OUR STORY

Our journey unfolds with Keith Kettner, a passionate garden enthusiast and landscaping enthusiast. However, it was a serendipitous encounter with Joe Grezaffi, an orchid breeder turned close friend and mentor, that ignited Keith's deep love for horticulture, steering his career path in a new direction. Alongside his soon-to-be wife, Nicole Kettner, Keith embarked on a journey of horticultural education at the University of Florida.

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During this period, the nation grappled with the lingering effects of the 2008 housing crisis, which had a profound impact on Keith's original ambition—the plant nursery business. Faced with economic challenges, Keith pivoted his focus towards production agriculture. He accepted a role as an extension agent in North Carolina, where his knowledge and passion for peanuts began to flourish.

 

However, the longing to return to his roots in Florida grew stronger, prompting Keith to join a major sugar company in South Florida. Yet, it didn't take long for him to realize that the corporate world wasn't his calling. He diligently searched for a way to cultivate his own farming dream.

 

In 2013, shortly after the birth of their first child, Keith and Nicole took a courageous leap and established Kettner Farms. With 100 acres dedicated to peanuts in that inaugural year, alongside other crops, they defied the odds and weathered the challenges of that first season—a pivotal chapter that paved the way for their success today.

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Today, Keith and Nicole have transformed their farming venture into an impressive operation, spanning over 1,800 acres dedicated to the cultivation of delicious boiled peanuts. Their journey, marked by dedication and determination, has led them to a point where their signature product is distributed across the entire nation.