Saratoga Strawberry Stand Going Strong For Four Decades

Melody Anesacci has been helping cousin Doug Rodrigues run the popular strawberry stand at 12625 Saratoga Ave. for many years.

Rodrigues' parents bought the property in 1947, Anesacci said, when it was walnut orchards and 16 acres of berries.

Chunks of the property began being sold, but Rodrigues, who also owns Uesugi Farms in Gilroy, has been selling the strawberries in front of his land for 40 years.

The stand, which consists of a simple canopy and two tables where he places the strawberries for customers, is open every day 9 a.m.-7 p.m. until September and later in the season he will also sell cherries and corn.

The strawberries come from Uesugi Farms located at 1025 State Highway 25 in the Garlic City. Rodrigues co-owns the farms with Joseph Aiello.

"We pick them fresh every single morning. We go down to Gilroy at 5:30 a.m. to pick the berries," Anesacci said.

When the stand opened in early April there was a long line of cars lining the avenue waiting for their turn to pick up the strawberries.

"People just go crazy about buying our berries," Anesacci added. "We have customers who have been coming for years."

Saratoga resident Liz Cox, who lives on Mellon Drive, has been buying her strawberries at the stand for many years. "They're the best," she said. "We like to eat them fresh. We like them for strawberry shortcake and strawberry pie."

On a recent Sunday afternoon, the stand had served about 150 people by 2:30 p.m.

A three-pack of strawberries costs $8 and a half-flat, with six baskets of strawberries, costs $15, giving customer a $1 break. A full flat with 12 baskets costs $24.

Are the strawberries cheaper than those bought at local supermarkets? "It doesn't even matter," answered Anesacci, explaining customers pay for their ripeness, sweetness and being locally grown.