Back in the day, Tuolumne County apples were well-known and highly sought after. Around the turn of the 20th century, Tuolumne County even sold itself as “The land of promise for apple growers where good unimproved land can be secured at a very reasonable figure”. Now, few orchards are in production but one stands out…an icon of our community. Cover’s Apple Ranch.
Cover’s changed hands many times over the past hundred years, called “Sonka’s” for a short time before being purchased by next-door neighbors Joe and Carol Cover and their six sons. Truly a multi-generational family business, Joe is the younger brother of former owner Rudy Cover. From 2002 to 2012, the Cover family built up the bakery, added a breakfast and lunch menu, and constructed a warehouse to produce apple cider on site. In the years since, the Cover family has upgraded the play area, the barn and petting zoo and plans to renovate the sheep barn for events and more.
There’s nothing like a cool cup of 100% natural sweet apple cider on a late summer’s day. At just $1 a taste at the 49er Festival, you’ll be coming back for more!
Harvest is coming soon with the holidays close behind. When the weather cools down, take a drive with the kids up to Cover’s Apple Ranch for a delicious meal and the freshest, most delicious sweet and savory pies to go. Don’t forget, you can also pick up Cover’s apple cider at Mar-Val Food Stores, our Taste of Tuolumne Food & Beverage Showcase sponsor.
Comments