Truman Ranch II

You thought you knew citrus… until you go to Truman Ranch II.
Jump in your car and head to Surprise. Hit Greenway Road (about a mile south of Bell Rd) and drive all the way west and look for the signs that say «U-​Pick Citrus». You will come to a former U of A Citrus Agricultural Research Center managed by Mr. Truman and his lovely wife.
For $ 10, you get a 15 lb bag and for $ 20, a 40lb bag. Mix and match from any of the over 85 varieties of citrus fruits. There are all sorts of lemons, grapefruits, oranges, mandarin oranges, pummelo, and more!
Mr. Truman is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to citrus. He will advise visitors on which fruits are the sweetest at the time of your visit, let you taste the different varieties that are the most ripe, and educate you on the different types you will find on your walkabout.
Some tips before you go:
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*the season begins somewhere around December through April (check his FB page)
*they only open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 3:00pm
*they take cash or check — no cards
*take LOTS of water with you. There’s a lot of walking. And you’re in the desert… duh.
*take a small folding knife with you — you’ll want to try a fruit before you start picking fiftykagillion of them just to go home and find out you picked the ones Mr. Truman told you weren’t any good.
*bring a washcloth. Those suckers can be pretty juicy! You don’t want to be wandering around with juice slathering down your chin and neck and lure thirsty critters to your face.
*wear comfy shoes — no thong sandals. Wear what you would wear hiking. You’ll be more comfortable.
*bring your kids — they should see that fruit doesn’t grow in grocery stores, and most of the citrus you see there you won’t ever see in a store.
*the 40 lb bag is the best deal for the $
*have fun and share! 40 lbs of fruit is a lot and if you’re worried that it will spoil before you get through it all, remember you can juice it, or share it with your friends and neighbors. My dog would gladly share some with you.
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We all need to help support our local farms and businesses. There is no other place like this one. I guarantee you will be glad you went.