Order Heirloom Organic Apples
Order your box of organic apples grown by Cuyama Orchards in Santa Barbara County. Grower’s choice: apple varieties change every few weeks.
California delivery only*
Contact us if you would like a shipping quote for other areas
Your Order Helps Cuyama Orchards
The Albano family started their apple orchard in 1992 when Howard and Jean first planted Nagafu Fuji apples from Japan. Now in its second generation with son Byron and family, Cuyama Orchards is certified organic and grows more than 10 varieties of delicious apples, including heirloom Arkansas Black apples. The pandemic has dramatically affected their farm business. Sales have fallen due to the closure of restaurants, slowing of farmers markets, and reductions in orders. The FruitGuys has been buying unique and delicious apples from Cuyama for many years. When they told us about their plight, we said, we’ll sell your apples online in addition to buying them for our boxes. You can support Cuyama Orchards by buying their delicious bagged apples!
80 acres near Cuyama in Santa Barbara County, Cuyama Orchards is nestled in the uppermost reaches of the Cuyama Valley in a rugged mountainous corner of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in California. The orchards are surrounded by towering peaks and National Forest land.
At 3300 feet in elevation, Cuyama Orchards enjoys the ideal microclimate for growing sweet, crunchy, juicy apples that are bursting with flavor. The warm days late into the fall along with cool crisp nights allow us to harvest our fruit with full flavor at the peak of ripeness.
Cuyama Orchards got its roots in 1992 when Howard and Jean Albano plowed under 20 acres of hay in front of their farmhouse and planted Nagafu Fuji apples that had just made their entrance to the US from Japan.
By 1997, they had 80 acres of Fuji and Pink Lady apples in production when they partnered with their son Byron to handle the sales and marketing. Together they developed an enthusiastic local following for the excellent apples that Howard and Jean were producing. In 1999 they completed transitioning to certified organic production, and continued expanding their orchards to meet the burgeoning demand for their fruit.
Since those early years, the Albano’s have continued to work hard to grow the very best apples, and to partner with local and regional markets, farmer’s markets, and a variety of traditional and not so traditional food distributers to get their fruit from their farm to your table.
Order Cuyama Orchards Apples
Cuyama begins harvesting fresh apples in early September and continues into November. While you cannot choose the apple variety, Cuyama will provide you with the freshest apples available at the time of your order. Varieties change every few weeks.
*Harvest begins. Supplies may be limited. Subject to change.
2021 Apple Harvests
A firm and crisp green apple. When you think of the traditional tart apple, Granny Smith is it. Refreshing and a wonderful compliment to cheese. *October
The Crimson Gold apple is a classic American heirloom apple. It was discovered by Albert Etter in Humboldt County California. This variety was lost for decades, but thankfully, it was re-discovered from an original tree. The Crimson Gold is perfect for fresh snacking and a prized ingredient for pastries, jellies, chutneys, and cider. *October
The Nagafu Fuji is the original Fuji apple from Japan prized for its firm delicious creamy-yellow flesh, its sweet full flavor, and its delicate thin skin. Cuyama Nagafu Fuji are the pride of Cuyama Orchards, and we continue to grow this nearly lost Fuji heirloom which we consider to be the best Fuji scion of all. *October
The Evercrisp is a cross between a Fuji and a Honeycrisp, with the sweetness of a Fuji and the snap of a Honeycrisp. *October
Arkansas Black are one of the quintessential American Heirloom apples. This variety was prized before refrigeration for its ability to store in the cellar all winter due to its thick naturally waxy skin that protects it from decay. The flesh is yellow and mildly sweet. Properly ripened, Arkansas Blacks are loaded with tannins and polyphenols that give this apple its characteristic flavor which comes through fresh, baked, or brewed in a classic hard cider. *November
The micro climate of the Cuyama Valley turns out to be just right for growing perfect Pink Lady® apples. Sweet, tart, fragrant, and bursting with flavor. Originally from Australia, the Pink Lady® apple grows exceptionally well in the Cuyama Valley. Our unique little valley has the perfect Mediterranean climate where warm late fall days, and crisp cool nights allow the Pink Lady® the full 200-day season that it optimally requires. *November
What's Inside
- Two 3-lb bags of freshly-harvested apples
- Roughly 15-20 apples total
- Delivered in a box
