Marolda Farms continues to expand organic program
Marolda Farms continues to expand organic program
Marolda Farms Inc., a family-owned business based in Vineland, NJ, specializes in cultivating both conventionally-and-organically-grown leafy greens and herbs. The farm operates on 250 acres dedicated to conventional produce and 130 acres dedicated to organic crops.
At the helm are Rich and Sherry Marolda, a husband-and-wife team that has been farming together through more than 25 years of marriage.
The couple’s son, Richard Marolda Jr., serves as production manager for Marolda Farms, and spearheads its organic program, which is shipped under the Rock & Roll Organics label by the entity known as Sweetvine.
As of May 15, the company was in full swing for the spring season and seeing new spring crops coming in every week — all of which was looking solid.
“Everything looks great and really healthy,” Marolda Jr. said. “Some things are coming in a little earlier than normal, a little somewhat later, but I am really happy with the quality of everything so far.”
Now, attention is placed on some later crops and getting things ready for the summer months.
“We just started planting our first summer crops this week,” Marolda Jr. said. “We’re looking forward to filling our first organic figs and organic passion fruit as well. I would like to expand these and get some brand recognition for us, as neither is widely grown.”
The company will also be offering organic zucchini and organic grape tomatoes in 2025 and if they do as well as expected, the Marolda Farms will expand both programs next year.
Increasing production and varieties for organic produce is a savvy direction the company continues to go forward with.
“For me, I see the value of having organic production as an option,” Marolda Jr. said. “Organic revenue nationwide goes up every year. Many of the distributors that I work with have the outlet for this year, and it works. I have some really great relationships with these distributors who can do a lot, so it just seems like this is the right way to go.”
In recent years, Marolda Jr. has seen conventional vegetables trending down for a number of items, which is another reason that the organic operation is expanding.
“Most of what we produce is going to the chain stores and the retail market, but we do service some of the juicing and chopping greens on the organic side, and we have some terminal market business,” Marolda Jr. said.
Working in New Jersey is one of the reasons Marolda Jr. feels the company has been successful, as it’s close to a lot of big cities and the climate offers a long growing season that provides an opportunity that many of its neighbors to the north can’t do.
“One challenge with being in a smaller production area like South Jersey is our share of the pie is always divvied up with other places, so when you can’t sell 75-90 percent of what you grow sometimes, it gets really challenging to grow a profit,” Marolda Jr. said. “It happens a lot because of production gaps, so we’re always concerned about margins.”
