My husband and I were driving back from Big Sur and we were going to go to giant artichoke…read more However, I saw signs that said Pezzini farms and advertised all what they had. I immediately had my husband take that exit and check it out. When I saw artichokes artichokes and more artichokes,, I was sold. I went there to look and see what they had. We found so many amazing items! We purchased pasta sauce, artichoke salsa, artichoke focaccia, bread, artichoke bread, artichoke sweet bread, like banana bread, but with artichokes, we bought actual artichokes, artichoke pizza, and mushroom pizza, frozen deep-fried artichokes, a Japanese black watermelon, a cactus plant, artichoke raviolis, and some amazing soft English muffins. Very unique. I know it was a lot, but we don't live close by so we wanted to stock up. What I really like about this place is the friendly people there especially Sara and there was another gal that unfortunately I didn't get her name and the fact that all the artichoke items are from the artichoke fields there and they support local/family bakers and businesses. We also went to the "Choke Coach" it was recommended by Sara. It was on the premises and it was a food truck that primarily sold artichoke related items. I ordered the three artichoke tacos, which were amazing and the grilled artichokes with a lime cilantro dip. Very yummy! My husband ordered a bratwurst sandwich. The people working there, Maria and Bety we're very friendly and great cooks and customer service I was so glad we made that turn off the freeway! This place is a true gem. They also have cornhole to play while you're waiting for your food or just want to enjoy some fun for a minute. There was a cute, big chair for a Kodak moment

I happen to see this place while I was looking for somewhere to stop on our way home from Monterey…read more I wanted big artichokes, but they're not quite in season, so we bought smaller ones. They have such an assortment of just about everything! We bought some cheese, salami and some bakery items. Such a well organized and clean place. I could have spent $1000.00 in there ! While checking out, out the cashier Mary had us laughing about picking the crops(artichokes) , her grown kids, school and college. She had my granddaughters laughing. We will definitely stop there again! There is also a small truck selling Elote corn and a few other items. If you're nearby, please stop and check this place out! Say Hi to Mary. She has been there 30 years.

Awesome roadside stand with everything that's good like whoa that's some good produce!…read more We stoped by for some garlic as they have the local goodness that simply is the Gilroy best and if that wasn't enough the fruits and veggies here were awesome too soo perfect and definitely something I'm looking forward to cooking! The nice lady working inside was super friendly and very knowledgeable about her products as well as the area! Overall this was a perfect stop we got exactly what we were looking for and then some so do yourself a favor and stop by it's soo worth it!

We stopped by Thistle Hut to pick up some fresh organic produce on our recent weekend getaway to…read morePajaro Dunes. Friendly people, and a lovely variety of fruits and veggies, along with other unique items. I'm now addicted to Fruitful Farms toffee almonds (cinnamon toffee, coconut toffee, and butter toffee) .... SO GOOD! I'm willing to make the 2.5 hour drive back to Thistle Hut just to get more of those. Plus, they have the most adorable little white scruffy pup that gently greets visitors. Definitely give this roadside stand a try ... you won't be disappointed.

Good food and fresh fruit ! Great nic naks like dish towels, soap, candles etc…read more Not the least expensive but it's worth it

Picked up some fried artichokes a few weeks ago from the deli. They used to be the best in the…read morearea for years and looked forward to having them as a treat. New managers or owners changed the recipe or supplier. They are very bland now with no taste. They need to improve or will lose local customers.

Always fresh, always easy to get parking. Always friendly staff. Thanks for sharing your food with…read moreus.

Hi Everyone, Got home with my blackberries from Driscoll's…read morepurchased at Woolworths to have more live little insects running around the plastic casing alive. This is not good enough. Horrifying to see. Bye bye to this brand of fruit and all the ALIVE LITTLE INSECTS THAT THEY CAME WITH.

This place is over priced! A lot of the produce here is over ripe or on the verge of going bad…read more Foodmaxx has cheaper and better quality produce..

A veritable treasure trove of awesome fruits and veggies, just off El Camino Real in Salinas…read more Needed to get in there to ask directions and bought some giant peppers to stuff this evening. Wish I had more time but will be back. Super nice ladies there too. And it is much cleaner on the inside than it looks from the outside. It is like a really nice but contained Farmer's Market without the hassle of fighting through the Farmer's Market on Alvarado. Less expensive too.

Had a good experience today Sunday via Rodriguez Brothers Ranch at the Stonestown Farmers Market in…read moreSan Francisco. Great mix of Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs, brought home a bag overflowing of Carrots, Chard, Artichokes, Cilantro, etc.

I bought three baskets of strawberries at Roseville Kaiser for$18. The top were large…read more strawberries but below we're all tiny tiny small strawberries very disappointed. Not worth the cost.

My gosh! This place is a hidden gem. I found this place while wondering the streets of DT Santa…read moreCruz. I was amazed that there was an entire shop dedicated to all things mushroom, and then I saw that they served food too! I love mushroom, and when I couldn't get this place out of my mind, I had to head here before leaving town in the morning. Once this placed opened in the morning, we were the first one in. Got to try their truffle oil and sit down for a morning brunch. This isn't your typical brunch place, it was just the time I was there to eat. I tried their empanada, mushroom soup, and then their truffle mushroom grilled cheese, and I have to state that it was the best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had. My mouth is still watering thinking about that sandwich. I picked up some items to go such as truffle oil and dried mushroom and was on my way. The shop is small and there is only counter space to eat, but the shop is so cute tucked away near a neighborhood street. I can't wait to go back here if I ever have the chance again.

We came here for a tour and to learn about mushroom cultivation. They take you through every step…read moreand every room for the process. Was very interesting. Be prepared to get misted on in the rooms/caves. They had a great potluck after. Definitely bring chairs, blankets and even a card table as there is very limited seating. Anything goes on what to bring for the potluck. Main dishes, sides, salads, desserts, vegetarian and vegan foods. Or bring wine or other beverages to share. Wine was much appreciated. I even saw kombucha there but it went fast. It was well organized and different foods kept replenishing the tables. There were close to 250 people there but there was plenty of food. They provided a big selection of grilled mushrooms and chicken. Also paper plates, utensils and napkins. We'll be back and will bring our picnic basket, table and chairs.

We saw signs and had to make a pit stop for local fresh strawberries! They also have a selection of…read morefresh produce as well!

Peter Piper picked a peck of purple peppers…read more Wait? What did Peter Piper pick? Purple peppers? I kid you not! Okay, maybe it wasn't Peter Piper who picked them, but he could have had he visited the Nunez Farm. It's a fact that purple bell peppers have been around since the mid-80's, but this was the first time I've ever walked upon rows upon rows of them in a field. The purple bell peppers are just one of the crops being harvested at Guillebaldo Nunez' vegetable farm in Watsonville. Artichokes Basil Bell Peppers (Green) Broccoli Butter Lettuce Cabbage (Green) Carrots Celery Collard Greens Fennel Heirloom Tomatoes Kale (Green) Leeks Pink Swiss Chard Potatoes Purple Kale Puple Thai Basil Rainbow Swiss Chard Red Beets Red Cabbage Red Lettuce Swiss Chard White Corn Yellow Swiss Chard Zucchini That's just a fraction of the crops being grown on the Nunez Farm, and it's all organic! That's right! Pesticide and chemical free! When our bus driver missed his turn Guillebaldo jumped into his truck and drove out to the main road to escort our bus into his farm. We were there for the last stop on on our education-filled farm tour. The Nunez Farm is incredible in size, and all of the crops are sold in farmers markets throughout Northern California and at Whole Foods stores under the brand "ALBA Organics". Guillebaldo walked us out to his fields to show us the rainbow of Swiss chards that he has planted. Green, orange, yellow, red, pink - just a variety of colors. I had never seen the yellow ones before and I was fascinated by them. On the same field were green and purple kale. I'd never had kale before and sampled some right there as a leaf was pulled off a plant and passed around to sample. We learned about the nutritious aspect of the kale as well as planting techniques and even ways to cook them. On the opposite side of the field were rows upon row of gigantic heirloom tomatoes hanging on thin sturdy vines. We were told that the fruits had just been picked that morning, but Guillebaldo told us that if we found any other ripe ones in there we were welcomed to pick it. Some of our group got really lucky when Guillebaldo found a whole plant unpicked. I missed out as I had stopped to take photos of big green tomatoes. To the opposite side of the tomato crops was a huge eye opener as we saw a gigantic color-filled farm that seemed to stretch forever. Guillebaldo gave us a quick rundown of all of his crops back there and offered to pick whatever our group requested. His generous offer turned up big red beets, ripe artichoke and handfuls upon handfuls of traditional green and Thai purple basil. The hit of the farm was the beautiful purple bell peppers. Guillebaldo said these were a first-time crop for him and he welcomed us onto the field to pick our own. He cracked one open, broke it into several pieces and passed it around for us to sample. The meat is slightly thinner than that of a green bell pepper, but these were so much sweeter. I might have missed out on the tomatoes but no way did I miss out on these. Time wasn't on our side; otherwise, we might have walked off with a lot more fresh produce than we did. A big thanks goes to Guillebaldo Nunez for opening up his farm to us. I'll be looking for that ALBA brand next time I'm shopping for organics. Where are the photos? Right here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/26-2milesandmore/sets/72157621625559039/