Charles Rosen: Founder & CEO, Ironbound Farm

Alexandria Township: A conversation with Charles Rosen is like a ride in a time machine, going from the past to the present day to the future in the flip of a switch, covering topics ranging from global to statewide to, of course, hyper-local. He is supersmart, funny, more candid than most people you will encounter, and, let’s say, talkative. What makes this conversation even more special to highlight is that Rosen, a lawyer and former marketing executive, was inspired to start his enterprise over a decade ago after reading an article in Edible Jersey about heirloom apples, penned by Fran McManus. Fast forward, and he has led Ironbound through a metamorphosis that sees it today as a national leader in regenerative agriculture.

We sat and talked one afternoon at the beautiful 108-acre Ironbound Farm, home to Ironbound Hard Cider and New Ark Farms, in Asbury in Hunterdon County.