Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm was named Business of the Year on Saturday night during the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce’s Gala at Recce Point on Beale Air Force Base.

The event also honored Joellen Jimerson with the Athena Award for her community service and both professional and personal leadership.

Awards of Excellence for 2012 presented by Chamber CEO Kristy Santucci also included:

Small Business of the Year — Stephens Farmhouse.

Rookie Business of the Year — Cordi Winery.

Community Involvement — Golden State Collision Centers and Allen Sutfin.

Customer Service — Affordable Office Furniture and Supplies.

Chairman’s Award — The employees of Frank M. Booth Inc.

Chamber Ambassador of the Year — Daria Ali.

Honorary lifetime member — Tom Walther.

Volunteer — Starlene Amato and Jamie Keith.

The event, with the theme “Greatest Show on Earth,” also noted milestone awards for chamber membership: 50 years, Matsom and Isom; and 25 years, Key and Associates, Packaging Specialist, Hilbers, the city of Yuba City and Valley Contractors Exchange.

In addition, the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce and its Government Affairs Committee received two awards, from Calpine for their attendance at regulatory meetings in San Francisco and support for continuing to keep the Sutter Energy Center operational and from the California Women for Agriculture for their support on the No on Proposition 37 campaign.

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/chamber-122581-jimerson-farm.html#ixzz2IM9qmUDV

The smell of apple pies baking filled the air Monday at Stephens Farmhouse as Thanksgiving Day approached.

Owner Cherie Stephens, three generations of family members, and a handful of employees busily maneuvered their way around the kitchen as they peeled apples, baked pies and filled orders for Thanksgiving in the small farmhouse store on Highway 99 south of Yuba City.

Last year, 1,302 pie orders were placed. “This year, we’re right on track with the same type of numbers,” she said. “We will be making pumpkin (pies) way into the night on Tuesday night.”

While pumpkin pies are by far the most-ordered pie, there are many other homemade items being prepared for customers, including cookies, dinner rolls, nut breads and cranberry sauce.

“What we really pride ourself on is that we want to take care of the customers and what it is that they want for the holidays and everyday,” Stephens said.

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/pies-121200-stephens-pie.html#ixzz2IM7cgZfO

You would think that the Stephen’s Farmhouse roadside store would be quiet during the late fall; instead, it’s buzzing with activity as regular customers rush to buy Thanksgiving pies.

“This is hugely busy, this is our busiest time of the year,” said Cherie Stephens who owns the store with her husband Jeff.

The store sells produce, custom-made jams and gift items. But two small rooms in the back are crowded with bakery workers who will make nearly 1,500 pies that are special ordered. That doesn’t include walk up sales of pumpkin, blackberry, pecan, cherry, Dutch apple and cream pies.

Stephens began making pies from home recipes when they bought the roadside business ten years ago located on Highway 99 a few miles south of Yuba City. The Thanksgiving pie push has almost outgrown the small building where dozens of boxed pies are stacked in a back room.

“We took 362 orders yesterday and the phone has not stopped ringing today,” said Stephens.

Many purchases come from repeat customers.

“They’re fresh, they’re tasty, they’re probably the best pies I’ve ever had,” said Tony Lattuca who has made it a tradition to buy cherry pies when his parents come in from Michigan to spend Thanksgiving.

Many customers were surprised that their pies were still warm from the oven. On the other hand John Bingham picked up a “take and bake” pie, an uncooked pie he puts in the oven himself.

“It allows me to do a little cooking but not a lot of preparation…I could claim I made the pie,” said Bingham.

Of the hordes of customers picking up pies, almost none took just one home. Stephens said her daughter took an order for 12 pies the other day.

Workers come in before the sun rises and leave late at night to fill the orders. They are composed of relatives, friends and friends of friends drafted into what Stephens called ‘organized chaos’.

“If you’re connected to the Stephen’s family you’re probably going to be at our place…working. If somebody comes here to talk to me, they’re going to be working,” said Stephens.

Making so many pies hasn’t made them any less tempting to eat for those drafted for kitchen duty. Asked if they eat their creations, they all said yes as if insulted by the question.

“Whatever is left over that people don’t pick up that’s what we’ll take home and that will be our Thanksgiving pie,” said Cherie’s daughter Madeline enthusiastically.

Despite their popularity, Stephens says she has no plans to expand her operation preferring instead to service her long time local customers.

“I really have no desire to go bigger and franchise or move our location. I’m happy where we are,” said Stephens.

http://fox40.com/2012/11/20/thanksgiving-pie-push-at-roadside-bakery/

Across town at the Stephens Farmhouse, owner Cherie Stephens led a small brigade of pastry chefs baking more than 1,000 pies — and counting.

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In 1967 Mr. Willard decided to sell his ranch and the Stephens decided to buy it. In those days, as most farm parcels were sold, the house and the equipment usually sold with the farm. So, Jeff’s family took possession of one 1936 Ford flatbed truck. In 1979, Jeff and his brother Dan started farming Stephens Ranch separate from their dad and uncle. Soon it would be time for the older Stephens to retire and as they did the purchase of their land and equipment was made available to the Stephens boys. The old 1936 Ford flatbed truck made its way to Jeff and Dan and was turned into a water truck keeping the dust down on the orchard roads. By this time the old truck was worn and had seen many better days.

Dave Johnson the past owner of our store offered Jeff $100 to buy the 1936 truck. Jeff took the crisp cash and handed over the original pink slip. (This was all unbeknown to me, Cherie Stephens, the history lover and preservationist.)

One day Jeff took me to see the truck that Dave Johnson had restored and told me the story of how it had been Mr. Willard’s, Jeff’s Dads, ours and now the Johnson’s. The truck was beautiful and I couldn’t believe we had owned it, he had sold it for $100 and it was no longer in our family!

In 2000, the Johnson family asked Jeff and me if we would be interested in buying their fruit stand here on Hyw 99. After some discussion there was only ONE question to ask? “Does the truck come with the deal?”

I won’t go into the details but the truck cost a little more than $100 to get back…with the 1936 pink slip. We had some additional work done on the old truck and added the name Mr. Willard to his left front fender in honor of Jeff’s childhood companion and friend.

We enjoy and treasure Mr. Willard and hope you will too.