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Dylan's grandfather, Toto, was the first in his family working on vanilla plantations, supplying French traders. Dylan's father, Venja, continued supplying French traders. Shortly after Madagascar's independence in 1960, the vanilla trade became dominated by Chinese immigrants who had previously worked on French-owned plantations. The Chinese became buyers and exporters of vanilla and were Venja's newfound customers. Venja's wife, Bavy, took care of hand -pollinating the vanilla orchids at their family-owned plantation 15km northwest of Andapa. Today, with Dylan having stepped into the business as the 3rd generation of vanilla producers, Madagascar Spices cultivates, processes and exports vanilla directly to its customers.

From a young age of 15, Dylan literary followed his parentparents's footsteps to the vanilla plantation on a daily basis. He is one of 10 children and the only son in the family to have continued his passion for vanilla in his professional life.