Celebrate Harvest, San Diego Style

One of the best months of the year to enjoy weather in San Diego is October. It brings crispness to the air, even during mild and sunny days. Ours is a gentler harvest time than in many parts of the country, but that doesn't mean we lack for promising produce and full-bodied brew. San Diego's first complete month of the fall season offers palate-pleasing pastimes for locals and visitors as summer's bountiful season draws to a kind and easygoing close.

Promising Produce
October 21 is officially Apple Day, but the mountain town of Julian celebrates this favorite fruit for the entire month. For years, the Julian Apple Festival was held on a particular fall weekend, but the crowds became so overwhelming that this lovely, old-time western town extended the festival throughout October. Take the one hour drive to the mountains and enjoy some or all of this month's activities.

It's mandatory that you eat apple pie at one of the cafes on Main Street. While you're there, you can clap, hiss, boo and sing at the vaudevillian melodrama on weekends and browse the daily 1-4pm craft show, both at the Town Hall. Meander in and out of the dozens of country boutiques and antique shops that this little mountain hideaway has to offer. For more info: www.julianfun.com or www.julianca.com or 760-765-1857.

To work off some of those pie calories, pick your own apples at nearby Calico Ranch. This family-run apple and pear orchard was first planted in the early 1930s and is still in production. It's one of the last remaining apple orchards in the Julian area where folks can pluck their own. It's open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and only while there's still ripe fruit left to pick. So don't wait until Halloween. For more info: www.spenservalley.com or 858-586-0392.

Locals know you don't have to travel far to find farm-fresh fruits and veggies. Visiting one of San Diego's dozens of certified farmer's markets will give you a taste of our area's cornucopia of home-grown produce. Certified markets are those listed by the Farm Bureau of San Diego County and guaranteed by the state to sell produce grown in California that meet all quality standards. For a list of locations and times, go to: www.sdfarmbureau.org.

Look for October's best offerings of: Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, peaches, avocados, tomatoes, grapes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, figs, Asian pears, as well as year- round favorites such as live plants, flowers, mushrooms, eggs, fruit, nuts, lettuce, greens, breads and honey. Local artisans often set up booths at these neighborhood street markets, so allow plenty of time to shop. The Ocean Beach Farmers Market is a big local favorite.

Be sure you don't go home without October's most famous gourd. Choosing your pumpkins is much more fun when you can pick them from the vine yourself. Bates Nut Farm in Vista boasts the largest, oldest and most famous Pumpkin Patch in San Diego County. For more information: www.batesnutfarm.biz or 760-749-3333.

Full-bodied Brew
Yeah, yeah, we know that Oktoberfest traditionally belongs to Munich, where the two-week festival draws six million people. Munich's may be one of the most famous beer festivals and the world's largest fair, but San Diego is also home to a host of specialty and local breweries. Consider the namesake San Diego Brewing Company, or the big and bustling Gordon Biersch, or the firefighters' Firehouse Brewery (inspired by the 9/11 tragedy) or north county's Green Flash, named after the sunset phenomenon that colors the sun. For more info: www.brewerytoursofsandiego.com or 619-961-7999.

If you want to throw your own party, purchase a sampling of your favorites to go with some sausage you can throw on the grill. Check out some Oktoberfest recipes online for authentic dishes. Add a few varieties of mustard, a couple tubs of sauerkraut and relish and a boom box playing polkas, and you've got a hearty and spirited neighborhood celebration.

Food and Brew Flavor Partners
Most food experts say personal preference should guide your choices of food and beer pairings. But here are a few simple guidelines to get you started.
Light food - Light, crisp beer
Sweet food - Sweeter beer
Fatty food - Bitter beer
Spicy food - Mild beer

Oktoberfest's Origin
The first "Oktoberfest" took place in mid-October of 1810. It was hosted by Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen to commemorate their marriage. The festival also included a great horse race a few days after the wedding.