It’s Apples and Oranges

The phrase “It’s apples and oranges” usually refers to a choice between two things--neither better than the other, just different.

When the choice is between the actual fruit, the Market Lady couldn’t agree more. That is why two roadside produce stands--Rancho Arnaz, a 100-year-old mule barn surrounded by apple orchards, and Friends Ranches, a working citrus packinghouse surrounded by orange groves--are this week’s park-it-and-market stops.

As a bonus, you get the added attraction of doing your marketing while taking Ventura County’s most spectacularly scenic drive into the foothills of Los Padres National Forest on winding Highway 33.

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To say Rancho Arnaz has been around awhile is an understatement.

Don Jose de Arnaz came from Spain in 1847, acquired the ranch and began to farm the acreage near what is now Oak View.

The apple orchards surrounding the old Rancho Arnaz produce barn weren’t planted and developed as a business until 1939. However, the barn--where you can sample or buy delicious, fresh cider--was built in 1885.

The ramshackle old building was originally a relay station between Ojai and Ventura. Cargo drivers exchanged their tired mules at the barn for fresh ones.

Today, Chuck Kennedy runs the Rancho Arnaz produce market, which is open every day of the year from 10 a.m. until sunset (shorter hours on holidays) at 9504 Highway 33, also known as North Ventura Avenue.

Along with the fresh-pressed cider is a good selection of other fruits, veggies and sundries--avocados, onions, saddles, local jellies, honey and nuts, and so on. There is even an antique store in the back of the open-fronted barn.

Unpasteurized apple and apple-cherry cider, brought in fresh every Saturday morning, is for sale by the pint for $2, up to a gallon for $8. Ask for a free sample and you will probably decide to take home the gallon.

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Back on the two-lane blacktop, drive on through Oak View to Ojai, then head north a couple of miles. Here, Highway 33 is also known as Maricopa Highway.

The Friends Ranches packinghouse is idyllically nestled by the roadside at the base of Foothill Trail, at 15150 Maricopa Highway, overlooking its own orchards. You can take a hike after buying a bag of the best navel oranges in the county. Or try some Friends Ranches orange juice, lemons, six varieties of tangerines, avocados or honey.

For added authenticity, you can see (and sometimes smell, if you’re lucky) the packinghouse in operation. The only negative about doing your marketing at Friends? Its hours: Tuesday and Friday mornings from 7 to noon. The rest of the week, certified farmers’ markets--such as Ojai’s Sunday morning downtown market--are its outlets.

“We also sell at three Los Angeles markets, like the Santa Monica farmers market on Wednesdays,” said Tony Thacher, who owns the Friends operation with his wife, Anne. “It’s the biggest farmers’ market in the state.”

Thacher said that up to a dozen Ventura County growers sell at the Santa Monica market, near the 3rd Street promenade.

“On that morning, you can almost follow a caravan of us heading down there, with fruit, vegetables, honey, cut flowers or eggs,” he said.

Like all orange ranchers, Thacher has had his worries this winter with the coldest temperatures he has seen since 1990. He has lost some citrus to frost, although his losses have been nothing like those of the San Joaquin Valley’s citrus farmers.

“The San Joaquin Valley usually harvests 90% of California navels, with 10% coming from Ventura, San Diego and Riverside counties,” he said. “Its crop losses have had a dramatic effect on navels.”

This summer, he expects quite a shortage of oranges and lemons at the market.

Even today, he is getting a slightly higher price for oranges--$10.50 for a 24-pound bag and $5.75 for a 12-pound bag.

But he thinks the customers are still getting their money’s worth.

“Quite frankly, Ojai grows a superior brand of orange,” he said.

When buying oranges, look for three things to make sure they aren’t weather-damaged, he said: “First, you want it to feel heavy. Then look for good, even color. Then check the stem to make sure it hasn’t been gassed [the stem will be brown or not fresh-looking].

“Otherwise, it’s hard to tell how an orange will taste just by looking at it.”

Only 10% of Friends Ranches’ navel oranges have been picked so far. “We try to keep fruit on trees as late as possible,” Thacher said. “The peak months for navels are February and March. They’ll be sweeter.”