Joe (Giuseppe) Marchini, who founded J. Marchini Farms of California which specializes in radicchio and Italian specialties, passed away at the age of 84 surrounded by family on December 28, 2022.
His farming career may have ended with radicchio but it began with tomatoes. His parents, Florindo and Elisa Marchini made a long, uncertain journey from Lucca, Italy in the 1920s. They settled in Le Grand, California where he met Carlo Giampaoli and founded the Giampaoli-Marchini Company, a grower-shipper of the Live Oak Brand of tomatoes. As a boy, Marchini enjoyed being outside and watching his father farm so it was practical for him to grow an 11-acre crop of tomatoes at age 13. In the 1960s, he was offered his father’s shares of ownership in the Giampaoli–Marchini operation and started farming on his own and expanded to farming bell peppers, onions and almonds.
Left: Joe Marchini in the 1980s; right: Marchini on a visit to Japan in 2018.
Marchini’s passion for Italian culture and fluency in the language allowed him to make connections with Italian growers, learning radicchio seed variety suggestions and growing techniques. In the 1980s, he grew his first successful radicchio crop and actually drove radicchio loads to San Francisco to increase the market’s awareness. From then on, Joe’s Premium brand was known as “The original radicchio grower of the United States.”
The 1990s and early 2000s were about consistency. The father and son duo of Joe and Jeff of J. Marchini Farms concentrated on perfecting the radicchio operation to ensure a year-round supply to the U.S. Marketing came naturally to him as he is the man on the Joe’s Premium logo. Marchini was adored by chefs along with produce buyers throughout the decades. As the radicchio operations continued growing, he was proud to see his son and grandchildren working by his side.
Marchini during his visit to Japan.
In 2012, Joe was diagnosed with cancer and the odds were tough, but his resilience, faith and family gave him strength.
“We are devastated but the light still shines as Joe left an impression on everyone that met him. We are so fortunate to hear people speak about Joe,” says the Marchini family. Joe Man, as he was known, will be forever remembered for his community involvement as an innovator, and for his contributions to the industry.
Marchini’s life was filled with family, farming, faith and fun. His legacy will live on through J. Marchini Farms and his family will continue to make him proud. Marchini leaves behind his adoring wife Julie, his children Lisa (Adam), Jeff (Stephanie) and Fania (Robert) along with 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren with another on the way.
If you wish to share memories and condolences, email [email protected].
For more information:
Francesca Fordice
J. Marchini Farms
Tel: +1 (559) 665-2944
[email protected]
http://www.jmarchinifarms.com/
