The farm was first certified organic in 1997. Ron Gruskiewicz Ron grew up in the Ashtabula County where he now lives with his wife, Debra, and their two children. The farm that he grew up on is still being operated by his father, a conventional farmer. With the exception of four years at college, Ron has farmed at least part-time all his life. He grows soybeans and spelt with red clover as a nitrogen source and soil builder.
Rye is used as a winter cover crop.
In the past he had manure from a 100-head beef herd, but he sold the herd and no longer has any livestock. When Ron first leased the farm that he now operates, the owner insisted that he grow his crops without the use of chemicals so he began an organic rotation. Ron s leased fields were first certified in 1990. In addition to his farm work, Ron owns and operates a part-time trucking business. The remainder of the farm is in woods or Conservation Reserve Program set-aside.