The Long Way
Kern County
A field of blooming yellow sunflowers with a farm sign in the distance.
Plate I. Sunflower field, Murray Family Farms. From bakersfieldnow.com
A person glazes pastries on a baking sheet in a kitchen.
Plate II. Glazing pies, Murray Family Farms. From bakersfieldnow.com
Picnic area at Murray Family Farms.
Plate III. Picnic area at Murray Family Farms. Photograph by Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fountain outside Murray Family Farms.
Plate IV. Fountain outside Murray Family Farms. Photograph by Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo board, Murray Family Farms.
Plate V. Photo board, Murray Family Farms. Photograph by Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Produce market interior, Murray Family Farms.
Plate VI. Produce market interior, Murray Family Farms. Photograph by Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Murray Family Farms

Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Fruit & Vegetable Store.

Details

Map. Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Larger map
Where
6700 General Beale Rd, Caliente, Bakersfield, CA. Directions
When
Pumpkin Patch and Farm Park every day in October; weekdays Monday-Thursday 2pm-9pm, weekends Friday-Sunday 1pm-10pm.
Season
Strawberries June Blueberries Done for the Season Blackberries Done for the Season.
Getting there
Located between Bakersfield and Tehachapi on the 58 Freeway, just before the mountain.
Fees
Farm Park weekday admission $19.99 general, $9.99 ages 2-4, free ages 1 and under, $27.99 Super (includes 100 paintball shots); weekends $21.99 general, $10.99 ages 2-4, $29.99 Super.
Hours
Farm store Monday-Thursday 8:00am-9:00pm, Friday-Sunday 8:00am-10:00pm.
Access
The Great Bakersfield Pumpkin Patch opened for the 2026 season on October 1 and runs every day in October; every paid admission includes a pumpkin to take home.
Phone
(661) 330-0100
Managed by
Steve and Vicki Murray.
Established
1983, when Steve Murray started S.M. Apiaries.

Murray Family Farms is an family owned and operated farm in Bakersfield California.

Notable Events

  1. 2002After selling from a tent and a 40-foot retail trailer, the farm market project was planned in 2002-2004 and built out through 2009, budgeted at $585,000 with an actual cost of $1,300,000. ucanr.edu
  2. 2006A 2006 freeze wiped out the cherry crop and forced Murray to diversify fruit production and carry expensive crop insurance. fruitgrowersnews.com

People

  • Steve Murray, owner of Murray Family Farms with his wife Vickie; started the farm after selling his beekeeping equipment (graduated in 1977; started the farm in 1989).
  • Katie Murray, handles HR, helping hire and manage one of the largest sources of local employment in the area.
  • Sean Cameron Murray, wore many hats around the farm, including managing the retail side and selling cherries between cars during freeway traffic (passed 3 days after his 26th Birthday).
  • Steven Murray Jr, their son; travels the world collecting rare produce and manages one of the largest collections of rare fruit in North America.
  • Vickie Murray, brought family recipes and culinary creations to the farm kitchen under her moniker Okie Queen, feeding travelers and Harvest Festival visitors.

Sources

  1. murrayfamilyfarms.org
  2. murrayfamilyfarms.org/pumpkin-patch-2026
  3. facebook.com/MurrayFamilyFarms
  4. bakersfieldnow.com/news/eyewitness-mornings/murray-family-farms-prepares-for-fall-with-sunflower-gardens-and-pumpkin-patch
  5. murrayfamilyfarms.org/our-farmily
  6. murrayfamilyfarms.org/where-to-find-us/big-red-barn
  7. murrayfamilyfarms.org/find-us
  8. murrayfamilyfarms.org/lpb
  9. murrayfamilyfarms.org/calokieorchardkitchen
  10. murrayfamilyfarms.org/berry-u-pick
  11. instagram.com/murrayfamilyfarms
  12. ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2012-02/137240.pdf
  13. fruitgrowersnews.com/article/californias-murray-family-farms-endures-challenges