The Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award is presented to a farm market that develops unique marketing plans and tools that promote the sale of farm products to the non-farm public. This award is presented at the NJ State Agricultural Convention, during the Ag Society Luncheon.

2018 Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award
James Durr Farms

James Durr Wholesale Florist and Vegetable Farms is based in Chesterfield, NJ and is a family farm that specializes in fresh cut flowers and fresh daily produce. All of their products are harvested by hand and brought fresh to market using sustainable practices. Today, son Jake handles payables and receivables while Jim oversees production and marketing. Jim credits his team of top notch employees with the Business's success; They are in every way, part of the Durr Family.

Having begun his operation strictly as a wholesale florist, Durr expanded extensively into vegetable production after the passing of a dear friend from the vegetable industry. Over the years, as market preferences have changed, Durr farms continued to evolve to take advantage of new markets and trends, setting a few trends themselves along the way. Durr had, at one point, created the State's only on-premises weekly produce auction. His legendary pumpkin auction remains popular to this day, not only as a large-scale event , but he has coupled it with the sale of quality fall produce that engages both, the public and wholesale markets.   That concept eventually evolved into a successful  direct marketing and distribution system. Durr bases his marketing on delivering a quality product at a fair price. 
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Jim and family offer an extensive product line at their own "Zack's Farm Market", named for Jim's youngest son who started out with a produce wagon as a young boy. Durr farms also participates in The Burlington County Community Farm Market, and furthermore supplies volumes of retail markets and florists with Jersey Fresh produce and unique cut flowers directly from their Sykesville Road packing facility.
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Congratulations, Jim and family on receiving the Russo Direct Marketing Award!