Famous for the Blenheim apricots it grows on acres of trees along Fairview Road, B&R Farms will receivce a proclamation July 21 from the Hollister City Council honoring the family-run enterprise's 85 years in business.
Since 1929, B&R has grown and processed apricots. The resolution notes that the company's late matriarch, Elsie Rossi, "was a constant face at weekly farmers' markets from the Bay Area to Santa Baraba for 20-plus years" and that she taught her great-grandchildren about apricots so they could one day become the fifth generation to run the family business.
Mayor Ignacio Velasquez will present the proclamation at the Monday night meeting in the Hollister City Council chambers at 375 Fifth St. The proclation notes that B&R Farms is a member of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors' Bureau, the Hollister Downtown Association, the San Benito County Farm Bureau, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade and California Women for Agriculture.
The businesses was the county chamber's agriculture business of the year in 2007 and 2011, while Mari Rossi was Ag Against Hunger's 2012 Agriculture Woman of the Year. Jim and Mari Rossi run the business and their sons, Phillip and Scott, help as well, extending the family involvement in B&R to four generations and counting.