Third-generation Bay Area family farm clings to its last two acres
Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE
The Silicon Valley farm turns 80 this year.
By Susana Guerrero,
SF Gate
April 21, 2025
Excerpt:
It’s a quiet drive heading down Carter Avenue in San Jose’s Kooser neighborhood, where single-story homes line the sleepy city corner. The long stretch of road, just off California state Route 85, appears as any typical Bay Area enclave, yet as the road approaches Howes Lane, a sprawling urban farm suddenly takes form.
An assortment of pickled vegetables in glass jars, packaged trail mix and dehydrated apricots line wooden shelves tucked inside the tiny stand at J&P Cosentino Family Farm. The orchard, run by its third-generation family owners, has stayed an unwavering community pillar since 1945. In its 80th year, it remains steadfast as one of San Jose’s few remaining operating farms.
“It’s gratifying that I have something no one else has, and I enjoy sharing it with people,” Phil Cosentino, the second-generation family owner, said.
Phil, who grew up on his family farm, has been the steward of 600 fruit trees planted on the small 2-acre orchard for the past several decades. While Cosentino Family Farm is primarily a stone fruit orchard growing apricots, peaches and nectarines, more than 100 different fruit varieties grow on the farm, including juicy oranges, figs and persimmons, among others. Six years ago, Phil handed the torch to his three daughters, Kari, Mary and Janine, who continue to run operations on the farm as well as the beloved farm stand, which opened in the early 1980s.
Source: https://cityfarmer.info/third-generation-bay-area-family-farm-clings-to-its-last-two-acres/
I hope they don’t sell the SEEDLESS kind of fruits. Biblically forbidden.