Montclair resident Charles Rosen, 50, has developed abusiness model intended to solve three challenges at
the same time: Reviving the tradition of harvesting New Jersey apple crops to be used in hard cider, and employing ex-offenders to maintain them, while coaching them in valuable life skills.
His company, Ironbound Farm, uses its orchards, New Ark Farms in the New Jersey Highlands, to supply the apples used in its cider business, called Jersey Cider Works. So far, Ironbound Farm has released three products that are only available in New Jersey: the original Ironbound Hard Cider, Ironbound Summer Cider, and Devil’ s Cut, which uses New Jersey cranberries and is named for the mythical New Jersey Devil.
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1HE’ SLEARNED LESSONS AS HE’ SSHIFTED CAREERS. Rosen started as alawyer, became amovie producer( whose films include 1999’ s Three Seasons starring Harvey Keitel), opened an advertising agency, ran for congress, and is now afarmer. Heuses what he’ slearned to benefit his company, and ultimately the lives of the people he employs. Hecan provide legal advice to his workers, and knows how to tell the story of his company to consumers. His advertising experience helps him carefully articulate an identity value for the brand. Of his movie-making, he says,“ I wanted to make money and taste fame. However, Iquickly came to realize that Iwasn’ thappy with any of those things. When Istarted this company, Iknew Ihad ayearning to serve people.” |
2ROSEN BELIEVES THAT SUCCESS SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSEOF OTHERS. He believes that people are scared that there isn’ t enough success for everyone toshare.“ There’ saton ofpie to go around,” Rosen says.“ Our problem isn’ tthat there isn’ t enough, it’ s how it’ s being distributed.” He likes to see that his community honors and supports everyone, from the grower tothe end consumer.3HE WANTS TOINSPIRE OTHERS TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LAND AND FOOD. Rosen believes that technology has only made communities colder and disconnected.“ I can order anything on Amazon and make it same-day delivery,” hesays.“ But in the end, I’ m not connected toanyone who made the product.”> |
ROSEN & BREWERY: COURTESY OFSTEPHEN JOHNSEN; FARM: COURTESY OF HUSH PARK; CIDER: COURTESY OF IRONBOUND FARM |
18 FALL 2018 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE |