The pies have it: Ikeda's nominated for USA Today Reader's Choice Award as top pie shop in country

Derek Ikeda dropped by the Auburn Journal on Wednesday with some wonderful news: two fresh pies for the newspaper staff to enjoy – Dutch apple and marionberry. OK, so that was only the half of it. Ikeda informed the Journal that one of Auburn's most famous stores – started by his grandparents some 50 years ago – has been nominated for a USA Today Reader's Choice Award for Best Pie Shop in the country. The newspaper notified the Ikeda family of the nomination on May 11, and voters have until June 8 to help crown the beloved Auburn business best pie shop in the nation. This is no pie in the sky. Ikeda told the Journal on Wednesday, "Right now, we're in the lead. We are just trying to get No. 1 pie shop in America." There are multiple ways to vote – through the QR code accompanying this story or by visiting https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/ikedas-auburn-california/ or https://www.ikedas.com/ and on Instagram @ikedasbakery. Ikeda's grandparents, Sam and Sally, started the business roughly 50 years ago, growing peaches, apples and plums on a fruit farm. Because they were throwing away a lot of fruit, according to Derek Ikeda, "They said, let's turn this fruit into pies. That became our No. 1 export. We started being known for our pies. And now, the rest is history." Pies aside, business bustles with shoppers inside the store each day. There's also quick-service burgers, tri-tip and crab sandwiches, pie by the slice and fruit milkshakes. Ikeda called the nomination "an incredible recognition for what my family has been working hard toward, a quality-driven, fresh fruit pie shop. "We have the entire community to thank for years of support and express nothing but gratitude for helping us get this nomination," he said.