agriculture

NY ranks second for most farmers’ markets

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 November 2024 at 7:49 am

Markets offer fresh and healthy food, provide boost for local agriculture

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Canal Village Farmers’ Market manager Gail Miller and volunteer Matthew Backlas stand by a sign advising shoppers they can use their EBT cards and SNAP benefits at the market to buy fresh produce.

MEDINA – A recent ranking of farmers’ markets by inFlow has been shared by digital public relations outreach specialist Kevin Geer and provides insight to the popularity of farmers’ markets, such as Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market. (In Orleans County there is also a farmers’ market in Albion at the Save-A-Lot parking lot. It was open on Sundays from July 7 to Oct. 27.)

The report revealed the state of New York, with more than 670 farmers’ markets, ranks second in the country in the number of farmers’ markets, bested only by California with 760. In this survey, 88.1% of respondents felt sustainable food production was important, according to Geer. Also, only four of the top 10 agricultural states also ranked among the top 10 states with the most farmers’ markets.

Key findings, with which Canal Village Farmers’ Market manager Gail Miller and ORG president Chris Busch agree, include affordable pricing (95% found prices affordable), friendly market sellers and freshness of produce as reasons for popularity of farmers’ markets.

Photos by Chris Busch: Confection Connection, an Albion bakery, is a regular at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market.

The report (click here to see it) continued to say farmers markets not only offer fresh, locally sourced produce, but foster a sense of community and support local economies.

Miller said they are devoted to promoting community and provide a space weekly for non-profits to come and share information about their organization. She has also come up with events to interest children, including a weekly treasure hunt and earlier this summer, zucchini races.

A key benefit of farmers’ markets is supporting local farms, which in turn supports the economy.

Busch said that is an important factor.

“From our market, you can drive less than one-quarter mile in any direction and be in farm country,” he said.

Another benefit to farmers is cutting out the middleman, thereby retaining a higher percentage of their earnings, which then boosts the local economy. A farmers’ market allows farmers to interact with their customers, receive immediate feedback and build a loyal customer base.

In addition to freshness of produce and support for local farmers and community, other benefits identified are the availability of unique or hard to find products, organic or health-conscious options and the social atmosphere.

Customers line up at Black Button Distilling’s booth on a sunny day at Medina’s Canal Village Farmer’s Market.

Medina’s first farmers’ market took place in 1975 for Canal Fest.

In 2004, Deb Roberts at the request of the Office for the Aging, handed out senior and WIC coupons that could be redeemed for fresh produce, but there was no market locally.

Roberts formed a committee with Bob Barrus and a representative from Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Farmers Market Federation and representatives from seven or eight farms.

They set up bylaws and the first regular market opened in Albion in 2005, then moved to Medina’s canal basin in 2007. Ann Nice, Jill Botner and one other were on the board.

By 2014, participation in the market had waned and it was no longer viable. Then Cindy Robinson, president of Medina Business Association; Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group; and Gail Miller hatched a plan to hold a farmers’ market at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue, in a parking lot on property donated to ORG by Bank of America when they left Medina.

Through the years they have had a nice variety of vendors, including wineries, Renko Sausages, SK Herefords, Shirt Factory Café, Baker’s Farm, LynOaken Farms, Panek’s, 810 Meadworks, Herbalty Cottage, the Bread Basket and English Rose Tea Shoppe.

They added features, including weekly musical entertainment, children’s events and El Grande Burrito, whose food truck is set up on site permanently.

TN Smokehouse can often be found at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market, serving up his smoked breakfast and lunch specials.

Many vendors are regulars and others rotate. They include Dot’s Pantry of Amherst, TN Smokehouse, Hartland Organics, Baker Farms, Human Farms, Bower Family Farms, Lock Ridge Apiary, Confection Connection Bakery, Gardner’s Gourmet, Dubby’s Wood Fire Pizza and Greenlief food truck, among others.

Busch said the market is sponsored by Takeform, and this year live music was sponsored by Medina Hardware and Lumber.

Medina’s farmers’ market is unique in that is runs all year. It is open on West Center and West Avenue from June 1 until the end of October. Then it moves indoors on North Main Street from Nov. 1 to May 31 in space donated by Craig Lacy where his NAPA store used to be.

Busch added a very successful Farm to Table dinner served in the middle of Main Street before Covid benefited the market and another is in the planning.

He also stressed big improvements will be coming to the Canal Village Farmers’ Market at the site on West Center and West Avenue.

“We are fortunate to be included as a recipient of the $4.5 million New York Forward Grant,” Busch said. “We are in the design phase of reimagining this entire corner. Work will begin next year and provide indoor space and green space.”

Miller and Busch added a final comment, that they wholeheartedly agree with the findings of inFlow’s survey, and added a local survey they did resulted in much the same responses.

“When you buy from a farmers’ market you have the availability of fresh produce, and we promote a sense of community,” Miller said. “A purchase from a farmers’ market supports small local business and farms, and you know where your food is coming from.”

Albion FFA welcomes donations for annual food drive

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2024 at 7:54 pm

37,000 pounds of produce delivered to Community Action last year by FFA

Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion FFA students, alumni and other volunteers unload vehicles and trailers on Dec. 9 last year. Scott Oldenburg, left, is the Albion FFA advisor. Kaitlynn Basinait, second from left, is the FFA president.

ALBION – The FFA chapter in Albion is again organizing a big food drive from the agricultural community. Last year, farmers donated 37,000 pounds of produce for the FFA food drive.

That food was collected by the FFA at the high school and then delivered to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee on State Street in Albion.

About 25 different food pantries were able to share the food.

Farms and agricultural businesses interest in donating can contact FFA advisor Scott Oldenburg at soldenburg@albionk12.org or FFA President Kaitlynn Basinait at basinaitkaitlynn@albionk12.org.

The FFA started the food drive in 2010 with 3,000 pounds in the first effort and it typically tops 30,000 pounds in more recent years. The record is 53,000 pounds in 2020.

Albion dairy farmers win $500K for innovation milking cows

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 November 2024 at 9:10 pm

UdderWays developed by Neal family wins 2^nd place in Grow-NY competition

Provided photo: Zachary Neal and his father Jody Neal discuss UdderWays during the Grow-NY competition held in Ithaca the past two days. Jody’s son Jayden also is part of the UdderWays team.

ALBION – An Albion family won second place and $500,000 in the Grow-NY competition featuring 20 finalists in food and agriculture startups from around the world.

UdderWays LLC in Albion was developed by Jody Neal and his sons, Zachary and Jayden. They competed with 19 other finalists for a combined total of $3 million in prize money from the Grow-NY business competition. It is focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage and agriculture innovation cluster in upstate New York.

There were 312 startups that applied from 26 states and 50 countries for the competition. UdderWays made the 20 finalists and emerged as one of the top winners.

UdderWays last January finished second in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. They won $20,000 at that event.

The Neals have developed a new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking. The Neals worked on their udder cleaning system for nearly a decade. The device is used just before a cow is milked. Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats.

Jody Neal is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on West County House Road. His sons were active in the Orleans County 4-H Robotics program, where they learned programming and tech skills as part of a team that competed in the Rochester region.

The winners in the Grow-NY competition include:

$1 million grand prize winner: Unibaio of New York City offers naturally derived particles that trap the active ingredients of pesticides, fertilizers, and phytosanitary, enabling them to penetrate plants more efficiently.
$500K winner: PureNanoTech – From Parsippany, N.J., PureNanoTech created a nanobubble irrigation solution to maximize irrigation performance and optimize energy usage in the agriculture, pond and lake restoration, wastewater treatment, and disinfection industries.
$500K winner: UdderWays – From Albion, the UdderWays uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats. With the startup’s patented vortex-style application, farmers can achieve consistent stimulation and effortlessly promote milk letdown.
$250K winner: Clean Crop Technologies – Based in Holyoke, M.A., it combines electricity and food-grade gasses to remove pathogens from seeds before they are planted, increasing yields, reducing waste, and improving food safety without preservatives.
$250K winner: ClearLeaf – Based in San José, Costa Rica, ClearLeaf offers safe fungicides and bactericides protects soil and crops from a wide range of pre- and post-harvest pathogens, without harming the environment or human health.
$250K winner: For Bitter For Worse – The Portland, Oregon company has a distillery using certified organic, locally farmed ingredients to create a healthier, more inclusive culture with their non-alcoholic cocktails.
$250K winner: Zordi of Oakfield in Genesee County Zordi builds autonomous greenhouses with robots and AI to make delicious, high-quality produce available anywhere.

LynOaken Farms ceasing most of agricultural operation after this year

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 November 2024 at 8:47 am

‘We’ve hit a number of roadblocks,’ family says, citing higher operating costs, lower revenue and weather challenges

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Several members of the Oakes family pose in the tasting room of Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Ridge Road, Medina, after confirming they are exiting the wholesale apple business and closing the winery. From left are Darrel Oakes and his wife Linda, daughter-in-law Katie Oakes and Darrel’s sister Wendy Oakes Wilson.

MEDINA – An agribusiness with deep roots in the community will be discontinuing most of its farm operation after 105 years.

When Leonard Oakes bought land in Lyndonville in 1919, he made many smart decisions. He planted orchards and vegetables, raised chickens, worked hard and raised a family, in whom he instilled his love of agriculture and a hard work ethic. When Leonard passed away in 1951, the farm was passed on to his four children.

As the family grew, so did their interests, acquiring land on Ridge Road. When they purchased the Ridge Road property in 2004, it was already a controlled atmosphere cold storage and they invested in transforming the property into a winery tasting room and planted a U-pick orchard with more than 350 varieties.

“In 2018 we added a new packing room and apple packing line onto the cold storage that would allow us to expand our brands throughout Central and Western New York,” said general manager, Wendy Oakes Wilson.

The Oakes family also planted six acres and 14 varieties of grapes at their farm in Lyndonville in 2003. This expansion created a winery that opened in 2008, and in 2011, another expansion brought the birth of SteamPunk Cider. Their wines and cider earned awards and were hot-sellers on the market.

Through the years, some of the extended family didn’t want to be in farming. The original four family members left their stock to their spouses and children, many of whom did not live or work in the area, said Darrel’s wife Linda Oakes, who ran the Gift Shop. “They are far removed from the farm operation,” she said.

In spite of making some sound business decisions during the years, there were two things the Oakes could not control: the weather and the national apple market.

“During the last two years, we have had frost and hail, which devastated our crop,” said Darrel Oakes, who was honored as the national apple grower of the year in 2004 by the American Fruit Grower magazine. “In order to keep going, we borrowed money. That is added to the money we borrowed to buy this property and expand.”

But the real culprit was in 2023 when the state of Washington flooded New York state’s market with their biggest crop of apples ever. This caused a 50 percent drop in prices for certain varieties, which means LynOaken Farms didn’t earn enough revenue to cover their costs, said daughter-in-law Katie Oakes, who runs the U-Pick operation.

“With the two years of bad weather, that created the third year of losses, while our expenses increased 25 to 30 percent,” Wendy said.

“At the same time, third-party packing companies were taking much longer to pay for packed apples,” Wendy said. “In fact, we are still owed for four different varieties from the 2023 crop. There is no guarantee of revenue, and no recourse for growers to demand more. In this business you have to be a climate expert, market expert, legal expert, finance expert and accounting expert.”

Darrel also added that agriculture is heavily dependent on labor and those costs have also risen 20-25% in the last five years.

“We’ve hit a number of roadblocks, including Covid,” he said.

Additionally, three spouses of the original four owners have passed away this year and have left their shares to their children. Because of all these events, the family had a shareholders’ meeting in August and made the decision to close down LynOaken’s wholesale production.

With several of the family members pointing out that the farm’s debt load was too large and apple production not profitable, new shareholders believed the time was right to sell assets to pay off their loans and have funds available to pay shareholders, Wendy said.

“The non-working shareholders have been very supportive of us, but also understood the market and how difficult it would be to carry on,” Wendy said.

Darrel said they have sold all of their productive land, to a buyer he is not yet ready to disclose.

Katie will continue to manage the U-pick operation.

“The sad part is two of our sons and Wendy have to go find a job,” Darrel said.

“I never thought at the age of 58 I would be looking for a job,” said Wendy, fighting back tears. “I thought I’d retire from the farm in due time.”

“We are exiting the production of apples for the wholesale market, and it’s hard to give that up,” Darrel said. “But we are doing it with honesty and respect. We will not owe anybody.”

The Oakes’ don’t know yet what will happen to the wine and cider operation. Customer tastes have changed since Covid, and people are not coming out for tasting parties or a glass of wine like they used to, Wendy said. Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday they will have special hours to sell the rest of their bottled wines.

They are looking ahead to things that will be hospitality and event-based, such as weddings, meeting spaces, private parties and showers, Darrel said

He and Linda came out of retirement to help this fall and look forward to continuing back down that road.

Katie praised the community and their customers for the support they’ve shown LynOaken Farms and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery.

“We have a very loyal customer base who have been very supportive of us,” Katie said. “We hope that will continue.”

She added, “This is one chapter ending. It is not the end of the book.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: Members and some employees of the Oakes family gathered for a photo under the pavilion at the winery on July 21, 2019 to celebrate the farm’s first 100 years. From left include: Dan Thurber, Diane Thurber, Jerod Thurber, Jonathan Oakes, Chris Oakes, Steve Songer, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Darelyn Songer, Linda Oakes, Darrel Oakes, Wendy Oakes Wilson, Wanda Oakes, Jeff Oakes, Dawn Oakes and Katie Oakes. Hawley presented the family with a proclamation in recognition of a century in business.

Roy-Hart FFA earn awards at national convention in Indianapolis

Photos courtesy of Roy-Hart FFA: The Farm & Agribusiness Management CDE Team includes, from left: FFA advisor Matthew Sweeney, Garrett Armenia, Sophia Santella, Vanessa Grant and Sean Labiak.

Posted 30 October 2024 at 11:08 am

Press Release, Royalton-Hartland FFA

MIDDLEPORT – Eleven members of the Royalton-Hartland FFA, led by Agriculture educator and FFA Advisor Matthew Sweeney, traveled to the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana last week. As New York State’s winner in the Farm & Agribusiness Management and Milk Quality & Products Career Development Event (CDE) competitions, Roy-Hart FFA members moved on to participate in these national contests and achieved historic success.

The National FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management CDE is designed to test the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch business management decisions. Participants respond to questions using financial documents and complete an in-depth problem-solving analysis section.

In this competition, Roy-Hart’s team earned a gold-ranking, placing 5th top team in the nation. Upon reviewing past state and national records, this 5th place team ranking stands to be the best result of a New York State FFA Farm & Agribusiness Mgt. CDE team in recorded history.

The team consists of students Garrett Armenia, gold-ranking individual, Sophia Santella, gold-ranking individual, Vanessa Grant, gold-ranking individual, and Sean Labiak, silver-ranking individual. In addition to this top 5 gold ranking, the team achieved the best written team activity score in the entire contest.

Milk Quality & Products CDE Team – From left include advisor Matthew Sweeney, Mackenzie Diamond, Caleb Verratti, Phinn Cousins and Joshua Kennedy.

The National FFA Milk Quality and Products CDE is a competitive event that allows students to prove their knowledge about the recognition, selection and management necessary for quality milk and dairy products. Participants must complete a written exam on milk production and marketing, evaluate milk samples for flavor and quality, identify cheeses and characteristics and complete milk acceptability tests in the team activity.

In this competition, Roy-Hart’s team earned a gold ranking, placing 10th high team in the nation.

The team consists of Phinn Cousins, gold-ranking individual; Joshua Kennedy, gold-ranking individual; Caleb Verratti, gold-ranking individual; and Mackenzie Diamond, silver-ranking individual. These Roy-Hart FFA members earned 1st place team in the California Mastitis Test (CMT) section of the competition and Joshua Kennedy was awarded 2nd High Individual in that section.

Lorna Becker is the first Roy-Hart student to earn the American FFA degree.

Lorna Becker, 2022 Royalton-Hartland graduate and former NYS FFA District 9 and Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter President, was awarded her American FFA Degree at this year’s National Convention. She is the first recipient of the American FFA Degree for the Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter!

The American FFA Degree, the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization, shows an FFA member’s dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort that FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career. American FFA Degree recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence. Less than 1% of the organization’s 1 million members earn this prestigious honor.

The Royalton-Hartland FFA Chapter would like to thank the continued support from the Roy-Hart CSD Board of Education and Administration, Royalton-Hartland Agriculture Foundation (RHAF), and the Roy-Hart school community. This support is integral to the local, region, state, and national successes of Niagara County’s sole school-based agriculture education program.

Royalton-Hartland FFA attended the 2024 National FFA Convention. From left in front include: Vanessa Grant, Sophia Santella, Lorna Becker and Mackenzie Diamond. In back: Kristopher Myers, Garrett Armenia, Caleb Verratti, Joshua Kennedy, Phinn Cousins, Sean Labiak and Anthony Adams.

Kevin Bittner re-elected president of Niagara County Farm Bureau

Posted 18 October 2024 at 5:22 pm

Organization weighs in on many local, state and federal issues

Provided photo: Pictured from left include President Kevin Bittner, Vice President Mark Russell and Treasurer Max Russell.

Press Release, Niagara County Farm Bureau

LOCKPORT – Niagara County Farm Bureau held its annual meeting on Thursday evening. The agenda including adopting resolutions concerning local, state and national issues.

Locally, this included supporting funding for Niagara County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District. Also, the group supported establishing a county wide drainage district.

On the state level, the resolutions covered a wide range of topics. They supported including backyard chickens in the definition of urban agriculture, expanding the deer damage (aka nuisance) permits, improving cellular service and improvements to the electrical grid.

Other state issues included NYS finalizing grant contracts and their reimbursement on a timely basis. The NYS Strategic Interagency Task Force Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture Working Group (SILO committee) was also supported.

Federal issues also covered a variety of issues. There are a myriad of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certifications. Niagara County Farm Bureau supported retailers who accept SNAP benefits us the USDA Harmonized Plus GAP only.

Mancozeb is a product used in apples, grapes and onions. There is a proposal to restrict how it is used that does not align with current scientific research. Farmers who use these products want the current regulations to stay in place. The third issue dealt with the electrification of farm vehicles and the need to support those with incentive programs available to other motor vehicles.

Updates from Kevin Bittner, John Wagner, Brad Macaulay, and Matthew Sweeney completed the evening. Bittner reviewed the year, including updates on State Annual Convention, PX Days, County Fair Corn Booth and The Ag Literacy Week.

The Corn Booth was the most successful ever and during Ag Literacy weeks many farmers participated by going to schools and reading the selected book. He thanked outgoing board members Cassie Voelpel and Jeannette Miller for their service.

Wagner talked about the upcoming State Annual Convention and Young Farmers and Ranchers Program. A new feature of the State Annual Convention is bring a non-member. Nationalwide Insurance will sponsor a county resident who is not currently a member of Farm Bureau but would like to learn more at that gathering.

Macauley talked about the changes at New York Farm Bureau with the new Executive Direction Deanna Fox. He reviewed some of the legislative policy successes and encouraged everyone to attend the convention and the PX (Policy Execution) lobbying days.

The expansion of the Royalton Hartland Ag Program was Matthew Sweeney’s topic. There is now a youth FFA, called the Green Team, in the elementary school. He described many community interactions with the students and announced they have two teams going to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. One of the most exciting new features of the program is the college credit course now offered. Working with Cobleskill, students earn 9 college credits when successfully completing the course.

The evening ended with the Board Elections. In addition to Bittner’s re-election, Mark Russell will continue as Vice President. New directors are Josh Bieber and Nick Sparks. Trevor Ganshaw, Kelly Raby and Max Russell were all re-elected to their positions.

Farm Bureau membership is open to those who farm, those who are involved in agribusiness and anyone who eats. For more information about membership or how you can volunteer, call (716) 735-7791 or email niagcofb@yahoo.com.

Soil & Water secures $361K in climate resiliency grants for 3 farms

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2024 at 9:42 am

Photos courtesy of Soil & Water Conservation District: Two Orleans County fruit farms will get frost fans to help prevent damage to their orchards during a spring frost.

ALBION – The Orleans County Soil & Warer Conservation District has been awarded a $361,311 state “Climate Resilient Farming Grant” to assist three farms.

Two of the grants will go towards frost fans, while the other grant will help a farm in Kendall remove numerous ash trees along a waterway at the farm and establish a riparian buffer. The farm will replant the area with healthy, native trees, said Katie Sommerfeldt, the Soil & Water district manager.

The grant to replace a series of smudge pots with frost fans will help two farms, one in Gaines and one in Carlton, prevent frost damage to their orchards which can devastate crops, Sommerfeldt said.

The frost fans have automatic weather stations. They will blow warmer air from above through an orchard to fight a freeze in the spring when fruit buds are vulnerable to frost.

Farms now set up numerous smudge pots and power them with diesel fuel. It’s very labor-intensive, often needed manpower throughout a chilly night.

The frost fans will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and require far less manpower, Sommerfeldt said.

Many of the local fruit farms have been using smudge pots to try to warm up chilly orchards, a labor intensive effort.

Roberts family in Medina recognized as Agricultural Business of the Year

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 October 2024 at 11:11 am

Gary and Maggie Roberts and their children run fruit and vegetable farm, cider press and farm market

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Roberts family poses in front of their farm market on Maple Ridge Road in Medina. Maggie and Gary Roberts, center, are flanked by son Patrick at left, and daughter Jenna Bruning, right, all of whom are involved in running some aspect of their farm, which has been honored as the Agricultural Business of the Year by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

MEDINA – Farming is not an easy job. The work is hard and the hours are long, but Gary and Maggie Roberts wouldn’t have it any other way.

The couple run the family farm on Freeman Road and the farm market on Maple Ridge Road with daughter Jenna Bruning and son Patrick Roberts.

They are honored and delighted to have been honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce as Agricultural Business of the Year.

The farm began when Gary’s grandparents, Justin and Lorraine Roberts, purchased their home and 166 acres of land on Maple Ridge Road in 1931, just across from the farm market. Gary’s sister Linda and her husband Steve Fuller live there today.

Gary and Maggie Roberts look at some of the crates of apples used to make cider at Roberts Farm Market.

Gary’s dad Orren and uncle Lee Roberts eventually took over and carried on the Roberts Farm, joined by Gary and Lee’s son Todd as the boys grew.

In 1974, Orren and Lee purchased the property on Maple Ridge Road which was H.J. Heinz pea vinery. It would become Roberts Farm Market. The first order of business was to purchase a cider press. At some point, Gary said his dad started growing plants. Gary’s sister Linda managed the operation for a long time, until around 2,000, when she decided to get into horses and a riding stable.

In the early 1990s, Gary and Todd decided to focus their main interests in different areas, and in 1996 Gary and his dad took over the fruit growing, while Todd and Lee concentrated on crops, namely corn and soy beans.

Orren eventually transitioned from growing processing fruit to high-density fresh fruit trees. From 90 acres, they expanded to 180 acres of fresh fruit trees now. Varieties include Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Snapdragon (a New York apple), Ruby Frost (also a New York apple developed and mostly grown in New York), as well as some standard old favorites, such as Cortland.

“Everything I learned was from my dad and the Cornell fruit team” Gary said.

Gary and the former Maggie Hall met in high school during their senior year in 1986. They were married in 1987 and had three children, Christopher, who lives in Durham, N.C., Jenna and Patrick. Gary and Maggie have eight grandchildren.

Jenna, who married Gabe Bruning and lives just down Freeman Road from her parents, has five children and is running the farm now with her dad.

Maggie said Patrick was born in 1996, and she started working at the farm market when Patrick went to school. Eventually she became manager and began to expand the market’s offerings.

A new cider press was installed and the cider room upgraded; they built new greenhouses; and added new products and services.

“I tried to gradually enlarge it without drastically changing anything,” Maggie said.

They grow most of their own vegetables, all their own pumpkins and raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. Maggie buys as much as she can in Orleans County, and the rest from Niagara, Monroe and Genesee counties.

Five years ago, she added a very popular apple cider slushie machine.

Gifts, garden décor, locally made baked goods, locally grown beef and mushroom, Gardner’s jam, cheese curds, honey and maple syrup are other items they sell.

“I tried to keep all Linda had here,” Maggie said.

Gary and Maggie Roberts stand among the many shelves of produce and gifts for sale at Roberts Farm Market.

In 2007, due to a large shortage of labor, Orren and his dad built their first labor camp to house Jamaicans they bring in to harvest the apple crop every year. In 2020, a second camp was built to expand their work force, which now numbers 37. Twelve arrive in March and 25 by the end of August. All are gone by the middle of November.

Their average harvest produces 175,000 bushels of apples annually. They use 20,000 bushels at the market for cider and sales.

As Jenna and Patrick take over more responsibility, Gary and Maggie plan to do some traveling, but not get out totally.

“The farm has been wonderful,” Maggie said. “It gives you the freedom and space to raise kids and you’re not stuck in an office all day. I enjoy meeting the customers, many of whom I know by their first name.”

“I couldn’t do any of this without our team,” Gary said. “It’s hard work, but it’s very rewarding at the end.”

He said the day Chamber director Darlene Hartway came in and told him of their award, he was making cider.

“We were surprised and grateful,” Maggie said.

Gary and Maggie thank the community for their support.

“Without them we wouldn’t be here,” she said.

At State Fair, governor signs 3 legislative bills to aid agriculture

Posted 3 September 2024 at 12:26 pm

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

SYRACUSE – Governor Kathy Hochul, last week at the Great New York State Fair, signed three pieces of legislation expanding resources and protections for the State’s agricultural industry.

Legislation S.6320/A.6821 allows the leasing of State land to be used for sap production and tree tapping for ten years to increase the return on investment for producers, including maple producers. The legislation authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to enter into contracts for the lease or use of State lands for the purpose of tree tapping and sap production for a term of up to, but not more than, ten years.

Legislation S.9232/A.10199 would allow licensed farm wineries to use apples grown outside of New York State to manufacture or sell State labeled cider, in certain circumstances. This legislation provides crop loss determination for farm wineries to authorize the use of apples grown outside of New York State to be used for state-labeled cider when needed due to a loss of crops.

Legislation S.9248/A.7020A establishes the Beginning Farmer Advisory Board on Agriculture. The legislation establishes the Beginning Farmer Advisory Board on Agriculture with the goal of implementing a plan that moves forward the State’s efforts to bring new entrants to the farm.

“As we celebrate the State Fair, we recognize that New York’s agriculture is a central component to our State’s economy,” Governor Hochul said. “With the signing of this legislation, we continue our mission to uplift this community and prove we are here to support them every step of the way.”

Farms, small businesses collaborate to serve bountiful feast for 200 at The Gallagher

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2024 at 9:41 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Eager eaters go through the service line and fill their plates with vegetables from Pudgie’s Veggies and burgers from RLW Cattle Co.

The Gallagher on Route 63 hosted the event on Thursday evening where 200 meals were served in an event promoted as “burgers and brews.”

It was a fast sell-out in a collaboration among RLW, Pudgie’s, the Gallagher, Hilltop Restaurant in Lockport and The Coffeepot Café in Medina.

The Coffeepot owners, Dan and Hans Rosentreter, provided the buns for the burgers. Hilltop catered the event, preparing the food.

Patrick Woodworth shucks corn inside the Gallagher while his wife Rachel Woodworth greets people. Harris Farms in Gasport provided the corn roaster and some manpower to cook the corn.

The Woodworths started a retail beef store on Swett Road in Lyndonville this past spring for RLW Cattle Co. Patrick is a fifth-generation beef farmer. He also grows apples and grains.

“This is to support local businesses,” Patrick said about the event. “We all have something to offer.”

There were 200 tickets at $35 each. Besides the food served at the Gallagher, everyone received a pound of beef to take home.

“People are being so positive about it,” Rachel said. “It’s like a farm-to-table dinner.”

Pudgie’s Veggies owner Pudgie Bale and partner Debbie Fuller were happy to see so many people enjoying the food.

Pudgie’s provided potatoes, corn on the cob, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Bale also made it known he is planning to retire from growing vegetables after this year. He has grown vegetables for 25 years. He also worked as a heavy equipment operator and bartender. Bale said he wants more time to enjoy life, especially time with his grandchildren. He has been working 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“I just can’t do it anymore,” said Bale, who is 68. “I’m crawling into the house at night.”

Pudgie’s supplies eight restaurants with vegetables, and has stands outside his home on Route 63 near Boxwood Cemetery and by Lake’s Wine and Spirits at the corner of Salt Works Road and Park Avenue. Budgie’s also has a stand on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at RLW on Swett Road.

Bale said his goal was to provide top-tier produce.

“We built this business on quality,” he said.

Tony Conrad, executive chef and owner of Hilltop Restaurant in Lockport, grills burgers outside The Gallagher. Conrad and his team of employees prepared the meals for Thursday’s dinner.

The event also included music from the Dave Stoll Band in Lyndonville.

The apple crisp were made from apples from Sandy Knoll Farms, owned by Patrick Woodworth in Lyndonville. These apples came out of storage from last year’s crop. Sandy Knoll was hit hard by a hail storm on Aug. 11.

Everett Bruning busses tables during the event. His parents, Jenna and Martin Bruning, opened The Gallagher in 2016. The site hosts about 50 weddings a year, and also is used for other parties and events.

Lane Woodworth gives one of the dinner guests a bag with a frozen pound of beef to take home.

The Woodworth, Conrad and Bruning families and Pudgie’s Veggies leaders pose for a photo outside the Gallagher.

From left in front include Morgan Woodworth and Megan Fargale (from Hilltop Restaurant).

Back row includes Lane, Patrick, Rachel and Nathan Woodworth; Tony and Crystal Conrad; Debbie Fuller and Pudgie Bale; Sylvia, Aubrey, Everett, Martin and Jenna Bruning.

Oak Orchard Health continues long-standing outreach to farmworkers

Photos courtesy of Oak Orchard Health: Jose Iniguez, an owner of Lamont Farms, stands in an orchard with Sandra Rivera, a community health worker for Oak Orchard Health.

Posted 21 August 2024 at 2:06 pm

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Since 1973, Oak Orchard Health has been committed to providing person-centered and culturally competent care to our most underserved communities, especially in our agricultural community.

Oak Orchard was originally funded as a migrant health project. Agriculture is the number one industry in Western New York, specifically in Orleans and Genesee counties, where most of our farmworkers and their families reside, work and attend school.

Farmworkers are exposed to risky and harsh conditions, such as harmful chemicals, long working hours, working with large animals, operating heavy equipment, and extreme weather conditions. Agricultural workers are also responsible for feeding our local communities and our country, and we must keep them healthy.

With his permission, Jose Iniguez shares his story of working with Oak Orchard Health to keep his farmworkers healthy. Iniguez began his journey when he came to the US at age 16 in 1991. He began as a farmworker in Washington State, saying, “My employer was ahead of the times, engaging in state-of-the-art growing practices, so I learned a lot.”

In 1994, he had the opportunity to come to New York, bringing the knowledge and skills he had learned in Washington State and working his way up to VP and Chief Operating Officer at Lamont Farms. He is one of the three partners.

Apple Harvesting is labor intensive

Apple harvesting is a labor-intensive process by the time it hits the stores.

“By the time you get apples to the store, it has been touched 20-25 times from the time it blossoms and eventually turns into an apple,” Iniguez said. “Mowing is also important to the upkeep of the orchard; mowing before the harvest can make it easier to move ladders, bins, and boxes through the orchard. The bottom line is that a lot of hard work goes into each apple by the time you get it to the store. To achieve this, it takes many people; you must prune the trees, removing suckers and bad wood, which help stimulate the tree to produce more fruiting spurs. Pruning also opens the branches so sunlight and air reach the ripening fruit. This is why so many workers are needed for one harvest.”

Lamont Farms has not had a good harvest in almost eight years due to the weather and the Covid-19 pandemic. “But this year is looking much better,” Iniquez said.

Not only does Iniguez have to work with the farmworkers, but he also has to adhere to NY State labor laws, harvesting times, weather, and balancing out the needs of the farm owners. If they have bad weather or there is a miscalculation in their numbers, workers are still paid at least 30 hours per week.

Most farm workers do not know they have sick time available. Lamont Farms recognizes this and encourages workers to take the available time so that farmworkers can get the care they need. Because of how well Lamont Farms treats their employees, they have had a return rate of 95% over the last 10 years. Iniguez says, “It has taken us almost 20 years to build this team. It is built on a lot of trust.”

How Oak Orchard Community Health Centers keeps farmworkers healthy

One step to keeping farmworkers healthy is the Oak Orchard Health Outreach Team and their community health workers. CHWs visit the farms or camps and provide necessary healthcare, health education, immunizations, and blood pressure checks.

They can also help set up future medical appointments and get prescriptions filled. The community health workers are certified Spanish interpreters and have built a trusted relationship with the farmworkers, their families, and the farm owners. In addition to the above services, the outreach team provides the following services:

Covid-19 education, testing and vaccinations
Spanish-English interpretation and translation
Transportation
Expanded evening hours for just farmworkers so they don’t lose pay

If farmworkers are eligible for health insurance, Oak Orchard has facilitated health insurance enrollers in their health care facilities, or facilitated enrollers will tag along with the OOH Outreach team to enroll them where they live to help with medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

Having health insurance removes the financial barrier to getting health care. If they are not eligible for health insurance, Community Health Workers will help guide them to enrolling an individual into our Sliding Scale Fee program.

Our Vision for the Future

Oak Orchard Health’s Vision is to be a leader of continuous growth and transformation, where innovative, holistic, and comprehensive care—for body and mind—is provided for all in partnership with our community.

We are here for everyone, all farmworkers, and their families, regardless of financial means, immigration status, or station in life, as a caring, compassionate, nonjudgmental, trustworthy provider.

Governor gives final OK for direct shipping to consumers for NY spirits, cider

Posted 19 August 2024 at 2:51 pm

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul signed landmark legislation S.2852A/A.3132A that allows New York’s small craft manufacturers of spirits, cider, and mead to ship directly to consumers.

The newly signed law opens significant opportunities for the state’s growing craft beverage industry by providing a vital market expansion tool—allowing these producers to ship their unique products directly to consumers within New York and across state lines.

“New York’s craft manufacturers create distinctive, world-class products that deserve a broader audience,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation levels the playing field, allowing these small producers to reach new markets and foster economic growth across the state. With this new law, we are ensuring that New York remains a national leader in craft beverages, continuing to support our local businesses, tourism, and agriculture.”

Expanding Market Access for Craft Producers

New York’s craft cider and spirit producers often struggle to gain access to traditional wholesale distribution channels, placing these smaller manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage, as their products are less likely to reach licensed retailers and consumers. Direct-to-consumer shipping offers an essential new outlet for these smaller producers, enabling them to build brand loyalty by connecting directly with consumers who want to enjoy the unique products that define New York’s craft beverage industry. For consumers, the new law means greater access to high-quality New York-made products, driving demand for the state’s craft beverages both locally and nationally.

This expansion of market access is particularly significant as New York is home to the largest number of craft cideries in the nation and ranks second in the U.S. for the number of distilleries. By allowing these manufacturers to ship directly to consumers, New York strengthens its position as a leader in the craft beverage industry while supporting the state’s broader agricultural economy.

This legislation also represents a milestone for parity for New York’s spirits and cider producers, who have long advocated for the same privileges that wine manufacturers have enjoyed for nearly two decades, while providing safeguards against underage access to alcohol and ensuring proper tax collection by mirroring the responsible sales and delivery practices established under the DTC wine shipping laws.

Temporary Covid-19 Relief Now Permanent

During the Covid-19 pandemic, New York craft manufacturers of spirits and cider were granted temporary DTC shipping privileges to help them survive the economic downturn. This temporary measure proved highly successful, with no recorded violations, demonstrating that direct shipping can be done safely and responsibly. The new law permanently codifies this privilege, allowing small craft manufacturers to continue growing their businesses by reaching customers both within and outside of New York.

New York State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan said, “This legislation will hopefully support the long-term survival and create another growth spurt of New York’s vibrant craft and farm alcohol producers. I am immensely proud that our agency is able to support our manufacturing licensees in obtaining this long-sought change, which would allow them to directly touch their consumers and build brand loyalty in a meaningful manner.”

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “This legislation provides our distilleries and cideries with tremendous opportunity for growth that will have a ripple effect on our economy. With the most cideries and the second-most distilleries in the nation, New York State is committed to continuing to support these small businesses, who ultimately also help provide a boost to our farmers as well. By opening up the direct-to-consumer shipping option, producers can reach even more customers and consumers have an opportunity to discover a new, favorite New York beverage.”

The new law takes effect in 90 days, just in time for the upcoming holiday season, allowing consumers to explore and enjoy New York’s world-class craft spirits, cider and mead from the comfort of their own homes.

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “We are excited for our farm distillers and farm cideries who will now be able to expand their market by shipping their products directly to consumers. This is a lifeline for many struggling distilleries and cideries throughout the state. This will help strengthen the fruit, grain and potato industry in New York and is a huge win for agriculture.”

Albion family’s innovation for milking cows named finalist in Grow-NY competition

Provided photo: Jody Neal and his sons Zachary, left, and Jayden, formed Udder Ways LLC and are finalists in a $3 million Grow-NY competition.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2024 at 10:39 pm

ALBION – An invention by an Albion dairy farmer and his two sons is among 20 finalists in food and agriculture startups from around the world.

UdderWays LLC in Albion is competing with 19 others to win a combined total of $3 million in prize money in Grow-NY, a business competition focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage and agriculture innovation cluster in upstate New York.

There were 312 startups that applied from 26 states, and 50 countries. There were 89 entries from New York.

Jody Neal and his sons Zachary and Jayden have formed UdderWays. They finished second in January in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Neals developed a new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking. The Neals have already won a $20,000 prize for second place in the American Farm Bureau competition.

The Neals worked on their udder cleaning system for nearly a decade. The device is used just before a cow is milked. Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats, the family states on their website.

Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement announced the 20 finalists year six of Grow-NY. Winning companies will be required to make a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which comprises 22 counties located in Central NY, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier regions.

A Genesee County-based company also is among the finalists. Zordi in Oakfield builds autonomous greenhouses with robots and AI to make high-quality produce.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, said, “From farming to food production, New York is an innovative, world-class leader in agriculture. Year after year, the Grow-NY competition is instrumental to bringing new, high-growth businesses in the industry focused on critical areas to our state. This event has once again brought to light just how critical agriculture is to our communities and to our economy, and I congratulate these finalists on their innovation that will help bolster our food systems, feed our communities, and move our state forward.”

A panel of 30 judges with knowledge of the region’s agriculture and food production communities, and entrepreneurial experience, reviewed all the applications to determine the top 20 finalists that will pitch their business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit in Ithaca in November.

Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize, two $500,000 awards, and four $250,000 prizes.

To see the other finalists for Grow-NY, click here.

Hail took big bite out of Orleans County apple crop

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2024 at 11:06 am

‘In some spots this is the worst damage I’ve ever seen’

Photos by Tom Rivers: These Honeycrisp apples grown by Jim and Adam Kirby were badly by hail last Sunday. The Kirbys lost about 100 of their 170 acres of apples from the hail. The apples have numerous bruises and cuts from the hail.

GAINES – It’s a word fruit farmers fear: hail.

Those fast-moving pellets from the sky can turn a crop, that has been months in making, into a largely worthless field of ruin.

Last Sunday hail hit in the afternoon and it left a swath of destruction for farmers, especially those near Route 104.

Jim Kirby and his son Adam grow 170 acres of apples, as well as other vegetable and grain crops. About 100 acres of their apples were pummeled by the hail, including their most valuable apples, the Honeycrisp. They were going to start picking some of those apples this week.

Instead they were reaching out to their insurance agent, and trying to calculate the losses.

“This is a heart-breaker for me,” Jim Kirby said looking at a block of apples along Lattin Road. “This is a bumper crop of Honeycrisp. But it five minutes it’s all over.”

Jim Kirby has been growing apples for 50 years and said the hail storm is one of the most devastating in his career. He is shown with Honeycrisp apples, the top variety, in an orchard on Lattin Road.

Kirby and a crew of 12 workers spent the previous three weeks hand-thinning Honeycrisp apples, removing some so the others would max out on size and color.

But the storm left apples with many bruises and cuts. Sometimes hail will leave one or two bruises on an apple. This time the apples have 20 or more bruises, showing they were hammered by the hail. They can’t be sold on the fresh market for top dollar. They could go for juice, but that market will now be saturated and it may not pay to have workers pick those apples and then haul them for processing, Kirby said.

The storm was especially brutal for many apple farms in Orleans County, but also damaged corn, soybeans and vegetables, said Larry Meyer, the Farm Service Agency director in Orleans County.

He has been working for the FSA for 41 years. The Sunday hail storm cut a wide path of damage, but also missed some fields and orchards as it moved from Niagara, through Orleans and further east.

“In some spots this is the worst damage I’ve ever seen,” he said. “There is a lot of loss in the county. The people who got hit got hit real bad.”

These apples were almost ready to be picked but now likely will be left on the tree and later left on the ground unless the low-price juice market makes it worthwhile to pick them.

Meyer expects a federal disaster declaration will be issued which will allow for emergency low-interest loans for farmers without crop insurance.

Many of the farms now have private insurance, which can cover up to 65 percent of the crop’s value. Meyer said the apple market has very tight profit margins this year. The crop insurance will help the farmers, but still leaves them in a difficult position, especially when they were so close to harvest.

Meyer said farmers are in a better position to recover from the losses, compared to previous years. He recalled the Labor Day wind storm of 1998 that decimated the local apple crop. At the time the federal government to assist apple farms with disaster aid and there wasn’t private insurance to help cover the loss of an apple crop.

About a quarter of the apple farms went out of business in Orleans County after that storm.

But this time most of the farms have their own crop insurance, and the federal government can provide some disaster aid for the others.

The FSA is working to try to determine the extent of the damage.

“This was a long storm,” he said. “It had a lot of energy and it kept going.”

Apples and other fruit totaled $59.0 million in revenue for Orleans County farmers in 2022, according to the U.S. Agricultural Census. Orleans County’s total ag revenue is $233.6 million.

Ag district review could add 7,600 acres, remove nearly 6,000

Photo by Tom Rivers: A corn field is pictured on Telegraph Road in Ridgeway in October 2022.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2024 at 9:39 am

ALBION – Orleans County is doing a once-every-8-year review of the county-wide agricultural district and about 7,600 additional acres will be added with nearly 6,000 to be taken out.

That is how it stands now, but the numbers could change before an Aug. 16 deadline, said Corey Winters, planner with the Orleans County Department of Planning.

The agricultural district covers about 118,000 acres or approximately 48% of the land mass of the county. The county every year gives property owners a chance to be included in the district, but parcels can only be removed every eight years. This year is that chance to pull out property.

Undeveloped land that is in the district is not allowed to hook into waterlines for non-agricultural use because of the potential adverse effects on agriculture, Winters said. Existing homes, residences, and farms within an agricultural district are not prohibited from connecting to new water lines.

Winters said some of the land being removed from the district is owned by older property owners who want to give their relatives the option to connect to waterlines in the near future.

The County Agricultural Farmland Protection Board and Department of Planning are leading the review. Winters and Barry Flansburg, chairman of the Farmland Protection Board, went over the data during a public hearing on Tuesday with the County Legislature.

The review right now would add about 1,600 acres to the district.

“We’re thrilled we’re not losing agricultural acreage,” Flansburg said.

The county tried three times to get a response from 139 parcel owners, representing 3,150.9 acres. That land will be removed from the ag district unless there is an affirmative response by an Aug. 16 deadline.

Parcels that did not respond: 139 parcels – 3,150.9 acres

Town of Albion: 6 parcels – 166.6 acres
Town of Barre: 19 parcels – 579.8 acres
Town of Carlton: 18 parcels – 451.6 acres
Town of Clarendon: 11 parcels – 632.6 acres
Town of Gaines: 5 parcels – 13.8 acres
Town of Kendall: 17 parcels – 276.9 acres
Town of Murray: 8 parcels – 98.9 acres
Town of Ridgeway: 32 parcels – 522.9 acres
Town of Shelby: 11 parcels – 201.7 acres
Town of Yates: 12 parcels – 205.9 acres

Parcels to be excluded from district: 88 parcels – 2,804.8 acres

Town of Albion: 6 parcels – 166.6 acres
Town of Barre: 8 parcels – 321.4 acres
Town of Carlton: 6 parcels – 149.5 acres
Town of Clarendon: 34 parcels – 975.2 acres
Town of Gaines: 2 parcels – 90.4 acres
Town of Kendall: 8 parcels – 257.4 acres
Town of Murray: 3 parcels – 93.1 acres
Town of Ridgeway: 13 parcels – 597.2 acres
Town of Shelby: 10 parcels – 259.4 acres
Town of Yates: 2 parcels – 1.6 acres
Village of Lyndonville: 1 parcel – 57.8 acres

Parcels to be added: 166 parcels – 7,656.9 acres

Town of Albion: 15 parcels – 809.4 acres
Town of Barre: 18 parcels – 776.8 acres
Town of Carlton: 27 parcels – 1,951.5 acres
Town of Clarendon: 8 parcels – 353.9 acres
Town of Gaines: 20 parcels – 830.5 acres
Town of Kendall: 12 parcels – 214.1 acres
Town of Murray: 21 parcels – 1,253.6 acres
Town of Ridgeway: 8 parcels – 77.4 acres
Town of Shelby: 14 parcels – 709.6 acres
Town of Yates: 13 parcels – 616.6 acres
Village of Lyndonville: 6 parcels – 63.5 acres