Mullica Hill and West Deptford Grasso Girls Farm Markets honored with Tony Russo award
The Grasso Girls Farm Market in Mullica Hill and West Deptford were presented with the Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award by the New Jersey Agricultural Society on Feb. 10 at the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City. The Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award is presented to individuals who develop unique marketing plans and tools that promote the sale of farm products to the non-farm public.
Mary Grasso-Shiles and her daughter Erica Shiles accepted the award for the family. Grasso-Shiles owns and operates Grasso Girls with her brothers Rosario and Fred Grasso, as well as Erica and Fred's son, Michael.
The farm was a wholesale business until 2002 when Mary Grasso's two daughters and five nieces wanted to open a little vegetable stand in front of their Mullica Hill farm. The girls ran the market and by 2006, a decision was made to build a permanent structure for their retail market.
The fourth-generation farm family now grows a variety of fruits and vegetables at their two markets. They also sell honey, eggs, jams, jellies, bedding plants, dressings and Wagon House Winery wine.
The West Deptford market was recently built on preserved farmland purchased by the family.