Santa Cruz Farmers Markets

Dirty Girl Produce is a 40 acre certified organic family farm located in Santa Cruz County, Ca. They grow over 20 varieties of fruits and vegetables and sell produce to customers and restaurants at 10 farmer’s markets in Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and San Francisco.

Five generations of the Casalegno Family have lived on this beautiful site in the hills of Soquel, and the farm has been family owned and in operation since 1916.

In 1946 Frank Gonzales returned from World War II and bought 10 acres of apricot trees in the Hollister area. He and his wife Mary Gonzales began farming in Hollister when they were married over 55 years ago. They raised three children on the 120 acre ranch. Frank and Mary's son, Gary Gonzales, returned from the Peace Corp in 1972 and began to work the apricot orchard with his father. He has now been managing it for decades. Until 1992 the family sent 60 tons of dried, unpacked fruit to two large wholesalers, Del Monte and Mayfair. When Turkish imports began to flood the market, they had to revision their business strategy. Apricot King began to sell at the farmers' markets, little ones in tow.