Assembly Resolution No. 87
BY: M. of A. Hawley
HONORING 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
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.