Triple Delight
Mark and Kim Sorensen of Triple Delight: a Match Made in Heaven
The story of how Mark and Kim Sorensen met and fell in love is like a modern day fairy tale with a country twist. Mark, a young, highly respected, fourth generation raisin farmer, was interested in marriage but didn’t want it to change his lifestyle. He prayed that God would bring the right woman to his door. His prayers were soon answered when Kimberly Barber, while running for Caruthers District Fair Queen, knocked on his door selling raffle tickets. The following year, in 1984, Mark and Kim were married.
Their life since then has been pretty magical, according to Kim. “Sometimes I’m just amazed at how we got here,” she exclaims. Kim and Mark are blessed with three daughters, ages 21, 19, and 15, and they all work together running their blueberry business, Triple Delight. “Raising a family in the country and involving the girls in the business has been a wonderful experience. Our girls have gained a strong work ethic, and an ability to communicate with people as a result of working at the farmers markets from when they were little. We all work very, very hard, but it’s very rewarding working together as a family and producing food that people appreciate,” she adds.
Mark knew from an early age he would be a farmer. “Farming has always been in my blood. Since helping my dad irrigate his crops when I was a boy, there was never a question in my mind about following in my father’s footsteps,” he says. “I so enjoy the freshness that each new season brings. Every year has new challenges and opportunities that I look forward to taking on.” Mark does all of the farming on their 15 acres of blueberries and 350 acres of raisins with the help of a few part-time employees, while Kim helps with the business side of things. Before meeting Mark, Kim never dreamed she'd live on a farm, but soon after their marriage, Mark’s passion for farming won her over. Kim, who exudes enthusiasm and energy, has become somewhat of a logistics expert, figuring out how to supply up to 40 Bay Area farmers markets each week with their plump, tasty blueberries.
“It’s been a great adventure. I’ll never forget our first trip to the Aptos Farmers Market in 2000. All five of us in the truck, our girls were four, seven, and nine, and we had to stop about seven times to tarp the clamshells that were flying out of the back,” Kim laughs. “We really enjoyed seeing the joy on customers’ faces when they tried our fresh, flavorful berries, so we started expanding into additional farmers markets. Today, we sell our blueberries only at farmers markets.” The Sorensens hire family friends, either retired couples or students, to do the selling at the weekday markets. Every member of the Sorensen family sells at a different market on the weekends.
Mark wakes up every morning looking forward to what the day will bring. He says, “With all of its risks, there is a peace that comes with knowing that there is only so much that's in my control. I do everything I can to produce the best product that I know how. The proof is the smiles of long-time customers as they see us return with our blueberries year after year.”
Market Profile: more about Triple Delight >
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