The heart and soul of Vetere melons

By Patsy Stoddard

I first met the watermelon man, Jay Vetere in 2001 when I went to Green River to do a story on the White Sands Missile base. The army was trying to decide what to do with the site and I wanted to interview someone who had worked there.
Jay and I became fast friends. I would try to stop and see him whenever I made it to Green River.
 Jay was born on Feb. 4, 1934 and passed away on July 2, 2017. Jay’s father Giovanni “John” was born to Luigi and Maria Mazzei Vetere, in Italy. John arrived in New York aboard the ship Werra when he was 18 years old. He  found his way to Carbon County where he worked as a miner at Clear Creek. He returned to Italy where he was married to Rosena Cundari and two daughters Elena and Luigina were born. He returned to the United States with his daughters.
The Vetere family started raising watermelons in Green River in 1918 and delivering them to Carbon County by horse and buggy.
Eugeno, “Jay” was born in 1934 to John and his wife Mary Sacco. Other children included Rose, Frank, Ida, Louie, John and Charlie.
Jay went into the army and when he returned in 1958 he began farming watermelons. His father John passed away in 1959.
Jay along with his wife Jackie raised their three sons, Tim, Greg and Mitch on the family farm. The sons worked beside Jay on the farm. Tim and Greg continued to make watermelon farming their life’s work as well and son Mitch went into law enforcement.
Jay would always say his greatest crop was the grand kids and later on great grandchildren. These grandchildren include: Taffee, Jace, Weston, Brittney, Ciji, Blair, Heidi, Jill, Caitlyn, and 11 great grandchildren Jaci, Audri, Jamison, Brock, Naomi, Natalie, Weston, Faith, Dodger, Nash and Tinley.
As the Green River Melon Days celebration approaches this weekend it will be the first Melon Days without Jay. Jay was a faithful provider of melons for the park for many years. His family will continue the tradition of making sure visitors to Melon Days are treated to the best melons in the world.
Jay’s sons have shared some memories of their father.
Mitch said, “ My first memories of Dad are on the farm, I was very small, but I was driving the tractor. Pulling an old hay wagon with men loading the trailer full of hay. I was small enough that I had to stand up to put my entire weight on the clutch just to stop the tractor.
“We were one of the first families to have a bale wagon, we would help other people pick up their hay also. We would make a nickel and my dad gave it us.
My dad worked at the missile base and the farm at the same time. Dad would call us when the missiles were ready to fire, no matter what time it was, so we could watch.
“When I grew up and worked for the sheriff’s office I was dispatched on a call for a cut arm, I knew where I was going, but I never thought it would be my dad, on that day he showed me how strong he really was, holding his severed arm and trying to dial 911 for help. He lost so much blood and was 69 years old. He had such a will to live. He lost his wife soon after and he totally took care of himself. His new funny saying when someone asked how he was, he would say good, but I am a little short handed.
“Dad should not have made it, but Jay asked God to let him stay a little longer and he did. He had the biggest hands.
“My dad taught us how to work and work hard. He taught, you should never depend on someone else to take care of you. He taught us to take pride in our family and the value of hard honest work.
“He never let us have cats in the house but we had dogs and a pet pig. In his last years he had two cats that belonged to my mom that he loved and cared for in his house. FeFe and Boots still live in his house.
“He was a very generous man, never met a stranger, he didn’t have a lot but was always willing to give anything. He opened his home to strangers, many kids that had nowhere to go ended up staying with Jay and Jackie Vetere.
“He was a jokester, he would count your ribs, that was his hint he was going to tickle you. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren so much. He never missed one of our ball games, that was one of the few times he would leave the farm.
“I broke my arm on my motorcycle when I was 13, I was afraid to tell him because he needed my help on the farm, but he didn’t even get mad at me. But I worked with my cast on.
“He sacrificed so much for his family, he never needed anything as long as his boys had what they needed.
“His smile was contagious and he had a twinkle in his eye,” said Mitch.
Tim said, “I want to pay tribute to my dad, Jay Vetere. There are no words to describe the man he was. He loved God, life and especially his family. You instilled in me a desire to make the world a better place. Dad, you were the man that I looked up to. I always wanted to be half as good as you.
“Every person you came in contact with had great respect for you. You are a very giving person and you were a man of your word. God gave you a gift, you were the very best watermelon farmer ever. You raised watermelons all your life and did it with great pride. You made millions of people happy from around the world year after year. Even at age 69 you could out work us boys and you never complained. I’m so glad that I had the privilege to work side by side with my Dad and learn about life farming and love. Thank you dad,” said Tim.
Greg said, “My Father enjoyed working hard. He worked 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Missile Base just so he could be hoeing melons right beside his three boys by 8:15 a.m. He enjoyed work. He was the only man I knew that lived life to just work. He had a goal in life and that was to raise melons which were sold under his name as Vetere Melons.
“That goal was, for one reason that when people ate his melons they would say with a smile on their face that was the best melon ever and they would remember that little town of Green River by the melons they got from his stands. It made him very happy when he heard people say that they are the third and fourth generation buying from this stand.
“He was my hero. I remember on that October day in 2003 when I got that call. He said ‘Greg, I just lost my arm and I don’t think I can make it much longer.’ My heart sank thinking he would be gone when I got there.
“It was a sight when I pulled up. What amazed me was he had tried calling a number of people over the previous four hours, and his phone was then buttoned back in his pocket with his right hand holding his stump. I saw him there, knowing it was a miracle and someone was looking over him. I wasn’t sure what Vetere Melons was in for after this accident, but without missing a beat, next spring my dad was out in the fields just like every other year. It took him a little longer to get ready but he did everything that he had before, which included shoveling, cultivating melons, and of course picking those melons that he lived for
“Watching him with one arm continue his daily routine of putting compression stockings on, putting his back brace on so that he could be ready for work, so that he could continue to farm and do his life long dream work. His passion in life was to raise Vetere Melons.
“Yes my dad is definitely my hero. I was able to look up to him for almost 55 years and I am very proud to be the son of Jay Vetere and call him my Dad.
“My father is my true hero. What he has done and gone through in his life, I will try to continue his legacy with what he has taught me.
“He was a very hard worker, honest, and sincere man that gave everything to whoever was in need. I hope that we can continue his legacy the way that he would want to keep those smiles on peoples faces and keep people stopping in Green River Utah to get one of those Vetere Melons they are truly the best you’ll ever eat.
He is the Heart and Soul of Vetere Melons. We miss him as well as the people who come to buy melons. Customers enjoyed visiting with him and gaining some of his knowledge he shared with them. You’ll never be forgotten Dad,” said Greg.
So a new chapter begins in the saga of the Vetere Green River Melon. They are the best melons and some of the best people around grow them. It’s amazing to see people put their heart and soul into creating a product for the rest of the world to enjoy.
If we can all live a little more like Jay Vetere, the world would for sure be a little sweeter. Jay you sure were one in a melon. My life is better from having known you and your family.