Visiting in the plum rain
May is wet; here is what still works.
What closes
Nothing in the harvest calendar happens in May. Farms are pruning, drying beds are empty, and nobody has fresh lots to show you.
Trails and farm roads are at their worst; landslides are common and access can change daily.
There is a season for farms and a season for questions. They are not the same.
What still works
Cities are fine, and roasteries are quiet enough to talk for an hour. It is the best month to ask questions and the worst to see a farm.
If you must go up, choose the east coast, which gets less of the plum rain than the west.
Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links. Prices and dates checked in October 2026. Our methodology.