Every morning when Charlie Muzzarelli steps outside, heading for the packing house, he realizes that his grandparents gave him much more than the opportunity to continue farming the family ground on Oak Road in Vineland. They gave him the spirit and will to succeed at a business, which he admits, many fail at. “You have to want to do it. It’s that simple” Muzzarelli says.

The original family owned business was started in 1937. Charlie’s father, Delmo, was one of five children raised on the 20-acre vegetable farm. Delmo Muzzarelli eventually took over the operation, focusing primarily on sweet potatoes and pickles.

In 1973 Charlie married high school sweetheart Rita Ferruci. Rita was raised on a farm and shared Charlie’s passion in agriculture. Together, in 1980, they took over the family farm as owner and operator of Muzzarelli Farms.

During the past 21 years, the farm has increased to over 300 acres. Though Charlie continues to grow sweet potatoes and pickles as his grandfather did, he is quick to say that he doesn’t take “special pride” in these two crops. “I take pride in all my crops.” These crops include endive, escarole, romaine, cabbage, beets, leeks, eggplant, plum, grape, and tomatoes, and others.

As the Muzzarelli’s look back and recall the ups and downs they have endured as vegetable growers in South Jersey, it’s the first six years, 1980-1985, they credit for making them strong and determined. “People worked with us.” Charlie says, “Interest rates were high. The Creditors and brokers supported us and allowed us the time to get on our feet. We’ll always be grateful for that.”

In 1985, Muzzarelli Farms starting selling their produce at the Vineland Produce Auction. Prior to that, they sold direct to the brokers. Since that time, they have remained faithful, six days a week, 8 months a year, to the auction in which they heavily credit for the success they have achieved. “We put up a good pack. The buyers know that. We have pride in every crate, carton and bushel we sell”, states Rita.

To those Involved in agriculture, it comes to no surprise that in order to remain competitive, you have to learn new practices. Often times these practices become challenges. The use of row cover has now become an essential part of the operation”, Charlie says. “We use drip irrigation and plastic on our eggplant1 tomatoes and pickles. We stake all of our eggplants and tomatoes. We use Jersey Fresh twist ties with the UPC code on all our leeks. It’s expensive, but it’s the way it has to be done.”

During the 2000 growing season Muzzarelli began marketing grape tomatoes in one pint containers. Local stores and brokers were eager to purchase the “new tomato variety”. Traditionally, Muzzarelli farms raised only plum and round tomatoes.

It’s apparent that both Rita and Charlie are excited to see their only son, Charlie Jr., motivated to continue in the family business. At the age of 30, he has made a full commitment to the farm. Both Charlie and Rita believe that the reasons behind their son’s decision to stay in agriculture come from within. “He is a very determined young man,” says mom. “We take great pride in calling ourselves a true family farm.”