EPC Leadership Class gains field experience in New Jersey

Members of the fifth Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class recently had a chance to get their boots on the ground in New Jersey.

The visits included Hionis Greenhouses in Whitehouse Station, N.J., and the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm at Rutgers University near Pittstown, N.J., on Oct. 3 as part of the ongoing EPC leadership education program.

Tim Hionis, co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses, provided for the group a tour of the operation’s main greenhouses currently overflowing with mums, fall ornamentals and Christmas poinsettias, according to a news release.

“We are currently in the middle of fall mum season,” Hionis told the group, the release said. “We grow about half a million mums per year.”

The operation was founded by Hionis’ father and mother — Spiro and Angie — three decades ago and is now run by Hionis and his three brothers: Pete, Spiro and Gerry.

“We currently have two locations totaling 15 acres under cover and 65 open field, and we’re expanding another four acres of hoop houses,” Hionis told the group. “We’ve also been investing in more automation technology. This doesn’t replace labor but allows us to use our valuable labor in other areas.”

Jessica Sarter, regional account manager at Pulmuone Foods, discussed gaining a new appreciation for how ornamental products make it to the retail venue.

“Often at the end of the supply chain, you don’t really consider everything it’s taken to get it there,” she said in the release. “From getting seeds to root, to placing them in pots, to the growth that has to happen in unpredictable weather conditions — it’s helpful to see firsthand all that goes into the product at this level.” 

The second leg of the day included a visit to the 390-acre Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm, the release said.

Peter Nitzsche, Morris County Agricultural and Natural Resources agent, toured the class around the farm in a wagon ride, explaining research projects underway.

“Our goal here is to research and demonstrate innovative practices for growers,” he said in the release. “We currently have 120 cultivated acres which include a variety of projects from looking at butternut squash yields to an agrivoltaics project to determine the feasibility of growing crops between solar farm panels.”

Megan Muehlbauer, Hunterdon County Agricultural and Natural Resources agent, told the class about her current hazelnut project, as well as several ongoing apple variety trials. The group picked some Macoun apples to sample and take home. 

“The farm tour showed various aspects of production affecting growing plants and different species,” Max Pozzessere, regional sales manager with Little Leaf Farms, said in the release. “It was interesting to learn about different diseases and how the researchers are working to mitigate them, particularly how the research continues to be an evolving cycle because of the nature of the diseases.”

“These field experiences add so much to professional development because our participants are exposed to unique areas of the industry they may not encounter in their daily work,” Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director, said in the release. “In addition to our classroom and conference activities, getting out into actual production and research facilities adds another layer of industry understanding.”

 The EPC leadership program chooses up to 20 up-and-coming produce professionals for each Leadership Class, a professional development experience for those with less than 10 years of experience in the industry. 

Participants selected for this year’s program include: Brian Arena, Four Seasons Produce Inc.; Julie Barber, The Oppenheimer Group; Lauren Barczak, Procacci Brothers Sales Corp.; Jack Christy, The Oppenheimer Group; Andrea Cutler, Michael Cutler Co.; Tyler Davidov, Suja; Anna Fagan, AeroFarms; Michael Hill, NatureSweet; Chris Jacobsen, Silo; Mike Kominsky, Ventura Foods; Savannah Lloyd, Farm-Wey Produce Inc.; Joshua Minton, Frank Donio Inc.; Isaac Olivas, Fowler Farms; Luke Palizay, Pacific Trellis Fruit; Max Pozzessere, Little Leaf Farms; Nicolina Rutherford, Wakefern Food Corp.; Jessica Sarter, Pulmuone Foods; Jerry Scherwin, PennRose Farms; Christopher Scotti, John Vena Inc.; Eric Smith, John Vena Inc.; Karolina Sokolska, Hampton Farms; Alexis Sommers, F&S Fresh Foods; Joseph Strumolo, Wakefern Food Corp.; Stephanie Tramutola, A&J Produce Corp.; Jenna Vaccaro, Sugar Foods; and Nicholas Vargas, Wakefern Food Corp.

Also participating in the New Jersey tour was Theresa Lowden, vice president of the EPC and executive vice president of produce and floral for JOH.