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Photograph by Douglas Rider
C.J. Olson Cherries has been open and serving Sunnyvale for 102 years.
Cherries on Top
The Olson family's fruit stand has persevered for generations
By Karen Kabiling
An old family saying has more than just meaning to one local business--it has also brought much success.
"As my grandfather always used to say, people have to eat," said Deborah Olson, who runs the family owned and operated Olson's Cherries. "You got to nourish your body, and we're here to help them nourish themselves."
Her grandfather's words of wisdom gave the fourth generation Olson high spirits to continue with the family business.
It works both ways--as long as people keep buying and supporting, then they remain in business.
"We have the best customers in the world," Olson continued, saying they're loyal, supportive and always complement the business.
With a well-known reputation for its fresh fruits, candies, nuts and baked goods, Olson's fruit stand at the corner of El Camino Real and Mathilda Avenue has built an immeasurable following of customers that include local residents and passers-by through many generations.
Olson's Cherries wouldn't be the Sunnyvale landmark it is today if it weren't for the people who help run the business.
Throughout the years, workers have included members of the Olson clan and its extended family, which include friends and their family members, Olson said.
One of these people includes Arcadio Ramos, who has worked alongside Olson for more than seven years.
Ramos said Olson's Cherries is unlike many dot-com companies, which lack stability.
"Many of those places don't have the physicality like we do," he said. "They don't see the products."
At the fruit stand, customers are able to taste what they buy and test whether they like it or not--high-tech companies don't work that way.
That's what makes Olson's Cherries customers so loyal, Ramos said--they trust the business and the people who help run it.
Photograph by Douglas Rider
Deborah Olson prepares a pack of cherries to be sent out through the mail. C.J. Olson Cherries has been open for 102 years, and Deborah is the fourth generation to run the stand. She recently appeared on Martha Stewart's television show.
Brandon Warren, who's worked on the stand for three years, may have less experience than Ramos, but he knows that cherries are the best sellers.
"It's almost like it's picked up this year," Warren said. "Everyone still has room for cherries."
Warren said many old customers pick up a few favorites on a regular basis, and now a lot of new faces have begun to stop by and check things out.
At Olson's Cherries, there are two cherry seasons, summer and winter. When they aren't in season in California, Olson said they get cherries from Chile.
For a regular customer like Ann Mason, a quick stop to pick up a bunch was well worth the effort.
Mason had to run in and buy her cherries because she was told that her car was blocking the way for a truck to get to the construction site.
Parking became a bit of a problem for the stand two years ago when the construction of a new apartment complex and retail center began behind Olson's Cherries. It has become somewhat an inconvenience for customers, but Olson said that it would be beneficial in the long run.
The retail complex, which is built on the Olson's property, will include a bookstore, coffee shops, restaurants and other food-related industries.
With a huge parking lot for customers that she hopes will provide foot traffic that will lead toward the fruit stand.
Since the apartments and retail complex are being built on a former cherry orchard, she said they will be designed with cherries and named Cherry Orchard Apartments and Cherry Orchard respectively.
"It goes without saying," Olson said. "I don't think anyone discussed it much having it been a cherry orchard."
In the meantime, customers will have to deal with the minor inconveniences, but with six weeks left in the summertime cherry season, customers think it's worth the trouble.
After all, Olson said business has picked up in the last couple of weeks--coincidentally about the same time cherry season began.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
