Pam Mount Among 'Best' Women in Business in N.J.

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by and NJBIZ magazine. 

Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards, has been named one of New Jersey’s 2012 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ magazine.

Mount and her family have taken a farm that was originally 55 acres and built it to a 200-acre-plus farm that welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year. The award-winning farm offers more than 35 varieties of vegetables and fruits, is known for its innovative cultivation practices, dwarf fruit trees, small fruit production, certified organic vegetables, greenhouse production, cider processing, farm market, bakery, and winery and tasting room.

Mount has served on numerous boards and committees that promote agriculture in the Garden State, including the New Jersey Agricultural Society. She launched Farmers Against Hunger, a program that collects food from farms across the state and distributes it to agencies that serve those in need.

A councilwoman in Lawrence Township for a dozen years, she served as mayor for three years. She has led sustainability efforts at the local, regional and state level, including Sustainable Jersey, which she now chairs. She launched Sustainable Jersey as a member of the Mayor’s Committee for a Green Future in 2009. Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities that want to go green save money and take steps to sustain the quality of life for residents over the long term.

“Running a family business in New Jersey and returning to my hometown has been very rewarding,” Mount said.  “Having a retail market and serving in public office has given me a unique opportunity to hear from people from all walks of life about what they value. Preserving land and being sustainable are at the top of people’s lists, and I’ve come to believe that these issues are critical to our future and my grandchildren’s future.”

Mount has served on dozens of local board and committees during her tenure as a government official, and continues to serve now that she has retired from political office. She is a former chair and founding member of Sustainable Lawrence, which promotes local sustainability initiatives through a collaborative process between residents, businesses, schools and government, and is a founding member of the Lawrence Hopewell trail, a group that created 25 miles of paths for bicyclists and walkers in the area.

She is a founder and member of the Lawrence Community Foundation, which awards grants to local non-profits twice a year. She also serves on the National Guard Family Readiness Council, raising funds and awarding grants to families of deployed National Guard soldiers who need assistance. 

The Best 50 Women in Business awards program honors New Jersey’s most dynamic women in business that have been making headlines in their field. An independent panel of judges selected the top 50 winners based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women.

“We are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to recognize this outstanding group of women.” said Thomas Curtin, publisher of NJBIZ.  “As business and community leaders, they are constantly redefining success within and outside the business arena.”

NJBIZ will honor this year’s winners during an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 27 at The Palace at Somerset in Somerset.  The honorees will also be highlighted in a special supplement to NJBIZ on April 2.

For more information about the NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business awards program or to reserve seats for the event, please visit www.njbiz.com/events or contact Sarah Spangler at sspangler@njbiz.com or (732) 246-5713.