THE FRUIT BOWL
Driving around the Central Valley of Northern California, one road can look just like the next: endless stretches of orchards, vineyards, dairies and farmland. Waterloo Road along Highway 88 near Stockton is one such road. Blink and you’ll miss The Fruit Bowl, a farm stand brimming with history, local produce, and some of the best pie you’ve ever tasted.
My aunt, a local historian and my best source for hidden gems in the area, was the first to mention The Fruit Bowl to me. Although I grew up nearby, I did not visit the Fruit Bowl until 2023, despite its decades-long presence in the area. She and her cycling buddies often ride out on the country roads, stopping at the farm stand to refuel with cold drinks, Italian sandwiches and the occasional slice of pie.
My most recent visit was in October 2025, just as the plum season ended. One or two lone plums still clung to the trees, but mostly lay scattered in the dappled light of the orchard floor. Ralph greeted me when I arrived and graciously gave me free rein of the place to take photos. He showed me a cookbook of his mother Irene’s recipes that is for sale in the shop and told me about some of the speciality products he and his wife Denene source on their travels around the United States. I left with almond brittle and jars of hot sauce and pumpkin butter to bring back to the UK, knowing that after nearly 75 years of serving the community, The Fruit Bowl would still be there on Waterloo Road the next time I cross the Atlantic.
The Fruit Bowl is open seasonally, roughly from 1 May through Christmas Eve. You can read more about the Lucchetti family and their farm stand’s history on their website: thefruitbowl.com
