Farm Fresh: Resendiz Family Fruit Barn

A lot has happened in Belmont this month, but one thing that may have been overlooked is the first day of cherry season.

The luscious and juicy fruit could be seen in many stands throughout the market, but one in particular caught my eye: Resendiz Family Fruit Barn, based in Hughson, CA.

Moises Ontiberos, 25, is one of the vendors you will see behind the stand attending to costumers. He told me about the very many different varieties of cherries that the farm sells.

“With a normal season, it starts the first week in May till the third week in June. We have a early variety and late varieties: Bing, Brooks, Champagne...11 total varieties,” he said.

But the farm and its four ranches isn’t just about the delicious cherries (which are, in fact, delicious because I got to sample a few). Known unofficially as just Resendiz Family Farms, they travel to nearly 50 different markets per week, “everyday except Monday,” said Moises. As far out as the Morgan Hill and Gilroy area and up the coast to Napa, the farm has delivered its fruits, vegetables and nuts to 13 counties throughout California for the past 30 years. Moises said talks about going to Nevada farmers markets might be the next step for the farm.

For Moises, he’s been coming to the Belmont Farmers Market for four years now, traveling two hours each way from the Central Valley.

Owner Francisco Resendiz began the farm with his family (who still work there), which now sits on about 30 plus acres of land, growing about 100 different varieties of produce. Although by noon last Sunday only cherries, tomatoes and onions were left. Everything brought to the Belmont Farmers Market depends on what is good and ripe that week.

“We bring in one variety for, say, two weeks and then we come back the next week with a different variety,” he said, referencing the nearly 40 types of peaches the farm grows. This way, customers also get to experience a wide range of their different products.

The full name, Resendiz Family Fruit Barn, refers to the fruit stand that is open from April till Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. Moises said. They not only have a stand, but an industrial sized kitchen that makes pies, turnovers and apple dumplings, and even a small park with horses, dogs, and other animals for folks to pet and visit.

In October, the farm puts up their annual pumpkin patch, which attracts 7,000 children a year as the farm teams up with local schools, Moises said. Even pony rides are available for children to get a kick out of.

Resendiz Family Fruit Barn is located at 4342 Geer Road, Hughson, CA and welcomes visitors.