Gowan's Fruit Stand
GOWAN'S OAK TREE"
Grandpa Gowan, Cecil
 Red Delicious Tree ripened. Orchard Tour |
 Packing Shed Tour |
In the summer of 1880, George Studebaker first loaded his horse-drawn wagon with home grown apples and peaches from his farm in Anderson Valley. He would be on the road for three days peddling his fruit to the loggers and fishermen of the Mendocino coast. This was the start of a long history of providing high quality, fresh fruit to the residents of Mendocino County and the surrounding areas. In the summer and fall of the years to come, Mendocino Coast residents would listen for the harness bells of his six horse team and dream of the peaches and apples being delivered on the wagon.
George continued this service until his Son-in-law M. Cecil Gowan took over the business in 1922 and peddled an ever increasing variety of fruits and vegetables. His route soon included towns along the coast from Fort Bragg to Gualala. Even after the acquisition of a motor powered truck in the early 1930's, Cecil would often, due to the lack of good roads, make it a two or three day trip through the area.
In the 1930's, Cecil's wife, Alice, began selling boxes of apples at the roadside at their home near Philo. As people returned year after year, the site became known as Gowan's Oak Tree, for the tree which still shades the stand. Cecil's son and his wife Josephine now head the family corporation. Together with four of their seven children, they farm 200 acres of orchards and 25 acres of vegetables.
Their apple juice has become a regional favorite and is available fresh or fresh frozen. With the tremendous variety of apples available they have been able to make seasonal blends, each having its own unique taste, from the tangy tartness of the Gravenstein to the luscious sweetness a late fall Golden Delicious blend
A modern packing facility allows the Gowan's to ship75,000 to 100,000 boxes of carefully packed, top quality apples to leading produce retailers of Northern California. The Raley's Supermarket chain often spotlights a number of varieties from the Gowan Orchards throughout the season. Their apples are also often available at Safeway Stores in northern California and many small grocery and specialty stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. When you`re shopping for fresh, delicious apples, look for the Full Pack label. If you don't see it, ask the produce manager to get some for you.
After 50 years of operation, the roadside fruit stand has expanded to include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables such as apricots, cherries, prunes and plums, eight varieties of pears thirty-eight varieties of peaches, sixty varieties of apples, peas, squash, beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cabbage, potatoes, walnuts, and more. Residents of cities as far away as Sacramento and the bay area often make a day out of driving to Gowan's to stock-up on top quality and tasty produce. Visitors to the Mendocino Coast and the nearby state parks plan their trips so they can make at least one stop. Once you've tasted the best Mother Earth has to offer you're sure to become regular at Gowan's Oak Tree, and we're glad to serve you.