John Scharffenberger is a consultant to the Farming and Food Production industry who helps for-profit and non-profit producers sustainably higher returns. The consultancy offers a wide range of programs and services including agronomic analysis, product development, management, and marketing.  His clients have included  Hodo Soy, Farmhouse Culture, Tout Sweets Patisserie, Front Porch Farms, Kaia Foods, Daylesford Organics among others.  He served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at London business school in 2007

Prior to establishing his consultancy, he developed companies in the wine, chocolate and forestry industries that combined agronomic innovation, sustainable production technologies and international brand development.  Scharffenberger Cellars, Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker are two of these companies.

Scharffenberger studied at UC Berkeley and received a BA in Agricultural Geography in 1973.  He believes that a comprehensive study of cultural, historic, and environmental contexts is the proper basis to achieve sustainable and successful food production.  He has recently spoken at UC Berkeley Commencement ceremonies, Brown University, and various symposia relating to small food production

His non-profit activities include serving as trustee on of the Advisory board of the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley, Board Member of the Save the Redwoods league and an ex-officio board member of the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens.

An avid gardener and amateur forester, he devotes substantial time to learning about food production processes and forest restoration on his 250 acre ranch in Mendocino County.   Recent interests include small-scale grain production, black truffle farming, and research on Paleo-zoology of Northwest US forest systems.