With support from State Services for the Blind, Zoka Vidovic is keeping a generational family business and community cornerstone alive.
DEED Developments
*Tools, Tenacity and Tradition: Running a market while adjusting to vision loss*
Four Seasons Market is one of the true gems of Coleraine, Minn., a town of about 2,000 that sits on the western edge of the Mesabi Range. A specialty meat market, seasonal greenhouse, ice cream shop, grocer and catering service, Four Seasons was founded 30 years ago by local butcher George Delich and his son-in-law, Zoran “Zoka” Vidovic. Zoka has Stargardt’s disease, a condition which gradually limits peripheral vision. George passed away in 2025, but Zoka is ensuring this beloved institution will continue to thrive for years to come with his own ingenuity, the support of the community and practical help from State Services for the Blind (SSB).
Unlike so many stores, where Zoka says, “They get a box in, and they just open it and display it,” at Four Seasons, nearly everything is made in-house. The market is famous for its wide variety of meats – all smoked, seasoned, cured and sliced on site. Local restaurants turn to Zoka for their meats, hunters choose Four Seasons as the place to process game and it has quietly built up a reputation for catering weddings, funerals and other local gatherings.
The Duluth SSB team helped Zoka determine what tools and skills he would need to continue working. A talking scale and thermometer are two devices Zoka now uses every day. He’s experimenting with other technologies as well, including wearable tech that converts print to speech and software that adds speech to the cash register.
Beyond technology, Zoka has taught himself to do his work using nonvisual techniques. He leans on touch, spacing, routine and muscle memory built over decades of cutting meat — skills so ingrained that he jokes he can outpace his sighted employees. The community has stepped up, too. When people come in, they announce who they are.
“The vision loss has been very slow, so we had some time to prepare,” Ann Vidovic, Zoka’s wife, noted. Ann built a career in accessibility services and knew what support SSB could offer. “When we needed them, SSB was there for us.”
In light of Zoka’s changing vision, Ann helps out at the store too, pitching in after work and on weekends. Their son Anto is not only learning the trade from his father, but also carrying some of the weight as Zoka applies his skills and knowledge differently. Together, they are finding new ways to carry on timeless traditions with love, resilience and determination.
More information about SSB’s services can be found on the SSB website [ [link removed] ].
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