable pumpkin patch in upper South San Francisco worth checking out. The patch is also family-owned and is suitable for kids and families.
Pumpkin patch associate Scott Pastorino says employees and the patch’s operations allow it to run at full potential and efficiency.
“We try to be as prepared as possible by having staff and people with experience and patience while doing it with kindness,” Pastorino said.
Pastorino also described what makes not only Hawk Creek’s pumpkins so special, but also how the Bay Area continues to be a breeding ground for pumpkins.
“We have the perfect weather for harvesting pumpkins, which makes patches in the Bay Area huge producers for California, especially Northern California,” Pastorino said.
Like Emerald Forest, Hawk Creek also maintains the tradition of families growing up with the farm and coming back year after year.
“We have been here for so long, so we see families grow up with us each year,” Pastorino said.