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 |