Honor Upstate Niagara Cooperative

2018 Agricultural Business of the Year Award by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are enhanced by the concerned and dedicated efforts of business organizations and individuals that generously contribute to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2018 Agricultural Business of the Year Award by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce to be celebrated at its 46th Annual Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the Quality Inn & Suites in Batavia, New York; and WHEREAS, Upstate Niagara Cooperative is receiving this auspicious award for its demonstrated growth and commitment to Genesee County; and WHEREAS, With more than 340 family-owned farms involved in the process of providing fresh milk daily to customers throughout Western New York, Upstate Niagara Cooperative prides itself on its commitment to provide quality products; and WHEREAS, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, with its corporate headquarters in Buffalo, was formed in 2006, by the consolidation of Upstate Farms Cooperative and Niagara Milk Cooperative; and WHEREAS, With some of its members having family farms going back six generations, Upstate Niagara Cooperative has grown to be among the nation's top dairy companies; and WHEREAS, At one time, the cooperative offered just a small variety of dairy products; this began to change in the 1980s with the acquisition of the Bison brand and their yogurt, dips and cottage cheese products; and WHEREAS, The Upstate Farms brand of fluid milk and yogurt products was introduced in 1996, and was quickly followed by the introduction of their Intense Milk brand in 1998; and WHEREAS, Shortly after the consolidation of Upstate Farms and Niagara Milk, continued growth warranted the construction of a state-of-the-art cultured facility built in West Seneca in 2006; five years later, Upstate Niagara Cooperative purchased its second cultured facility in North Lawrence, St. Lawrence County, for yogurt production; and WHEREAS, In 2015, this vital cooperative expanded its fluid milk capabilities with the acquisition of Schneider Valley Farms in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, Upstate Niagara Cooperative also recently acquired the former Kraft-Heinz plant in Campbell, Steuben County, which allowed the cooperative to expand their production capabilities into the cheese category; and WHEREAS, All dairy products manufactured by Upstate Niagara Cooperative are gluten free, and its entire milk supply is rBST-free; and WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to freshness, Upstate Niagara Cooperative has been the proud recipient of numerous awards and accolades at both the state and national level; and WHEREAS, The success of Upstate Niagara Cooperative is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the business and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowledges this exceptional agricultural business and its contributions to the local and State economies, fully confident that it will thrive and enjoy sparkling success; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2018 Agricultural Business of the Year Award by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.