What we sell
Originally focused on conventional vegetables, over the years we have added a robust Mexican specialty department that includes tomatoes, avocadoes, onions, peppers and citrus, as well as a growing organic department. Look at our Product List for a more complete list, or call in and visit to learn exactly what we have in the store today!
Where Are We?
Washington Vegetable Company is located at 2035 Jerrold Avenue, at the heart of the San Francisco Produce Market. Open from midnight to 9:00 am on weekdays and 2:00 am to 7:00 am on Saturdays, we can take orders via email, over the phone or in person, and once you are here we will help load it onto your truck.
Our History
After immigrating from Collodi, Italy in 1920, Pietro Dante Pizza began working at the old San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market near the corner of Davis and Washington Sts. in what is now the Financial District of San Francisco. In 1931, after working as a porter at the old market, Dante opened his own wholesale produce business and named it Washington Vegetable Company. Dante’s three sons, John, Louis, and Renato worked at the family business first while in school, working during the school year (before school) and then full time after returning from their service in WWII. In 1961, The Golden Gateway Redevelopment Project was approved and the tenants of the old Wholesale Produce Market were moved to a new San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market (SFWPM) on Jerrold Avenue in the Bayview area of San Francisco.
After Louis and Renato retired, John became the sole owner of Washington Vegetable Company. In 2003, John retired and his son Jack took over as owner and president. Jack gained familiarity with the company and the market starting in high school, when he would work summers and occasionally before school. In 1994, after working as an attorney for 12 years Jack returned to Washington Vegetable Company.
With over 90 years of continuous service, Washington Vegetable is the oldest wholesale produce business in the City & County of San Francisco.
In 2019, John’s son Michael joined Washington Vegetable, ensuring it would stay in the family for another generation. He now runs day to day operations while his dad golfs.
