Cipponeri Family Farms

People

Sebastian and Dena Cipponeri and family, with help from Nick Cipponeri and 20 to 30 employees

Farmland

500 acres in Stanislaus County, about 100 miles to San Francisco

About

In the early 1900s, Sebastian Cipponeri and his family moved from Sicily to California, where he was sponsored by another family to work on their farm. The Cipponeris pooled their money together until they could purchase an orchard of their own. The farm has been passed down through generations and is now managed by Sebastian’s grandchildren, Sebastian and Nick. Cipponeri Family Farms has been part of Alemany Farmers Market since 1969. They are historically known for their melons, farming on lands in Hughson and Turlock, which are known to have ideal conditions for melon farming. While they pride themselves in being a fresh fruit farm, they also offer nuts, nut butters, and dried fruits, allowing them to sell at farmers markets year-round. Focusing on quality over quantity, the Cipponeri family practices low-yield farming, harvesting fruit at peak ripeness.