Etheridge Farms
This post is part of our series of stories about the farmers we work with. We love sharing about our little adventures. Etheridge farm is an organic fruit farm in Dinuba, CA, growing unique varieties since 1969.
I remember clearly the day that I met Gene Etheridge over 11 years ago. I remember how much he talked about things. Stories, inspirations, experiences…. Though, it’s very likely that I actually first met him when I was a kid, and I don’t remember. They call him Poppa Gene for a reason. He’s watched a lot of kids grow up through his time at the farmers markets, and he has a big family. When I was 9 years old, I began going to the Encino farmers market with my family every week. Little did I know, carrying my warm gooey cinnamon bun, that I was walking past the guy that would provide organic fruit for my little business for many years, and would be one of my favorite humans.
He cares deeply about the next generations, and thinks ahead with every improvement he makes to help make it a brighter future for the land he farms. Gene wants to revive as many of the old citrus varieties as he can. There are so many that we’ve never even heard of. Since grocery stores are limited to just a few. He’s very proud of what he grows. He has varieties like, mother beck oranges, tangelos, shasta tangerines, gold nugget tangerines, blood oranges, pomegranates, kiwis, pluots, apriums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and more!
Years ago I did a short film on his farm and an article for “Take Part”, during the drought. He’s very informative about the realities of farming, climate change, and all the challenges that come with it.
One of the many stories I loved to hear from him is how he treats his neighbors. He’s very protective of his land, and writes nice letters to ensure neighboring farms are aware that they can’t tolerate any chemicals leaking on their property. Through his kind actions and sharing of wisdom, he inspires other growers to grow organic. Gene is an excellent example of someone who takes care of the Earth, and encourages others to do the same.
