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Mike Etchandy is the owner and CEO of Etchandy Farms and Co-Owner of GEM-Pack Berries. Most importantly, Etchandy is a fourth generation Orange County farmer, growing over 600 acres of strawberries between Orange and Ventura Counties. Etchandy Farms has been at the forefront of raising amazing strawberries, always in search of new, tasty varieties for the marketplace.
Etchandy is quick to mention that much of his success has been a result of being surrounded by many loyal and outstanding people. Like his father and grandfather before him, Etchandy strives to produce the highest quality, most delicious strawberries in the state. While pursuing the latest in sustainable farm and agricultural technology, Etchandy has heard every ‘pitch’ in the book…including that of a very insistent Australian CEO.
Etchandy regularly embraces cutting edge, sustainable growing practices, but when first presented with the idea of Earthmade, he was, at best, skeptical. “I almost tried to make the thing not work. Because I was just trying to do the guy a favor before he spent money investing in something he didn’t really understand. And to my surprise…it worked.” Etchandy is now regarded as one of Earthmade’s first and loudest advocates, truly setting the pace for others to follow.