This year marks 50 years of Frog Hollow Farm! As we reflect on where we are today, it feels only right to start at the beginning, and for us, that begins with peaches.

In 1976, the land that would become Frog Hollow was nothing more than 13 acres of empty ground. It was a drought year, and there wasn’t a single blade of grass in sight. The soil was dry, but it also made planting easier—no mud, no standing water, just open earth waiting for roots. For Farmer Al, it was a place full of possibility.

The choice to plant peaches wasn’t made alone. A respected local farmer, Ed Pippo, had helped Farmer Al find the land and shared advice shaped by decades of experience in the area. He knew what grew well there, and he was clear: plant peaches. Al trusted that guidance, and with it, the idea that good farming starts with shared knowledge.

Once the decision was made, Farmer Al set out to learn everything he could. He connected with Ross Sanborn, a farm advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension service who encouraged him to think beyond a single variety. Instead of planting just one peach variety, Al planted early, mid, and late-season varieties that would ripen in succession. Early varieties like Springcrest came first, followed by Redhaven, Flavorcrest, O’Henry, and later-season peaches like Summerset and Fairtime. A couple of nectarine varieties (Fantasia and Flavortop) rounded out those first plantings. The trees were sourced from Burchell Nursery, and one by one, they went into the ground. 

Those first peaches began to teach Farmer Al lessons about growing fruit; over time, he noticed that peaches rewarded patience. Fruit left on the tree longer developed deeper sweetness, better texture, and more character. “Everything about the fruit was better if you left it on the tree longer,” Farmer Al says.

While many farms harvest fruit early to avoid loss, Frog Hollow chose a different path. Farmer Al learned to watch the trees closely, waiting until peaches naturally fell to the ground before beginning harvest. That riskier, yet intentional approach became a cornerstone of the farm’s identity, and the blueprint behind our legendary fruit.

The first true harvest brought that lesson full circle: Farmer Al packed boxes of Redhaven peaches into his car and drove to Berkeley after hearing that Monterey Market bought directly from farmers. When he arrived, he asked to speak with the owner. Bill Fujimoto came out, tasted the peaches, and immediately said he wanted all of them.

That moment stayed with Farmer Al. “When you sell fruit for the first time and people react positively,” he says, “that’s what you call fulfillment.” It was more than just making a sale, it was proof that growing fruit with care and patience mattered. “It convinced me I was doing the right thing,” Al reflects. “It brought me a sense of personal satisfaction, but more than that, it brought me joy.”

That joy became the thread that carried Frog Hollow Farm forward over the next 50 years. Peaches shaped the farm’s early identity, but they also sparked something lasting: a commitment to curiosity. Trying new varieties, experimenting with different fruits, and staying open to change became part of the farm’s DNA. The crops evolved, the practices deepened, and the understanding of the land grew richer with time.

Looking back now, Farmer Al wouldn’t change a thing. “I followed my heart, did a lot of research, talked with neighbors, and asked for advice from experts,” he says. “That’s what I still do today.”

As Frog Hollow Farm marks its 50th year, those first peach trees continue to echo through everything the farm does. When someone bites into a Frog Hollow peach today, Farmer Al hopes they taste not only sweetness, but also our care for the land, respect for the people eating the fruit, and a belief that farming can restore, not deplete. “Farming regeneratively is very critical to me,” Al says. “I feel like I’m restoring health to the planet, and I hope others learn from what we do here.”

Half a century later, the lesson remains clear: plant thoughtfully, stay curious, and let the fruit and the land show you the way. 🍑