Joe Moskowitz Dies at 81
Specialty cheese industry veteran and New York City native Joe Moskowitz passed away Friday, three days before his 82nd birthday.
Moskowitz was known for bridging the gap between U.S. and European cheeses by launching the U.S. subsidiaries of international cheese brands Champignon, Emmi, Somerdale, and Redondo.
“Joe Moskowitz was an adept cheese importer and entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on the industry,” said Specialty Food Association President Bill Lynch.
The Moscowitz family began in the food industry with Walker Butter and Eggs, a business that Joe’s father began in 1919 after immigrating from Poland. In 1978, Joe Moscowitz left to create Larkin Cold Storage to expand his impact on the specialty food industry nationally and internationally.
“There is a famous old New Yorker magazine cover that shows the United States ending at the Hudson River. I always liked that cover because it was something I didn’t believe in at all. So, I pushed the map as far west as I could—I took a local distribution system and made it national,” said Moskowitz in an interview with Forward about the founding of Larkin.
Moscowitz helped support the cheese industry by overseeing Larkin, facilitating the growth of brands such as Jasper Hill, according to his son, Adam Moscowitz. His son added that his father taught many of today’s cheese importers how to excel in their trade.
Adam Moscowitz has continued the family tradition in the industry as CEO of Larkin Cold Storage.
In lieu of flowers, the Moskowitz family encourages friends to participate in tzedakah, a contribution to a worthwhile cause. They recommend donating in his name to the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, which provides paid apprenticeships for young adults to live and learn while on sustainable farms.