About Us
The Apricot Producers of California is a bargaining association representing a collective of family growers in the Central Valley who produce heirloom apricots to be enjoyed fresh, canned, frozen, and dried. Third and fourth-generation growers nurture this specialty crop that boasts a tangy yet sweet flavor packed with nutrients. Spend time in one of our orchards, and you’ll witness new and old-school sustainability measures that ensure a bountiful harvest starting every June. And because apricots are a delicate fruit, they are hand-picked at the peak of ripeness. Enjoy them fresh (while you can!) or year-round in canned or sun-dried forms.
Also, here’s a fun fact…if your little one is having a frozen apricot cup at school, know that those were grown on a family farm here in California’s heartland.
Our President
Daniel Bays is a third generation apricot grower from Patterson, CA that grew up around the industry, learning from and working with his father and grandfather, who have both been involved with Apricot Producers of California for many years. Daniel graduated from Cal Poly, SLO and returned home where he farms with his father Ken and grandfather Gene. Daniel and his wife, Rebecca, are raising the next generation of apricot growers and have four children that enjoy being out in the orchard as well.
Some sweet history . . .
Originally from China, apricots were cultivated extensively in the Mediterranean before being brought to North America. Although originally introduced in Virginia, apricot cultivation in North America was unsuccessful until Spanish missionaries brought apricots to California in the late 1700s. Years later, in the 1800’s, Santa Clara County was then unofficially declared “The Apricot Capital of the World.” Today, California continues to produce nearly 90% of all canned, dried, and frozen apricots that are available year-round to enjoy. In the 1950s and 60s, much of California’s apricot production moved inland and now happens in the San Joaquin Valley, and Patterson, CA, has taken the title of “The Apricot Capital of the World”.