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Happy Quail Farm
Vendor: Dave Winsbert + Karin Shlanger
Happy Quail Farms, or “the pepper people” as PAFM regulars sometimes refer to them, were indeed originally quail farmers, selling quail eggs and dressed quail at the PAFM, as well as chicken eggs, herbs, and vegetables. That Happy Quail eventually specialized in growing fresh peppers should not be a surprise, however, considering that David Winsberg, who started Happy Quail in 1985, came from a farming family in South Florida whose main crop was green peppers! Winsberg came to the Bay Area from Florida in the early 1980’s and hunted around until he found the perfect site for Happy Quail, in East Palo. (Less than three miles from PAFM, Happy Quail takes the prize for being our most local grower.) He started selling at the PAFM the same year he started the farm in 1985, but David didn’t start out full-time at Happy Quail; he was the co-manager at the “Dealin’ Down” clothing store on Waverley street for a few years, until he decided to make the break and farm full time. Today, Happy Quail sells thirty varieties of peppers, from May through December, as well as rhubarb from spring into early summer, and horseradish at Passover and Thanksgiving. At the Happy Quail stand you’ll see David, as well as Andreas and Phillipe Winsberg; Eric, Denise, and Karin Shlanger; and Katie Hunt. What keeps Happy Quail’s customers coming back? All the unique varieties, says David, as well as the quality, freshness and flavor of their produce. Certainly, Happy Quail has a devoted following: “we have seen several generations of customers grow and become adult members of our community. Many of our customers have known us from the beginning, and seen Karin through her pregnancies with our two sons, who are now 15 and 10.”
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