Sacramento area pie shop and fruit stand campaigns to win ‘Best pie in America’
A local institution is vying for the title of America’s best pie shop.
Ikeda’s California Country Market is one of a number of pie shops across the U.S. competing for bragging rights in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
“I think at one point Oprah put our marionberry pie in her magazine, saying that was her favorite pie in California or America or something,” said Derek Ikeda, during a visit to The Sacramento Bee’s newsroom. Ikeda, along with his sibling and cousin, are the third generation to help run the market and stores. Ikeda’s, he said, has never been nominated for a contest like this before, and he’s determined to win.
Ikeda’s, which has a location in Auburn and another in Davis, started out in 1950 as a humble fruit stand off Highway 40, opened by the late Sam Ikeda.
Pies only came into the picture about 30 years ago, said Ikeda, when his father Glen suggested turning bruised fruit into pastries. While both outposts still sell fruit, it only took a handful of years for pies to become Ikeda’s main calling card. The USA TODAY 10Best website describes the Auburn location, which also has an on-site restaurant, as “[showcasing] Northern California’s agricultural bounty through impossibly fresh fruit pies, cobblers, and cream pies.”
Ikeda’s offers 20 pie varieties, many made with local fruit grown at the family orchard. Flavors such as pumpkin and pecan are only available seasonally. Pies range in price; per the Ikeda’s website, fruit pies generally cost $29.99 and cream pies range between $26.99 and $33.99.
Ikeda has been on a campaign for his store, visiting media outlets and using social media outreach to drum up votes for his family’s pies, urging followers and fans to vote once per day. “What’s amazed me and our family is the support, the way that the community really came together,” he said. “We thought maybe a couple of people would see it and vote, you know, maybe some loyal fans.” Instead, he said, the outpouring of support has been tremendous.
Competition is stiff, however, as only 10 pie shops will make the final cut and only one will receive the title of best-loved pie shop in America. For Ikeda, that honor means a lot. “If we [win] this, it’s recognition for all the hard work my dad’s put in, my uncle, my brother, my grandparents,” he said.
Polls will remain open for voting until Monday, June 8, and will close at 9 a.m. PST. Results will be announced by USA TODAY on Wednesday, June 17.
