2899 See Canyon Road

San Luis Obispo

Gopher Glen Apple Farm is a 40-year-old farm, that started as a quaint, roadside apple stand. Dr. John DeVincenzo, a local orthodontist, was the original owner and founder of Gopher Glen, originally named for its large number of fury inhabitants. Dr. D had a particular interest in apples and through the grafting process, created his own unique varieties, one being the Heaven-Sent apple, named after his late wife, Bobby. Following his love for growing and offering fresh Central coast produce, Dr. D developed the Avila Valley Barn, a location that wouldn’t just specialize in apples, but would offer up other freshly grown produce, gifts, and baked goods. In the early stages of the Avila Valley Barn, a young lady by the name of Debbie Smith joined Dr. D’s farming family, and for 25-years played an instrumental role in helping to create the Avila Barn we know today. When Dr. D passed away, Debbie and her husband Bruce wanted to make sure that the experience everyone has come to love continued on, so they purchased the Avila Valley Barn and Gopher Glen. The Smith’s had one daughter and six sons. One of the sons, Jake Smith, started fostering a love for farming, and soon became responsible for the wonderful produce and apples available at Gopher Glen. In time his love for farming was rewarded when he and his wife, Raven, took over both management and ownership of the Gopher Glen Apple Farm. In 2016, Jake and Raven partnered up with Jesse (Jake’s brother, and owner of the Farmer’s Guild Catering Co.) and his wife, Collette (a wine sommelier), to co-create the Gopher Glen Cider Co.

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