Have you been to your local Davis produce shop? Ikeda's, located at 26295 Mace Boulevard near County Road 32A, is not just your run-of-the mill fruit stand. At one point, the location that is now Ikeda's was just a basic food stand. Now in its seventh year, the Davis Ikeda's serves as a stopping point for local residents as well as Bay Area customers looking to get higher-quality produce than can be obtained in mainstream supermarkets.

The most important function of Ikeda's, according to manager Duane Kushida, is its role within the larger community of Davis. First and foremost, it provides a place for farmers to sell their produce. “If people like us don’t do this, there are not going to be any more farmers,” Duane says. Almost all of the produce is grown locally. “Tomatoes, watermelons, corn, honeydew - all locally grown within 10 miles of here, which is huge. (We are) very supportive of Yolo County growers,” he says. Second of all, Ikeda's is a generous contributor to many Davis businesses, donating money to schools, parks and senior centers, to name a few.

The Davis Ikeda's is actually a spin-off of the original Auburn Ikedas, which is located at 1350 Lincoln Way. It was established in 1970 by Sam and Sally Ikeda, and was originally a fruit stand and burger bar