On the outskirts of Staten Island along Richmond Terrace road, Enzo Gerardi, 60, stands  under the freshly built greenhouse that represents the future of his business, Gerardi’s Farmer’s Market. On the other side of the street sits the old brick warehouse where he started his business 34 years ago.

The greenhouse is so new that there is still a shine to the glass roof that keeps the rain out, and the wooden shelves that were empty only a week earlier are now filled with spring flowers such as pink and blue hyacinths, red geraniums and yellow pansies. Potted palm plants line the back wall and in another corner there are flats of herbs waiting to be picked up by returning customers. Towers of mulch bags hide the two shipping containers that sat in the middle of the space during construction and are now tucked into the far corner. In another week the produce shelves will be lined with fruits and vegetables brought in from Gerardi’s own farms.

 “I started from nothing,” Gerardi says. Now his retail business spans two lots with two greenhouses. 

He grew up in Staten Island, and got his start buying produce from a Newark market, which he sold out of the back of his truck. In the early days, he had  two plywood folding tables, two umbrellas for shade and a hanging scale to weigh the product his customers bought – and he stayed open until he ran out of goods.“When I started I would only buy enough produce for the day, and when I sold out that was it. I packed up and went home,” says Gerardi.

Through hard work two tables turned into four tables, which became six tables, and eventually Gerardi began selling out of the warehouse, which was owned by Atlantic Salt. The company allowed Gerardi to move into the space and grow his business. Today he lives in New Jersey and owns two farms that supply much of the produce he sells: eggplants, peppers, and blueberries as well as New Jersey staples, corn and tomatoes.

Gerardi never takes a break to sit down and eat. He moves between the two greenhouses before going back outside to check on the plants lined up on wooden pallets. Then he’s back in his truck to complete another task offsite. To sustain himself he’ll typically grab and apple so that he can continue to multitask. “I’m always on the road, always on the run,” he says. The only time he sits down for a full meal? He smirks.

“In the winter,” he says.

Enzo’s wife, Fran, paints a slightly less hectic picture, saying, “We try to sit down to dinner as a family on Mondays with the grandkids.”

Gerardi’s Farmer’s Market is a family-run business. Fran and their son, Vinny are both integral parts of the operation. Fran is behind the cash register answering the phone, to say, “Yes, we are now open for the season.” When asked what it’s like working so closely with his son a big smile comes across Gerardi’s face before he says, “Challenging.” Fran echoes that sentiment with an equally large grin and says, “It has its ups and downs. I hardly see him (Enzo) here because he is always in and out, and my son is on the road right now hauling flowers up.” That family atmosphere extends to his customers. Gerardi considers his market a pillar of the community on Staten Island. “We become friends with our customers,” he says. “How can you be closed for December, January, February, and March and then not find a place to park on the first day we open back up.”

The recent expansion of his business is bittersweet, because the old warehouse is slated for demolition. “That’s not just a building, it’s a landmark,” Gerardi says, choking up. “I put a lot of money into the artwork on those walls.” The artwork he is referring to are the bright murals that cover parts of the dilapidated brick, including one of a rainbow with produce matching the color of each stripe. Towards the top of the building, windows are boarded up and replaced with paintings of grapefruits, watermelons and eggplants. The mural Gerardi is most proud of is one of an American flag, with flowers in place of the stars and stripes.

Gerardi takes great pride in the both the quality of his product and the price. “You could come here with your eyes closed and know you’ll get your money’s worth,” he says. “The best is when people’s reaction is, I can’t believe how beautiful this is and inexpensive.”

Though Geradi doesn’t get to spend much time eating during the day, he still loves to sit down to a home-cooked dinner, prepared by Fran. “I like everything my wife cooks,” says Gerardi, “Her cooking is like wine, I’ve yet to find a meal or bottle I didn’t like.”

Tags: #FamilyBusiness, #StatenIsland, NYSD2D