Gotelli Farms: It’s Cherry Season!
Sometimes the smallest moments end up changing the trajectory of our lives. A smile, a conversation, a last-minute decision all can take us places we never thought we would go.
Missy Gotelli knows the power of the small moments. Her whole life has been shaped by them, from meeting her husband on a brief visit to her parents to an off-hand comment at a bunco night that changed her entire career. Missy never planned to forge a path as a woman in agriculture or create a successful business selling cherries at farmers markets all over Northern California. But, supplemented with grit and determination, Missy took the opportunities those small moments gave her and created a legacy that will not be easily forgotten.
Born and raised in Stockton, Missy originally pursued a career in education, attending UC Santa Barbara and receiving her teaching credential from the University of the Pacific. She absolutely loved teaching her third graders. But once she became a mother, she realized her rigorous teaching schedule wasn’t compatible with her aims for motherhood. She retired from teaching to focus on parenting. One night, chatting over a bunco game with friends, someone asked her if she’d ever thought of selling cherries at farmers markets since her husband and his family were in the cherry business. Her interest was piqued, and soon she found herself at her first market with nothing more than a card table and flats of cherries. As people stopped to chat and sample, walking away with their hands full of gleaming bright fruit, Missy realized she was hooked. “It’s so fun,” she said. “You love the energy of it!” And so, 34 years ago, Gotelli Farms was born.
With a laugh like an angel and grit like sandpaper, Missy was undaunted by being a woman in a male-dominated industry. “It was tough when I first started,” she said. “I had to be really strong. But it was worth it!” Cherry season spans from May through June; ensuring everything goes smoothly takes a monumental amount of labor and planning, but Missy is no stranger to hard work. She’ll be the first to tell you about the challenges of the industry and the many things we take for granted about our food and agriculture, but she’ll also be the first to tell you how rewarding it is. “You’re refined through fire,” Missy said. “I’m grateful and it’s been a very great learning experience, not only for myself but for my family. It’s the foundation of who we are and our family value system.”
The joy of interacting with her customers kept her going even through the most difficult parts of the business. She remembered one who had a particular impact on her, calling every year to ensure Gotelli Farms would be at her market that season. The customer’s attitude spread cheer to everyone around her, despite her chronic illness that required wheelchair use. “It inspired me,” Missy said. “She would show up and spread love and joy and positivity, and it had a huge impact on me.” She also spoke of customers who remembered her working while pregnant with her son during cherry season; they now get to see her playing with her grandchildren when they visit the markets. That joyful, life-long connection with the community is the heart of Gotelli Farms.
Whether she’s educating her employees or customers on the nuances of the agriculture industry or passing out samples at markets with her grandchildren, Missy loves every aspect of her business. “It brings me so much joy,” she said. To her, it’s more than just a job; it’s a way to touch the lives of people around her. “My mantra is ‘Be a blessing to others,’” she said. “This is a platform where you can reach out and make a difference in people’s lives.” She values and mentors her employees, specifically the young women who hope to follow in her footsteps. She remembers her customers by name. And while she’s proud of the business she’s built, she sees the people first and foremost, not the numbers. As she emphatically says whenever she’s asked about her success, “It’s just a tool for blessing people’s lives.”
