Farming Is Forever

Nicole Ort is a fifth-generation farmer in Long Valley, with many things growing on her family’s farm—including generation six.

Established in Long Valley in 1916, Ort Family Farm grows sweet corn, tomatoes, strawberries, apples and other small fruits and veggies, while offering the public “pick-your-own” experiences, farm camps for kids, seasonal events, a year-round farm market with fresh-baked goods and an ice-cream window with homemade treats and specialty flavors.

Nicole Ort, 37, part of the family’s fifth generation on the farm, is one of the managers and owners. Her father, Harvey Jr., and her uncle John are also owners involved in the farm’s day-to-day operation, as is her sister Sarah. Nicole, of Long Valley, has three children with a now-ex-husband—two boys and a girl between ages 5 and 10.

What do you remember about growing up on the farm?

I’ve always spent a lot of time here, helping out my dad in the fields, washing produce and working at the farm store. I remember driving the pickup truck through the cornfields when I was very young. It sounds silly, but at that age, controlling something with a motor feels like the ultimate freedom. I always knew I was lucky.

Did you always want a career on the farm?

Not necessarily. I’ve always liked marketing. In college, I thought I would go into sales and the corporate world. But I’d work summers at the farm market, and I started to realize that there were a lot of opportunities to expand here, and that I had the skill set to do it. I shifted gears and started focusing on that.

Expanding how?

My grandfather and dad started doing “pick-yourown” pumpkins in the early ’80s. I knew we could do more with it. There was such a strong market for the pumpkins, which told me that people were looking to get out on a farm. I think it’s because there’s been this shift—40 or 50 years ago, more people had some family member, no more than a generation removed, who had a farm or worked on a farm. Most people don’t have that now. But we can invite them to ours.

Challenges of working with family?

Anyone who works in a multigenerational business will tell you it isn’t easy. There are differences when it comes to expectations, work-life balance, stuff like that. Everyone is invested, passionate, has a lot of pride—and everyone has a different approach. But my family has been doing this a long time, so we’ve mastered the dance. Sometimes, I’m angry at my dad about a work thing. But that night, we all go out for a birthday dinner, so we’re laughing and joking together. Next day, back at work, I’m bringing up the thing I’m angry about again.

How do you separate work time and family time?

It’s tricky. My grandparents had 10 kids. Family time has always been important to us. We were always having picnics and spending time together. Recently, we’ve needed to prioritize spending time together off the farm. My generation is better at that than my father’s.

An unexpected challenge?

We’re completely at the mercy of things we don’t control. Gas prices, fertilizer prices, labor prices, but also weather and climate. With the cold snap at the start of the spring, we lost almost 50 percent of our apple crop this year.

Why is “agritourism” having a moment?

I think it started during COVID, when outdoor destinations like farms were places you could visit and still feel safe. Plus, many people don’t have access to a lot of open space. I’ve also taken my kids to trampoline parks and the like, but you’re only there a short time and it can be high-cost. There’s value in being on a farm for a full day, seeing what goes into the things you eat.

What does your family’s legacy mean to you?

It’s about planning for the next generation. But it’s also about knowing you’re creating a quality experience and growing a quality product. I think about it as a gift we can give the public—keeping them educated and in the loop so that they know where their food comes from and how it’s grown.

Is generation six joining in?

They’re all pretty young, but my kids are certainly interested, as are my sister’s! My daughter is a little mini-me, and both my sons love fields and the mechanics—and the tractors, of course. [Laughs.] It really is a 5-year-old boy’s dream to live with a tractor.

A lesson to share?

You need to be flexible, adaptable and willing to take risks. We’re literally putting money into the ground here. There will be problems you can’t plan for, and you need to learn to move with them.

Your favorite farm-store treat?

I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but our ice cream is delicious. And the apple-cider donuts are the best around.

—Kirsten Meehan