D'Ottavio Farms: Operating today with plans for the future

The spring is shaping up very well at D’Ottavio Farms, thanks to a combination of cooler weather earlier in the season and warmer weather later on.

Officials at D’Ottavio, which was founded in 1903 by Callie D’Ottavio when he cleared 30 acres of land in south New Jersey with horses and dynamite to raise sweet potatoes and broccoli, expect the spring harvest to be strong for its growing number of fruits and vegetables.

“We could not ask for better weather this spring, with those cool temperatures early in the season for lettuce and then warm weather to help with pollination in the blueberries,” said Michael D’Ottavio, president of the Vineland, NJ-based operation. 

It is just a continuation of well-developed strategy that has seen D’Ottavio become a larger player in the produce industry and more committed to implementing the right measures to keep things moving in the right direction.

“As we continue to increase our acreage — organically and conventionally — at our blueberry farm located in Vineland NJ, we decided to purchase our first OXBO blueberry harvester to help keep up with the increase in acreage,” D’Ottavio added. “This machine along with our new packing line will ensure top quality blueberries picked at the peak of taste and quality.”

At the family business, the next generation is also getting involved, too. While Callie D’Ottavio started the ball rolling, Mike’s parents, Ronald and Elaine, took over the business in 1953 and started to diversify the crops and expand the acreage, Now, with more than 37 items raised on 1,200 acres in New Jersey and Florida, the next generation has its chance to participate and keep things moving forward.