The city of Monte Sereno, California, sits in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and closely neighbors the town of San Gatos. The classic city was once a part of the Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos and was later incorporated in 1957. The deliciously rich history of Monte Sereno, however, dates back to the early 1900s. Nearly 5 million orchard trees were tended to in the Santa Clara Valley area, with over seven thousand farms including apricots, prunes, and cherries. By the 1920s, more than 90% of apricots were produced in California.
Beyond orchard tree farms, the production of fireworks made its way into the city. For almost three decades, the Hitt brothers manufactured fireworks and put on spectacular light shows. By 1940, they had even garnered interest from Hollywood. Notable persons who once resided in the charming city included American painter Thomas Kincaid and Nobel-Prize winner John Steinbeck. Kincaid settled his life in Monte Sereno with his wife and 4 daughters, while Steinbeck only resided for a couple of years. In those years, both The Mice of Men and The Grapes of Wrath were written.