2006 Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Russell J. Marino
Gloucester County resident Russell J. Marino is co-owner along with two brothers and his two sons of Marino Brothers-Sun Valley Orchards, which consists of 1200 acres of fruits and vegetables. They specialize in the sale of fresh produce, including: cucumbers, squash, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cantaloupes and 13 varieties of peaches. He’s also a partner in J & R Trucking, which is the transportation wing of their business.Russ was born in South Harrison Twp., graduated from Kingsway Regional High School and has acquired some continuing education courses at Rutgers University’s Cook College.
Russ has taken an active role in establishing the Marino Brothers family business as a respected, progressive farming and marketing operation in the South Jersey community. The Marino’s take pride in having a business that utilizes state of the art technology on drip irrigation, packing, pre-cooling, plasticulture and greenhouse production. Russ has a seasoned record of service to agriculture in the state, his community of South Harrison Township and Gloucester County.
He is or has been a member of every significant agriculture organization in the state: the Gloucester County Board of Agriculture, New Jersey Farm Bureau, Gloucester County Agricultural Development Board, New Jersey Tomato Council, of which he was a founding member, New Jersey Peach Council, Landis and Vineland Produce Auctions, New Jersey Vegetable Growers Association, New Jersey State Board of Agriculture and Garden State Preservation Trust Fund.
Russ also was Mayor of South Harrison Township for 20 years and has been a committeeman for 22 years as well as a founding member of South Harrison Educational Alliance. His tenure produced the first municipal building and community center in the township. He also created the first full-time police force and chief. Through the use of his own equipment and volunteer effort Russ assisted the community in establishing parks and athletic fields.
As a result of Russ’s hard work in agriculture he’s been presented with the Gloucester County Board of Agriculture Distinguished Service Award, and was honored for his service on the State Board of Agriculture.
Russ has been married to his wife Judi for 34 years and they have two sons: Joseph and Russell, Jr. Through hard work, dedication and commitment Russell Marino and his family have proven themselves to be leaders and major contributors to New Jersey Agriculture.
