Family Friendly Activity: Strawberry Picking at Tanaka Farms

Strawberry Season is the best season, and as the granddaughter of prominent strawberry growers, this is a very near and dear post. Tanaka Farms in Irvine, California is not just a farm. It is a family friendly immersive experience that honors Japanese farming traditions and preserves our history while educating tourists about sustainability and community involvement.  It’s quite amazing actually, the expansive acres, so many different crops, food stands, animals, and so many activities. 

Strawberry Season: April - July:

Upon entering the farm, you make your way through and towards the wagons where you’ll be driven through the entire perimeter of the area. It’s expansive. There’s everything from bananas, corn, sunflowers, brussel sprouts, kale, and blackberries which is a testament to our SoCal weather. 

Once we stopped at the strawberry fields, Connor and his lil buddy couldn't contain their excitement as they were handed small baskets and shown how to pluck the ripest, juiciest strawberries from the plants. The squeals and smiles on their faces were priceless.

A Learning Experience:

Aside from picking fruit, Tanaka Farms is dedicated to preserving our rich history which is so incredibly important. During WWII, all Japanese Americans at that time lost everything when they were imprisoned and sent to internment camps throughout the U.S. This includes my grandparents, who owned and operated the largest strawberry farming production in CA for decades. Walking past the wall of history dedicated to California’s Japanese American farming families, it was surreal and I intend on honoring my grandparents with their legacy on this wall shortly (stay tuned for update!) 

Tips when Visiting the Farm: 

Here are some helpful tips when visiting Tanaka Farms to make your trip that more fun. 

• The sun can be oppressive depending on the season, so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. 

• Wear comfortable shoes with tread. Sneakers and boots are great, definitely no sandals or open toed shoes. 

• Strollers are allowed, but if you have a jogging all terrain stroller that is preferred. 

• Public drinking water is not available unless for purchase at their market or food stands. I suggest bringing a large reusable water bottle. 

I can’t think of a better weekend activity than visiting Tanaka Farms. I hope if you are in the Irvine or OC area you are able to experience this as it is a very fun and memorable trip for the entire family. The next time we plan to go will be pumpkin patch season and I can’t wait! Until then :) 

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