Two Families One Vision
Centuries of Farming Ancestors
Farming is a challenging calling, and strawberries can be one of the most difficult crops to cultivate successfully. Each of our founding families, the Etchandy and Kawamura families, has centuries of ancestors skilled in the practices of agriculture rooted in the regions of Japan and the French Basque countryside. Eventually they immigrated to the United States, eager to seek their fortunes. Independently, they established home farms in Southern California and built agricultural businesses that flourished.
We are a grower-focused, family-proud organization that holds quality, sustainability and consistency of deliverability as our key priorities. After more than 75 seasons of berry goodness, Gem-Pack has expanded to cultivating and shipping strawberries year-round, and added blackberries, blueberries and raspberries to the Gem-Pack berry patch. When you bite into one of our juicy, delicious berries you become part of our extended circle of family and friends. Thank you for being part of our success story!
Two Families One Vision
Centuries of Farming Ancestors
Farming is a challenging calling, and strawberries can be one of the most difficult crops to cultivate successfully. Each of our founding families, the Etchandy and Kawamura families, has centuries of ancestors skilled in the practices of agriculture rooted in the regions of Japan and the French Basque countryside. Eventually they immigrated to the United States, eager to seek their fortunes. Independently, they established home farms in Southern California and built agricultural businesses that flourished.
We are a grower-focused, family-proud organization that holds quality, sustainability and consistency of deliverability as our key priorities. After more than 75 seasons of berry goodness, Gem-Pack has expanded to cultivating and shipping strawberries year-round, and added blackberries, blueberries and raspberries to the Gem-Pack berry patch. When you bite into one of our juicy, delicious berries you become part of our extended circle of family and friends. Thank you for being part of our success story!
Our Roots
1959
The Kawamura family launched the Western Marketing Company to create a stronger platform to market and sell their strawberries beyond Sothern California. Their Western Chief label became the standard bearer for Orange County strawberries shipped throughout the United States and around the world.
1990
A young, expanding grower, Mike Etchandy, joined the Western Chief team and the Kawamura and Etchandy alliance forged their position in the growing California strawberry industry.
1994
The Western Marketing Company rebranded as Orange County Produce, LLC and continued to distribute Orange County strawberries throughout the world, dominating the early spring marketplace from their regional Southern California platform. Meanwhile, the increasing popularity of healthy food choices escalated strawberry consumption and drove significant growth of the strawberry industry at home and abroad. The now year - round de mand for strawberries from retailers across the U.S. inspired OC Produce to embrace a larger presence in the California strawberry industry and over the next two decades gradually expanded in both acreage and scope of sales.
2016
2016 welcomed a new era of expansion, combining collective strengths and vision to reorganize as Gem - Pack Berries, LLC and as a new generation of year - round strawberry breeding, cultivation, distribution and sales. As Gem - Pack continued to expand its year - round production, the focus on quality and market performance was the core commitment. The berry breeding company, California Strawberry Cultivars (CBC, LLC), became the newest addition to the line - up, partnering with renown strawberry breeders and nurseries to deliver Gem - Pack’s first line of patented varieties, or gems.
2021
The expansion continued as Red Blossom Sales, Inc. was added to Gem - Pack’ s team. Red Blossom, an established label and player in the industry, added depth to both Gem - Pack’s product line and team of berry experts. Red Blossom’s production in Santa Maria, CA, Plant City, FL and Central Mexico peaked Gem - Pack’s ability to supply year - round production to its customers, and added blackberries and blueberries to their now full berry line.
2023
The 54 year - old industry stalwart, Well - Pict Berries, was welcomed summer, 2023. Well - Pict’s years of research and expertise in the breeding of strawberries and raspberries was quickly embraced and continues to be an exciting asset to Gem - Pack’s offerings. Well - Pict’s ac reage and strength in its northern home region of Watsonville/Salinas, CA yet furthers Gem - Pack’s position as a leader in the both the domestic and international berry industry.
