Pull Over 

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Trinity River Farm hugs Highway 96 about 2 1/2 miles north of Willow Creek. Its farm stand welcomes visitors with a "Honk for Service" sign out front. The late May sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky when I visited, but the temperature was kept to a pleasant level by a breeze that gently swayed the trees around the stand and neighboring old barn.

I knew I would not find produce because the season starts in June, but I had the chance to get some eggs, browse the greenhouses teeming with starters of edible and garden plants, and talk to the farmer, Tom O'Gorman. On a photo collage hanging on the wall opposite the cash register I saw the evolution of the farm stand from the initial structure built in 1971 to now.

A farm stand allows a more personal, usually more relaxed interaction with the farmer than the farmers' market. It's a shopping option on non-market days and can offer some special treats, like a perfectly ripe item too delicate or not available in large enough quantities to bring to the larger venue. The abundance of some fruit or vegetable — from apples, plums and peaches to tomatoes, green beans and more — inspires me to can or otherwise preserve it for later. Plum preserves or strained roasted tomatoes are my favorite antidote to short, gloomy days.

Each farm stand is different in terms of what's available, hours of operation and duration of the season. When I inquired about plans for the season for the farm stand, the recurring answer was: It all depends on the weather — the great decider of what gets ripe when and in what amount. Hence, the dates are not set in stone. If you are making a special trip to a farm stand or are interested in a specific item, like raspberries, peaches, sweet corn or your favorite variety of tomato, call ahead.

City of Arcata's Bayside Park Farm

930 Old Arcata Road 822-7091

www.cityofarcata.org

Jayme Buckley

Now until the end of October, every Wednesday noon-6 p.m.

Vegetables and pick-your-own herbs, flowers and leafy greens.

Clendenen's Cider Works

96 South 12th St., Fortuna 725-2123

www.clendenensciderworks.com

Clif Clendenen

Early August until February,

Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,

Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Many varieties of apples and fresh cider.

The Corn Crib

Avenue of the Giants, Pepperwood

(The corn-yellow stand is about 2 miles down from southbound U.S. 101 Exit 674)

499-0774, facebook.com/famsarvinski

Gene and Ginger Sarvinski

From late June or early July until November, Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, summer and winter squashes, peas and green beans.

Flood Plain Produce

31117 Avenue of the Giants, Pepperwood

722-4330, www.facebook.com/pages/Flood-Plain-Produce

Holly and Mel Kreb

From mid-July until September, daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fruit and vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, brassica, lettuce, melons and summer and winter squash.

High Oak Farm

105 Shelter Cove Road, Whitethorn

(Even though the address is in Whitethorn, turn toward Shelter Cove at the Shelter Cove Road junction — the road to the farm is just past the junction.) 986-7481

Larry Ogden

Open now until late summer, daily 10 a.m. until dark

Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

Kneeland Glen Farm Stand

5851 Myrtle Ave., Eureka 496-0459

facebook.com/KneelandGlenFarmstand

Kathy Mullen

Open daily noon-6 p.m.

Produce, eggs, handmade items and cottage-industry foods and crafts from about 20 vendors.

McIntosh Farms

At the McIntosh Farm County Store

1264 Giuntoli Lane, Arcata 822-0487

From mid-June or early July until November, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.,

Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Also at the farm on Seely McIntosh Road, Willow Creek

Open from mid-June or early July until October, daily

Fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, stone fruit, persimmons and chestnuts.

Organic Matters Ranch

6743 Myrtle Ave., Eureka 407-3276

www.facebook.com/pages/Organic-Matters-Ranch

Heather Plaza and John Gary

Summer dates and hours TBA.

Redwood Greens

120466 U.S. 101, Orick

Les Terry

Open now until October, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday (possibly Saturday) from 10 a.m. (closing time depends on availability of produce)

Vegetables, strawberries and eggs.

Redwood Roots Farm

Jacoby Creek Road, Bayside (Look for the banner off Old Arcata Road) 826-0261

Janet Czarnecki

redwoodrootsfarm.com

Open from early June until October, Tuesday and Thursday noon-6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Vegetables and pick-your-own flowers and strawberries.

Saechao Strawberries

Eel River Drive, Fortuna (Go south on Eel River Drive from the Kenmar Exit off U.S. 101) 845-3930

Chan Yan Saechao

Open now until July, or until the strawberries run out, daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m., depending on the amount of berries.

Trinity River Farm

2443 State Route 96, Willow Creek

530-629-3200

Kay Walstad and Tom O'Gorman

www.trinityriverfarm.com

Open at the farm now until the end of October, daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

In Willow Creek (across from Renner Petroleum), from the beginning of July (when peach season starts) until October, daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, peaches and figs.

Simona Carini also writes about her adventures in the kitchen on her blog:www.pulcetta.com.