Okanagan farms, orchards, and markets have their own special rhythm that will entice you to return again and again. Cherries ripen in July, peaches follow in August, and by September, the apple trees are heavy, and the pumpkin patches are coming. Miss one window and you'll wait a whole year for it to open again, which is exactly why the valley's farm markets require multiple visits. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Kelowna and the Okanagan are one of Canada's most celebrated food regions — and these four Must-Visit Farm Spots are among the best things to do in the Okanagan in summer and fall.

Davison Orchards Country Village, Vernon — a four-generation farm experience near Kelowna

There are farm markets, and then there is Davison Orchards: a full-on destination where four generations of the Davison family have been growing premium fruit and vegetables on the same land since 1933. Located about 55 minutes north of Kelowna, it's the kind of place that requires a half day (or more) dedicated to the visit.

The experience starts with tractor train tours through the orchards and gardens, giving visitors a look at how the food grows. The Crazy Cow Kids Corral playground is a hit with the little ones, and a menagerie of friendly farm animals captures everyone’s attention. But it's the market and bakery that steal the show.

Fresh-baked pies, cinnamon rolls, and homemade jams line the shelves alongside cold-pressed apple juice and an impressive selection of preserves, country gifts, and, of course, seasonal fruits and vegetables. For something to eat on the spot, the Farmhouse Café serves farm-to-table breakfast and lunch while The Old Brick Press pours specialty coffee and offers Real Fruit Ice Cream.

Admission is free, the views over the valley are stunning, and U-Pick is available depending on the season. Davison Orchards runs daily from May 1 through October 31 (market and bakery 9 am–5:30 pm; café 9 am–4:30 pm).
 

Depending on the season, here’s what you can find at Davison Orchards:

• Apples (multiple varieties)
• Peaches
• Cherries
• Pears
• Fresh vegetables (seasonal)
• Cold-pressed apple juice and cider products
• Homemade jams, preserves, and value-added goods

Learn more about Davison Orchard's produce.

Don-O-Ray Farm Market — Kelowna's beloved Mission neighbourhood farm stand

Don-O-Ray Farm Market started as a humble farm gate vegetable stand in 1960, and over the decades, it has grown into one of the Mission neighbourhood's most beloved one-stop shops in Kelowna. Now stewarded by the Sanghera and Basran families, the 45-acre property operates on a simple philosophy: grow it fresh, pick it daily, sell it the same day.

The produce reflects the full range of what the Okanagan has to offer. Giant peaches, sweet corn, purple cauliflower, raspberries, strawberries, and tomatoes—crops harvested that morning, available at the stand that afternoon. Beyond their own fields, Don-O-Ray sources additional goods from neighbouring farmers and artisans, rounding out the selection with products you won't find in any supermarket. Add to that house-made hot sauces, pies, jams, freezer soups, and Nature's Kitchen prepared meals, and it's easy to spend far more time here than you planned.

Families with kids will appreciate the petting zoo — complete with Hayley the pony, lambs, and bunnies — as well as a play area and a pumpkin patch in the fall. Don-O-Ray is open June through December, 9 am to 7 pm daily.

Here’s what you can find at Don-O-Ray, depending on the season:

• Peaches, apricots, cherries
• Strawberries, raspberries, haskap berries
• Sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes
• Purple cauliflower and other specialty vegetables
• Squash, pumpkins (fall)
• Herbs and greens
• House-made hot sauces, pies, jams, and prepared meals

See what's available at Don-O-Ray Farms.

Gatzke's Farm Market  —  a polyculture orchard in Oyama, Lake Country

Situated where the isthmus narrows between Kalamalka and Wood Lakes in Oyama — what locals call "the Heart of the Okanagan" — Gatzke's has been a fixture of the valley since the 1930s. Four generations in, the 25-acre orchard is what farmers call a polyculture enterprise: it intentionally grows many different varieties within many different species, with 50 types of tree fruit, 14 kinds of cherries, and 21 apple varieties from Ambrosia to Fuji. That diversity is the whole point.

The farm market runs May through mid-September and is a showcase of the season's best, with cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, and apples rotating through the stands as harvest progresses. The fresh selection is exceptional and the bakery earns equal billing. Grandma Gatzke's vintage pie recipe, unchanged since 1941 and still made by her great-granddaughters today, is reason enough to visit.

Beyond the market, the property has evolved into a genuine agritourism hub. Pane Vino Pizzeria operates on-site, sourcing fresh basil and cherry tomatoes directly from the orchard (you can watch the chef run out to the garden between orders). Pedego Oyama, also on-site, rents e-bikes for exploring the Okanagan Rail Trail along the lake. Don't leave without picking up a jar of 'Oyama Fire' salsa, made from the farm's own harvest. Gatzke's also makes a natural stop if you're travelling between Kelowna and Vernon — it sits right along Highway 97 and pairs well with a winery stop on the way back

Gatzke's is open 9am–5pm daily, May long weekend through approximately mid-September.

Here’s what’s available at Gatzke's throughout the season:

• Cherries (14 varieties)
• Peaches and nectarines
• Plums
• Apples (21 varieties, including Ambrosia and Fuji)
• Pears and other tree fruits
• Fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and seasonal vegetables
• Salsas, jams, and syrups made from the orchard harvest

See the full Gatzke Orchard's Harvest and Varieties list.

Paynter's Fruit Market — West Kelowna's U-Pick orchard and artisan market

Located on Paynter Road in West Kelowna with rows of fruit trees stretching out behind it, Paynter's has been family-owned and operated since 1952, now in its fourth generation. It opens early May and runs through to November, making it one of the few farm markets in the region that stretches deep into fall and keeps stocking produce long after the summer.

The market itself spans 2,000 square feet of fresh produce, sourced from the Paynter's own orchards and rounded out with fruit and vegetables from other BC farmers. Alongside it sits a curated selection of over 1,000 locally made artisan products like jams, honey, preserves, and baked goods, all grown, made, or produced in British Columbia. The café pours good coffee, and the 32-flavour hard ice cream counter is the kind of thing that turns a quick stop into a proper afternoon. You can also join a Farm Tour to see how they grow!

The U-Pick orchard, right behind the market, opens mid-July and runs through mid-October. What's available to pick changes daily: cherries, peaches, apples, tomatoes, and pumpkins as the season progresses, with the updates posted on their Instagram with what's ripe.

Here’s what you can find at Paynter’s throughout the season:

• Cherries, apricots, peaches, plums
• Apples and pears (fall)
• Tomatoes (including U-Pick in season)
• Pumpkins (U-Pick patch in fall)
• A wide range of seasonal vegetables
• 1,000+ locally made BC artisan products

View what's available at Paytner's.

Explore the Okanagan's Farm Spots

Whether you visit in midsummer for the cherries and peaches or return in autumn for the apples, squash, and pumpkin patches, these four markets offer a taste of the Okanagan that can’t be replicated elsewhere. Come hungry, bring a cooler, and leave room for pie.

Most markets are within a 15–45 minute drive of downtown Kelowna: Don-O-Ray is about 15 minutes south in Mission, Paynter's is 20 minutes west in West Kelowna, Gatzke's is 35 minutes north in Oyama, and Davison Orchards is 55 minutes north in Vernon — a natural anchor for a day trip up Highway 97.

View our Farm Spots page to plan ahead for your trip to Kelowna and the Okanagan. And get more trip inspiration by exploring our Must-Visit Spots in Kelowna.