Vasquez Strawberry Farm grows with the land
CONCORD, CA—Esther and Rudy Vasquez, owners of Vasquez Strawberry Farm near Moss Landing, set up their booth every Tuesday at the Concord Farmers Market – filling their tables with flats and boxes of the most delectably sweet strawberries you’ve ever tasted.
Spring is a great time to try their succulent, coastal-grown berries. Their fresh sweet flavor is so much better than those you find at any grocery store.
The Vasquez family started small. Both Esther and Rudy grew up in farming families on California’s Central Coast. Esther’s grandparents and parents were migrant farm workers from Jalisco, Mexico, who settled in Castroville. They then moved to Moss Landing, where they worked on one of the first strawberry farms in the area. They ultimately purchased five acres and started growing their own strawberries.
Acre by acre
Esther met and married Rudy and started a family that now includes six children and lots of grandchildren. They purchased more land in 1973. Esther brought the idle berry field back into use, acre by acre, with the help of family and friends.
While Esther was building the successful business, Rudy worked for various local food companies. It wasn’t until 1993 that Esther finally convinced Rudy to work on the farm.
By that time, she was growing a variety of berries and selling them at several farmers markets. Rudy has found a role on the farm he enjoys – driving the tractor and selling their berries at many farmers markets.
Slowly and steadily, the Vasquez farm has grown to more than 10 acres. Their adult children now work with them on the farm.
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has certified their berries organic since 2019. They grow Albion, Frontier, Monterey, San Andreas and other strawberry varieties, along with blackberries and blueberries that appear at farmers market in the summer months.
They hope some of their children continue to help on the farm and one day take over for them. Their older daughter, Ruby, advocated for agricultural workers to receive immediate COVID-19 vaccinations as essential workers. She and a handful of others go out and canvas for those workers several times a week, dispensing masks and providing information on safety protocols.
Stop by the Tuesday Concord Farmers Market and say hello to the Vasquez family. You’ll find some amazing local berries, lots of information on how to take care of them and even hear a joke or two.
Strawberry Salad
- 1 bunch rainbow chard
- 1 pint strawberries
- Dressing:
- ½ c. strawberries
- 2 T strawberry jam
- 2 T olive oil (start with less and add more if the mix seems too chunky)
- 2 T. vinegar
- 1 T dried thyme
- A few fresh basil leaves
Chop up chard. (Please eat the stems. They’re not only pretty but yummy). Slice strawberries.
Blend or use a food processor to mix dressing ingredients until desired consistency. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve.
The Concord Farmers Market is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays year-round at Todos Santos Plaza. Parking available in nearby structures and on the street. For more information, visit pcfma.com.