Julian's apple orchards have been producing since the 1870s, when settlers planted the first trees after the gold played out. The apples found in the cooler mountain air turned out to be excellent, and apple growing replaced mining as the town's main industry for decades. Today the orchards are primarily a tourist draw, and several bakeries on Main Street compete fiercely for the title of best apple pie in San Diego County.
The most famous is Mom's Pies, which has been baking since 1982 and usually has a line out the door on autumn weekends. Julian Pie Company is the other main contender, with similar crowds. Both do a straightforward apple pie and a range of variations — dutch, cinnamon crumble, and so on. Buy a whole pie to take back to San Diego. In autumn during harvest season (September–November), many farms on the edges of town offer U-pick apple experiences.