Julia Marie Cassidy has worked on her family farm, Salem Oak Vineyards, since she was 7. Today, she is the COO of the operation and contributes as a winemaker and viticulturist. A mix of hands-on experience and advanced scientific knowledge helped her gain increased responsibility over the years.
A Pedricktown native, Cassidy graduated in 2014 from Salem Tech’s Academy of Biological and Medical Sciences. She was enrolled in the dual-credit program and applied the credits she earned to obtain an associate degree in biochemistry from Salem Community College shortly after high school. She said she continued to work while obtaining her education and felt both experiences prepared her for the next steps in her career on the farm.
Cassidy’s role as a viticulturist involves managing soil health, integrating pest management, staying on top of plant health/vigor, harvesting, crushing/destemming the grapes, and fermentation. She said she relies on her scientific background to have success performing these tasks.
“From maintaining soil health, to measuring the sugars of the grapes, to managing the pH of the wine, we are constantly working to find that perfect balance from the field to the bottle,” Cassidy noted.
Today, Cassidy seeks out continuing education, noting that agriculture is always changing. She is a graduate of the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Program and has various certifications specializing in her crop and industry.
“I’ve always loved living and working on the farm,” Cassidy noted. “When my parents first planted our vines, the New Jersey wine industry was very young – so young that Rutgers and other institutions were right alongside us studying what we were doing so they could learn too! Being part of the state’s wine industry as a child and seeing the work from the ground up – literally – has given me a sense of ownership and responsibility to the industry as a whole. My parents worked so hard and sacrificed so much to be where we are today, and I am proud to be a part of that and continue to grow and help keep agriculture in New Jersey.”
Part of that effort involves maintaining ties with the next generation, including students at Salem Tech.
“Being a local business owner, your community is your family,” said Cassidy. “We work with a lot of the students, judge in school competitions, work with their scholarships programs and more.”
