Local grower Joe Tonascia and Bertuccio’s produce stand earn
accolades from Pinnacle readers
In a county with such a rich agricultural history and an
abundance of fresh produce, few growers can match Joe Tonascia’s
field-to-table connection.
Through Tonascia Farms, he raises a variety of crops year-round
on more than 700 acres in and around Hollister. Many of those items
are then sold at Bertuccio’s produce stand at 2410 Airline Hwy.,
just north of the Union Road intersection.
Local grower Joe Tonascia and Bertuccio’s produce stand earn accolades from Pinnacle readers
In a county with such a rich agricultural history and an abundance of fresh produce, few growers can match Joe Tonascia’s field-to-table connection.
Through Tonascia Farms, he raises a variety of crops year-round on more than 700 acres in and around Hollister. Many of those items are then sold at Bertuccio’s produce stand at 2410 Airline Hwy., just north of the Union Road intersection.
Tonascia, who has farmed in Hollister for 26 years, said he is proud that he and his family are continuing the rich farming history of the Bertuccio family, which for generations has owned and farmed land in San Benito County. Tonascia is the grower for Bertuccio’s.
“For me the opportunity was here to get started on my own,” said Tonascia, who came to Hollister from his native Santa Maria. “You’ve got a good, Mediterranean-type climate along with the soil and water for diverse crops. You can grow almost anything in this area. We have the sun, but also the coastal influence with the fog, so with the varieties they have now and the different seeds, you have a bigger range of items you can grow.”
The Pinnacle’s readers have annually recognized Tonascia Farms and Bertuccio’s for their quality produce. This year, Tonascia Farms was voted the best local grower and the No. 1 organic producer while the Bertuccio’s stand, which Tonascia and his family operate along with Carol Millar, was voted as the best roadside fruit stand and the No. 2 provider of produce in the area.
Tonasica, who was also chosen as the top local grower in last year’s Pinnacle poll, said he is usually growing seven or eight crops at a time, between his various orchards and farm land. Examples of his locally-grown produce include apricots, walnuts, almonds, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, onions, broccoli, spinach, spring mix and pumpkins.
At the Bertuccio’s stand, which can be found by turning off Airline Hwy. near an old farm truck and a cluster of packing sheds and heading down a slight hill, Tonascia sells dried fruits and nuts, jams and jellies, pickles, fresh produce, syrups, salsas, barbecue sauces and much more.
“We ship all over the world,” he said, noting that customers used to primarily visit the stand to buy fruit in bulk for canning but now “people come in every day and buy a little bit for the house.”
Tonascia sells what he grows locally and also offers produce and other items from growers in the Salinas and San Joaquin valleys. He does not only buy from professional agriculturalists, however.
“If people have excess fruit from their yards and they want to sell it, I’ll buy it,” he said. “Of course, it’s got to be good enough. My biggest thing is that I don’t have anything in there that I wouldn’t eat myself or feed to my family,” he said. “I’m not into selling something just to have something in the store. If it doesn’t taste right, I won’t sell it.”
Bertuccio’s has also partnered with Bill and Carol Millar on Vino San Benito, which sells local wines in individual bottles, by the case or in gift baskets.
“We work with multiple vineyards and wineries,” Tonascia said.
Bertuccio’s and Tonascia Farms’ items are available online at www.Bertuccios.com. For example, there’s the Taste of San Benito Gift Pack, which is filled with dried apricots, walnut pieces, DeBrito’s chocolate apricots and a DeBrito Grizzly Bar. The family of Tonascia’s wife, Karen, owns and operates DeBrito’s. The gift baskets won four of five categories at the recently-completed San Benito County Fair.
The Bertuccio’s stand is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, check out Bertuccio’s Web site; call 636-0821; or e-mail
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