Best of 2001: Best Celebrity Produce Stand

Chino Farms Produce Stand
6123 Calzada del Bosque,
Rancho Santa Fe
858-756-3184

Back in 1946, the Chino family's Japanese-born parents were released from internment camp. Today, 55 years later, the family sticks by that generation's principle of growing cultivated, rotational crops using the accumulated experience of that same ancient ancestry to produce "the best vegetables possible." It's amazing how much they grow on their 45 acres. They have over 100 different vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Corn and strawberries are what they're most famous for, but they have greens and sprouts in a dizzying variety (June, September, and October are the most abundant months, according to Tom Chino.) Wolfgang Puck's Food Network filmed a segment earlier this year, George's at the Cove buys here, famed Berkeley organic restaurateur Alice Waters is a fan, and PBS television also visited for their Flavors of America.