This is exactly the kind of roadside fruit stand you hope to stumble across on a scenic drive. Everything feels fresh, authentic, and welcoming. The produce is beautiful, the fresh apple cider is outstanding, and the homemade pies are almost impossible to walk away from without buying one... or two. What really makes the experience special is the atmosphere. Surrounded by gorgeous scenery, it's the perfect place to slow down for a bit. Grab a cider, browse the fresh produce, let the kids enjoy the playground, and simply take in the peaceful surroundings. You can tell there's real pride behind everything here, from the quality of the produce to the friendly service. It's a refreshing reminder that some of the best stops aren't the big tourist attractions--they're the family-owned places that have been doing things right all along. If you're driving through Anderson Valley, don't just drive by. Pull over, stretch your legs, and treat yourself. You'll be glad you did. read more

TBH it's expensive and the drive from Sacramento sucks but so delicious cider, the best apple cider I've ever had--ice cold, crisp, no after taste, and cider jelly! We love to support local farms when we can, definitely worth a biennial visit. We picked up some persimmon also while here. The folks are friendly; you can certainly strike up some conversation. This stand is set up inside a barn. You can't miss it! read more

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The apple cider slushies are bomb. So good I had to go back and get another before I left. It's a little expensive but I think it's totally reasonable for home-made/grown products. read more

A great roadside stand. Very nice, covered facility with friendly employees at the counter. A large variety of fruits to choose from . . . peaches, berries, plums, cherries and more. We were on our drive from Mendocino to the Oakland airport for a flight out, so we only bought cherries for a snack on the drive. I wish we could have purchased more as the selection was large and it all looked good. The cherries were a perfect snack; delicious and, of course, fresh. read more

Frequent customer of Gowan's when passing through State Route 128. It's convenient when camping among these parts. We've purchased various items like asparagus, cherries, apple whole fruit and juice. Besides the great produce they provide, it's also a great rest stop. read more

hit or miss here. this visit I was told I had to get me some of the cider slushie and it was truly delicious. we also bought 2 different 1/2 gallons of fresh cider: one was perfect, delicious and appley, and the other tasted like it had been watered down (more than half water, I'd guess) and it had almost no sweetness or apple flavor, and barely a pinkish yellow tint to it. sometimes the pink pearl apples (which are my favorite that they sell) are the best tart-sweet crispy treats you ever ate and you turn your car around down the road just to return and buy a bigger bag of them...and other times they are the worst mushy pithy garbage fruit that you just throw away in disgust. sadly this time, in the height of apple season with fat fresh apples hanging low on all their loaded trees, they sold me the manky compost fruit that seemed like last year's stored yuckiness. selling bad-textured old fruit in the peak of the season is a freaking crime imo. read more

An awesome place to stop for fresh produce while driving down highway 128! I've probably passed by this produce market about a dozen or so times during my trips to Anderson Valley/Mendocino, but I've never given myself enough time to check it out until now. It's not the largest produce market, but I was impressed with how fresh everything tasted and after I made my purchase. As soon as I walked in, a very friendly gentleman greeted me and asked me if I had any questions. There was a nice assortment of fruits and vegetables. I came here at the end of the day, so there was less inventory than usual, but I was still able to pick up some things. You'll find fresh made jams, apple cider vinegar, and local honey for sale. They also carry fresh made apple cider since this is what they're known for. There's a cidery right next door where you can do hard cider tastings (it was closed when I arrived). The gentleman at the register gave me a sample of their white cherries and they tasted absolutely scrumptious. I generally don't care for cherries (especially dark ones), but I ended up purchasing some of the white ones because they were so dang juicy and sweet. Their raspberries and strawberries were delicious too. I absolutely adore side of the road markets and fruit stands like these, but they can definitely be hit or miss when it comes to pricing and quality. Although I thought Gowan's was a tad bit pricey, the quality was everything. The fruits actually lasted me a while which was surprising since I'm sure they don't spray them with preservatives. I usually try to visit this area at least once a year, and I'm excited to come back here again during my next visit. read more

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We've been loyal customers for 20+years. Friendly, real, and no frills. Just great fruit picked fresh. Best apple pies on earth.

Organic naturally grown produces. We are both sommeliers so when we saw the normal sized produces on the stands we got excited. From our studies, we know that fruits need to struggle on the vines for the concentrated flavors and higher brix. The sizes of fruits we get in grocery stores aren't normal. Only regret is we didn't get boxes of everything. The apples, pears and pumpkins were packed with flavors and sweetness. Even the slush and popsicles were excellent. I think this place is a destination meaning it's worth of planning your trip around it read more

Such an amazing little spot to stop! They are located right off the main road, so don't drive too fast or you will miss it. There is a lot of open space, perfect for social distancing. They offer a $15 tasting of all the ciders out front or in the open air barn. They also have outdoor heaters for those foggy days. The staff is so friendly and we actually got to meet the owner. She is a hard worker we and we were so happy to support her. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and skipped the tasting but they offered me a hot spiced cider to sip on while my party tasted. It was so nice! The ciders are only about $15 a bottle to take home, so it's a huge benefit to buy directly from the source. We were impressed to see they didn't raise the price to the grocery store price and passed these savings on to us. Awesome family business! We will be back soon. read more

I LOVED THIS PLACE!! I bought the best "hard apple cider" I have ever had!! It's family owned and ran. Not to mention it's the most relaxing environment. Plus you can enjoy it with a hard cider slushy!! If your ever near Philo, stop by!! Even if just to pick up a gallon of regular apple cider / apple pie. If Philo is to far for you? I normally buy mine at "Raleys". If I get lucky. I've seen them all over the place though. I've even seen them on tap at a brewery in downtown Santa Rosa. Also I have a buddy whom has a gluten allergy. I told her about Gowan cider. And now it's her favorite too!! So it turns out to be an awesome gift for people with a gluten allergy! read more

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Honestly? I wasn't too impressed with the apples that I got here. I'm not sure if it's because I came on a Monday or if it was because it was in the middle of October, but the apples being shown were bruised or old-looking. I bought a bag of it anyways and when I went home to cut it up the apples had a really grainy/mealy texture to it, which only happens when apples have been picked from the tree and sitting there for weeks. I suppose I should be happy that the farmers markets in SF have people who sell apples for the same if not cheaper price than what I was given ($3.50/lb is INSANE) and that I'm not missing much by not driving up. read more

So disappointed! I grew up stopping here with my folks as a kid every time we drove through the area. I even remember taking weekend drives specifically to come over to this farm stand. Those times are over... I visited the stand, was barely greeted even though I was the only customer. I purchased my items, took them to my vehicle, and came back to ask for the restroom key (sign states to ask at fruit stand counter). I asked for the key and was rudely told that I could use the restroom "if I became a customer." I smiled and told the gentleman that I had just purchased items, and was given an eye roll and begrudgingly handed a key. I got my fruit home, and the next day my plums and peaches were already starting to rot. Yes, actually rot. Decided to still slice and make a dessert where I ended up throwing 3/4 of the fruit away as after I cut into the fruits, discovered brown, bruised, rotting flesh of the stone fruit. Too far gone to even salvage for jam. Actually tasted rotten with no fruit flavor. These fruits should not have been sold. So sad to see a place I was excited to continue to support become so unfriendly and lack the quality they once had. read more

The cutest little place on the drive to San Francisco! A friend had told me this place is a must stop if I was going to be driving by. Since I was on a road trip, I got some of the cider and dried fruits. It's a beautiful area they have! They were a bit pricey, but was happy to help support a family run, small business! read more

We wanted to cook dinner, so we made a pit stop here. Apple pie, apple cider, white corn, and Yukon potatoes. Simply the best. I haven't had apple pie like that EVER. It was fresh, definitely home made, and it took an hour to reheat. I actually like Bernie's apple cider better, but Gowan's cider is comparable. It was so good . . you must try. Stock up if you can . . it's totally worth it. They accept credit cards. Yay. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOOD STAND. read more

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I love this place so much!!! I can't go on a trip up north without stopping at Gowan's Oak Tree. I stopped here two days ago and the lady working the stand was friendly and cheerful. I love their dried apples and their cider, and have memories of the dried fruit and fresh fruit from this stand since I was a little girl. My father used to buy boxes of apples to bake his holiday pies with. SOOO Yummy!! This last visit I also tried their dried persimmons and they were amazing. When I was growing up, you could even stop here when the stand was closed and they would have a few things out for sale with a box to put your money in. I'm not sure if they still do that, but it made me feel good when I saw that. They also have a public restroom on site, which is very valuable on the long drive to/from wherever you're going since nothing is near by. Oh, they also have picnic benches (if I remember right) and a water faucet to water your pets or wash your hands. I can't remember if they have a drinking fountain but I bet they do. read more

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Such a neat treat to have frozen cider pops and fresh fruit ya and veggies. I love supporting small businesses so this was doubly good. read more

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I went here at least ten times while visiting Boonville in December. Their large hot apple cider is $2.50 and it's addicting. You could also buy a jug and heat it up yourself. Lots of fresh apples, quince, persimmons, and dried fruits and nuts with no preservatives. There's a couple good giftable items, like jelly, jam, apple sauce, hand salves. read more

Apple cider slushy was great and rare find, good prices and nice service, everything locally grown read more

Grace's Oak Tree Fruit Stand - Food Stands Near Me - Philo, California

I was really happy to stop at this fruit stand shop on the way back from Mendocino. They had apples and pears and persimmons, as well as jams and honey and cider. They also had a separate little shed with a bathroom, which was clean and very welcomed. read more

We've seen this Apple stand every time we go to the Mendocino coast but this was our first time to stop. Being it was a Monday and in mid October it wasn't busy at all, which is great. We were on a mission for apples and apple juice. Even though it is approaching the end of the apple season they still had a large variety of apples and juices to choose from. The woman that helped us was very friendly and cheery and obviously loves what she does. She explained the harvesting process and how they make their juices! We ended up with a very large bag of apples for $ 8.00 and a half gallon of juice for $6.00. The apples are crisp and delicious and the juice is very good, some of the best I've ever tasted! There is plenty of parking and there are public restrooms available ( which are clean ). This will definitely be a place we stop by on future trips to the coast. read more

Grace's Oak Tree Fruit Stand - Food Stands Near Me - Philo, California

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Fresh apple cider. Multiple apple varieties, including my fave Pink Lady. All organic!

My favorite little apple stop sells the fabulous apples grown by Gowan's. They also have a cider stand with tastings, but I 'm sold in their apple juice. It can be frozen without loosing any flavor. I stop here to load up every time I pass through so I always have this juice on hand. read more

Went there yesterday on the way out from camping to look at what they had. One woman working there said nothing to us, and the other ignored us. Since the atmosphere wasn't friendly, we chose not to look at the somewhat pricey produce, and selected our minimum desire, a half gallon of apple juice from the cooler. Today we opened it, and it tastes like no apple juice I've bought fresh before, it's very watery as though water has been added to it. So much for local! read more

This is a good rest stop if you're on your way to Mendocino. Apple cider- $2, naturally sweet and refreshing Apple cider popsicle- $1.50, tasty, but melts quickly and can cause quite a mess Two apples- $0.50, small and overpriced Their apples were pathetic looking and pathetic tasting. Nothing can compare to the handpicked apples in Massachusetts. I've tasted the best and now there's no turning back. Yes, I'm an apple snob! Can't wait to go apple picking again in Massachusetts. Also, I witnessed a customer paying $4 for two medium peaches. How can anyone justify charging that much for some peaches? Overall, try the apple cider and apple cider popsicles, but avoid the overpriced produce. read more

Grace's Oak Tree Fruit Stand - Food Stands Near Me - Philo, California

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I love the location, which is right off Route 128. It's almost too tempting to pass up. They have ample parking and they make some of the best apple cider I've ever had. It was uber fresh with pure, clean flavor. They also make a really good sugar-free apple sauce. both were so delicious I wished I had purchased more food stuffs. I really liked the wide variety of squash, apples, and pears they had to offer. Their prices were good, too. Unfortunately, service was diffident at best, thus the lack of stars. read more

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Nestled on a little spot near Navarro Vineyards, we stopped here on the way back from our whirlwind wine tasting thinking, "need something else to drink besides wine or the twisty roads will have their way with my stomach lining!" The fruit selection was rather small at the time because, well.., it was the end of a crappy winter. Who cares- I was there for refreshing libations, not produce! I had an awesome cup of hot unfiltered cider last fall from a spot in Concord, Massachusetts that set the pace for all ciders. I saw several signs about cider from Gowan's, so I ordered a large cuppa cuppa. Being the greedy apple juice fiend that I am, I also bought a pint of cold apple juice and while she was pouring the hot cider, I spied a bag of dried apple slices. OK, so I'm walking out of the place while JR kept the car running like I was going to rob the place with two handfuls of appley goodness. The cider? Good: not spectacular, because I prefer mine unfiltered and this one was filtered, but the spices were nice. The Granny Smith apple chips were very good. I don't recall if they were sulphured or not but they tasted great and with a few minutes in the oven and then cooled back down, got even crisper. I liked these much better than the ones i've gotten in a foil bag in the supermarket- those seemed to have an oily film over them and I thought that was gross! We'll have to make another pitstop here next time we're in town to get more apple slices and try some of their fresh produce! read more

Grace's Oak Tree Fruit Stand - Food Stands Near Me - Philo, California

Very friendly staff here helps educate you on apples and pears and everything tasty. ;) I bought a Johnagold apple based on the gal's recommendation and it was amazing. The apple cider is the way to go here too - the pear cider, not so much. Tons of dried fruits and lots of other produce as well. Would definitely stop by there again! read more

It's peach season! Pears too and the apples are coming in. I make a pilgrimage here each year to get the biggest, juiciest peaches in Northern California. They have an amazing range of varieties of peaches, apples & pears. Yep I'll drive an hour to get some O'Henry peaches to eat fresh, grill and for pies, I even freeze them to make pies over the winter. We also get white peaches for making bellini mix which we freeze (nothing like a peach bellini on New Years Eve! Biggest, sweetest peaches you'll find. Many many apple varieties too starting now into fall/winter. Friendly generational family business. We stop here on any trip to Mendocino and find something. Potatoes, apples, corn, great apple cider vinegar.......Lots of apples & fresh apple cider too. Okay folks it ain't fancy but it's fabulous! read more

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Great little farm stand with apples, pears, delicious apple cider and farm fresh eggs!

Two stars for the initial cat-related talk, otherwise don't expect any customer service. Very small sad selection of sad looking fruits. But I'm mostly reviewing it because it was extortionate and many items were unmarked: 2 apples, a pint (8oz) of cider and the smallest jar of apple butter cost us $15... I regret not saying anything at the time and digesting my bill shock while driving away in the car. Anyway, if you decide to stop here in the future, I hope you get lucky with the selection, but don't forget to rob that bank first read more

This place is on the side of the road where it curves, so its super easy to miss! After the third time passing it, my husband finally stopped. It was a Sunday and not very busy, maybe 2 other people there. I expected to see a lot more than they had available, but I did pick up a bag of tomatoes, a basket of plums, and a basket of apricots for $5 each. I meant to pick up some frozen apple cider, but forgot. I love that there are 3 friendly cats there hanging out at (and ON) the register! It has a cute little outhouse off the parking lot, bonus! read more

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Apples pies, cherries and Gravenstein applesauce. Yum! A must-stop fan stand that takes debit cards:-) read more

Grace's Oak Tree Fruit Stand - Easy to find with the giant oak tree! - Food Stands Near Me - Philo, California

I love this family run farm off of 128! So much so that its a mandatory stop on every trip back from Mendo. I usually buy one of everything for myself and as gifts. The people are so nice every time Ive gone in for the past 10 years and they have been working this farm since the 1930s. So many great things to choose from, even in winter: hot and cold apple cider, apple chips, apple sauce, frozen apple pie, popsicles, various dried fruit, nuts, jams and apple cider jelly, the best honey, fresh apples, fresh pears, garlic, onions, squash, pumpkins, and fresh eggs. There is plenty of parking and restrooms are available as well. Thank you!! read more

Cutest place EVER. Easy to miss on 128 esp if you have been wine tasting up and down the stretch, but you should NOT miss this place. Fresh apple cider, it was BOMB. Apple pie made from some local orchard, just cook in the oven for an hour. Apples like these should be outlawed, so crunchy and thick with fiber. The pie crust was amazing too and hello I know how hard pie crust can be! The white corn here was the BEST I HAVE HAD IN YEARS. Take that Whole Foods. I wanted to get it shipped weekly to my house in SJ. Unfortunately they don't have that service. Fresh cherries, again some of the best I have had. They had a abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, all grown locally. Why don't we have one of these up the street from us? And I am not talking Jose selling strawberries on the corner near the school either. Me want a Gowans!!! read more

So on the 8th day, after God had finished resting do you know what he did? He created the tomatoes at Gowan's Oak Tree Fruit Stand. Oh, yes he did. We've never had such sweet, firm tomatoes EVER! Not even in Italy! These tomatoes left no doubt that they are indeed a fruit and not a vegetable. We are considering making a 3 hour round trip drive back to pick up more--that's how good there were. The corn, Gala apples and peaches were good too. But the tomatoes...! Red-skinned spheres of sweet, glistening, delectable gushing innards. ::Swoon:: read more

We stopped at Gowan's on the way to Mendocino. Passing by an orchard we noticed signs for fresh apples and stopped at the little fruit stand. The most incredibly friendly man gave us tasters of apples and told us he married the woman (Gowan) and moved to Philo after growing up in East LA. The reason I tell you all about this place is the apple cider. It is the best apple cider I have ever tried. It is so good!!! GET THE APPLE CIDER!!! There are restrooms and a doggie water bowl too! read more

Writing this is killing me. I wanted to love this place so much! To start with the positive: the variety and choice of apples at Gowan's is phenomenal - Gravenstein and Spartan and Northern Spy and Sierra Beauty and Spitzenburg, oh my! As a former northeasterner and an absolute lover of apples, I was in heaven. That is, until I had to interact with the staff. Wow. Very rarely in my life have I faced such uninterested, unhappy, unresponsive and downright surly people. And I went there twice in the past two days and dealt with two completely different sets of employees! I guess working in a touristy spot on a main drag can be a drag. And maybe it's the end of a long season. But darnit people - put a happy face on! read more

Fantastic assortment of heritage apples, including the amazing Sierra Beauty, which Gowan's preserved and propagated for other orchards when this variety fell out of commercial production back in the early 20th century. Treat yourself to a cup (r gallon!) of delicious apple cider and be sure to try one of the frozen apple pies (heat at 350 F for 1 hour and its like home made). Seasonal produce available in addition to the apples. If you are traveling with your pet, they have a water dish set-up. Bicyclers are welcome. read more

Always a fan favorite of locals. I love the ice cold cider they make with apples from their farm. #MoneyMikeChallenge