Where Doing Things Right Is Always in Season
In Puyallup, fourth-generation farmer Jake Sterino proves that doing the right thing truly pays off. With his hands in the dirt and eyes on the future, Jake brings heart, dedication, and innovation to every row he plants.
Carrying forward his family’s 100-year farming legacy, Jake is constantly experimenting—testing new crop varieties, studying the land, and diversifying offerings just like his dad and grandfather taught him.
But Jake is always thinking a few rows ahead. When a neighboring flower farm went up for sale, he saw opportunity—and welcomed it into the fold.
Growing big ideas
Turns out, that flower farm was a perfect match. Those stunning hanging baskets outside our markets each spring? They come straight from Jake’s greenhouses, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Spring also brings Sterino’s prized Northwest Hothouse rhubarb, sought after by chefs from New York to Los Angeles. But you don’t have to travel far to taste it—Jake sets aside part of his harvest for us, so you can enjoy its vibrant flavor at its freshest.
Then comes berry season, when the fields overflow with raspberries, tayberries, blackberries, and more. They’re colorful, juicy, and full of flavor. These berries inspire our culinary team to craft seasonal recipes that are tested—and taste-tested—until just right.
By late summer, we’re counting down to Sterino’s sweet corn, affectionately called Krispy King. Jake grows this variety exclusively for us, harvesting by night so it’s on our shelves by morning. “This is simply what fresh tastes like,” says Produce Specialist Jim Foley. “We think it’s the best corn around.”
And when autumn arrives, Jake keeps delivering—literally. Truckloads of pumpkins and ornamental gourds transform our stores into a vibrant celebration of fall. From ghostly whites and fairy tale Cinderellas to nubbly Warty Goblins and striped American Tondos, Jake grows them all—with personality to spare.
Something Special, All Year Long
Jake Sterino is always learning, always growing, and always looking for ways to bring something meaningful to your table.
“Our partnership with Sterino Farms is about more than fresh produce,” says Jim. “It’s about trust. It’s about knowing where your food comes from. And it’s about offering our guests the very best—first pick, peak flavor, and unmatched quality.”
Because when we work closely with a grower who cares deeply about his crops and his community, you feel it in every bite.
It’s a connection to the season, the soil, and the story behind your food.
And that’s a difference you can taste—all year long.