Kashiwase Farms

Great organic fruit and nuts. Owners are very kind, generous and responsive. I would recommend this farm to anyone.

Quality is definitely top here but so are their prices. I only know of 2 farms that sell unpasteurized almonds and Kashiwase is one of them.

We just purchased 25 # of NON-​pasteurized, certified organic almonds at Kashiwase Farms stand (Berkeley Farmers Mkt, – Saturday) $ 7.00 lb if buy large quantities like this, otherwise $ 8 lb which still beats their competitor’s (including another vendor at Berkeley Farmers Mkt,.) I’ve tried mail order plus El Cerrito Natural and Whole Foods almonds — these are delicious !
You might want to read about Kashiwase family farm (It’s been in Winton since before most readers were born)

You will find these guys, who have been around since 1948 (Japanese American run family business) at the following Farmers Markets
Alameda Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Belmont Farmers’ Market
Sundays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Inner Sunset Farmers’ Market
Sundays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
San Carlos Farmers’ Market
Thursdays
May 6, 2010 to September 9, 2010
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
San Mateo Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
San Mateo Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturdays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Upper Haight Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays
April 28, 2010 to October 27, 2010
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Vallco Farmers’ Market
Fridays
Year-​round
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
to name a few.
Before the season is over, make a beeline for their certified organic, and right now plumpy sugary PHAT delicious:
Nectarines
Peaches
Plums
Pluots
While they offer almonds, pears, and a few other random bits, you don’t want to be distracted with those.
Prices are on the high side, around $ 3.50 /​lb for them, but rest assured they typically outperform the competition that may sell at similar prices, yes even «Whole Paycheck /​Whole Food$$$$$$$» market.
They always have someone hand out samples near the front (great PR), or you can just help yourself to their sample station where El Cheapstadores (yours truly included) tend to congregate. Pick up a toothpick (or several) and find yourself at your whim to choose between upwards of 12 different kinds of seasonally prime offerings.
Seriously, this stuff is way better than froyo, cupcakes, macarons, designer rendered pork fat ice cream with liquor.
Pay attention to the specific names and various breeds they have, as they all taste a little different. From dapple dandy pluots (sometimes nicknamed «dinosaur egg» by Chinese supermarkets) to Snow Queen, Snow Princess, Flavor King, Arctic Snow etc etc (man, almost Disney sounding?!)…yellow peach, yellow nectarine, white peach, white nectarine… it’s all good.
When the season starts (early summer), the prices are pretty much locked down, and they tend to be on the mini side. Wait a few weeks and they get bigger (and tastier). Right now you can experience some of the best, über PHAT prime stuff, and while they may run you a pretty penny, they will be the plumpest, sweetest, and juicest badadonkadonks ever. Might just be the closest thing one can get to a Japanese peach (momo) or the Taiwanese variant.
My picks, certain white peaches and white nectarines.
By the way, they are sold as «tree ripe» so consume unrefrigerated within 2 days. Or else that plump juicy sweet princess will look like a prune on the outside. Beware, these princess types bruise easily.
Go go go!