Another Great Benicia Story – Tyler Street Collective
By Sheri Leigh, May 6, 2026
Remember the Tyler Street Collective? In case you don’t, it is an enthusiastic group of local young men who have teamed up to produce and sell quality applesauce. Like the chefs, the apples are organic and locally sourced. The applesauce is made with great care and love, and it is a pure and healthy ambrosia. Elias Zuniga is one of the members of the Collective who created this delicious product.
Born in nearby Fairfield, Elias has been a Benicia resident for over ten years, attending Benicia Middle School and the high school. He is now 20 years old and a proud graduate of Benicia High School, class of 2025. Elias is the youngest of three from a very close family. He lives with his parents, his sister and his parakeets. His older brother Gabriel, although no longer living at home, is his biggest ally and advocate. Elias likes to play video games. He is athletic. As a valued member of the high school track team for shot put and sprints, Elias and his relay team qualified for State finals when he ran anchor in a critical 4×100 meter race. He also enjoys playing basketball, swimming, and weight lifting. Elias is energetic, charismatic, and fiercely independent. He eventually wants a career working with children at an elementary or preschool. Elias also lives with Down Syndrome, which is a genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome, resulting in intellectual disability and developmental delays.
Having Down Syndrome has not stopped Elias from living his best life and making and accomplishing challenging goals. Right now, he is attending the College of Adaptive Arts (CAA) on the West Valley College Campus in Saratoga. He is taking guitar, Hip Hop dance, and coding. Elias is very social, and he makes new friends with every class he takes. He independently attends every school social event possible. And through CAA, he has found a joy in baking.
Elias met Joe Farrell, who was then a special education teacher, while in elementary school. He connected with Joe again through the high school track team, where Joe was coaching. Joe is now his independent living specialist and friend. Last summer, Joe and Elias’ friend Quinn Berg invited Elias to become a member of the Tyler Street Collective where the members learned to make applesauce with the assistance of a professional chef, Matt Beard, and the originator of the recipe, Evelyn Farrell. Elias’ enthusiastic response was, “Put me in, Coach!”
Since they began, the Collective has bottled over 400 jars of applesauce and has already sold nearly all of them to delighted customers. The Collective sampled and offered their products at Drift Coffee Shop and Fiestas Primavera, and is hoping to do something similar at the Cafe at the Inn before the end of the calendar year. The Collective is aiming to open a casual restaurant in town when they can sell their applesauce and make tasty comfort food for their customers. And The Tyler Street Collective is a recent and proud recipient of an Honoree Award for Innovation and Service to the Community from the Solano County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) Community Advisory Committee. Quite an honor!
Elias is hard working, infectiously enthusiastic and natural for sales. He is the point person whenever anyone enquires about the applesauce. Using his natural charm, beautiful smile and persuasive manner, Elias never needs a script. He simply smiles and asks, “Would you like one or two (jars of applesauce)?” And when you hear that question, buy two! It’s worth it!
See more Tyler Street Collective stories on the Benicia Independent…
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