NNY Business April 2011

B April 2011

Y usIness

Community-supported ag joins farms, patrons page 24

n 20 Questions with Darrel Aubertine Page 32 n NNY firms scramble for professional space Page 29 n Biz Tech n NNY Snapshot n Business Scene n Real Estate Boo Wells

Chef & owner Farm House Kitchen Sackets Harbor

Taste the north country

Why ag should matter to you $2.95

Northern New York’s Premier Business Monthly Vol. 1 Issue 5 | www.nnybusiness.net

Inside April 2011

14

COVER

14

WHY AG MATTERS Northern New York’s roots remain strong in agriculture, but what will the future bring? No one said farming is an easy row to hoe.

18 A FOODIE’S PERSPECTIVE

Why going all local isn’t such a crazy idea for one north country chef.

REAL ESTATE

29 OFFICE SPACE CRUNCH

Some north country firms have found an unexpected challenge in the market: Class A office space is slim pickings.

29

FEATURES

23 GOT LOCAL? IT’S OUT THERE

Choosing a healthy diet doesn’t mean expensive food. When you live in the north country, local food choices are plenty.

24 CONNECT WITH GROWERS

For those who can’t hit the farmer’s markets, consider a share in a Community-Supported Agriculture farm.

26 ONE-STOP SHOPPING

26

Kelly L. Widrick’s Green Thyme in Adams Center is filled with products grown and produced by the livelihood of locals.

27 SWEET TASTE OF NNY

The north country’s maple sugaring industry has an untapped potential that could rake in nearly $19 million a year.

28 NORTH COUNTRY WINE

is uncorking some impressive results for the region as it becomes a leader in growing cold-hardy grape varieties.

27

April 2011 | NNY Business | 3

CONTRIBUTORS

BusIness

www.nnybusiness.net

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II Michelle L. Capone is senior project development officer for the Development Authority of the North Country.

She writes about the kick-off of Drum Country Business, a new regional marketing initiative. (p. 35)

Peter J. Whitmore is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. He writes about the importance of agriculture and its impact on Northern New York. (p. 37)

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp.

He writes about strides the north country has made to bolster agriculture for future prosperity. (p. 38)

Sarah O’Connell is an advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College.

She offers a few tips for businesses to freshen up customer service plans. (p. 40)

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Editorial Assistant Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Director Karen Romeo

Rande Richardson is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He writes about the future of nonprofits in tight fiscal times. (p. 36)

Jill Van Hoesen is the information security officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. She writes about the impact technology has had on agriculture in Northern New York. (p. 39)

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He examines the Federal Fair Housing Act on the 43rd anniversary of its signing. (p. 30)

Rebecca Madden is a Johnson Newspaper staff writer. She delivers some advice from Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension on how to raise potted produce from seeds. (p. 22)

Advertising Specialists

Clarissa Collins, Katie Nelson

Circulation Director Cindy Werner

Photography

Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Julia Keegan, Brian Mitchell, Scott Smith, Todd Soules, Linda Zimmer

Nancy Madsen is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. In this month’s cover story, she writes about the economic impact of agriculture. She also examines NNY’s office space market and 2010 foreclosures. (p. 14, 29)

Joanna Richards is a Johnson Newspapers copy editor and writer.

She writes about the growth of communitysupported agriculture and how it connects farms with consumers. (p. 24)

Sarah Haase is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. She writes about how Adams Center’s Green Thyme is helping local farmers bring their products to market. (p. 26)

Andrea Pedrick is a freelance writer who lives in Dexter. She writes about how consumers across the region can access and take advantage of local foods throughout the year. (p. 23)

MARKETPLACE A.G. Netto Realty …........... 31 Ameriprise Financial …...... 17 Bella’s Bistro ….................... 47 Blue Seal Feeds ….............. 22 Carthage Savings ….......... 51 Cheney Tire ..................….. 42 Christensen Realty …......... 31 CITEC ….............................. 19 Clarence Henry Coach ….. 28 Computer Doctor ............... 39 Condino Realty .................. 31 CREG Systems Corp .......... 43 Curran Renewable ............ 11 HighTower Advisors ............. 5 Howard Orthotics ............... 37 H&R Block ............................ 17 Innovative PT Solutions ...... 36

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Jefferson County IDA ........ 52 Johnny D’s Bistro 108 ......... 46 Lofink Ford Mercury ........... 45 Lori Gervera Real Estate .... 31 Lowville Producers ............. 18 Lunman’s Furniture ............ 12 Manpower Inc ................... 11 NNY Business ................ 25, 42 NNY Community Foundation …..................... 44 North Country Technology Symposium ........................ 27 Northern Federal Credit Union ….................... 25 Raso Real Estate ................ 31 Regional Medical Management …................. 40

NNY Business | April 2011

Roll Lock Truss …................. 50 Sea Comm Federal Credit Union ….................... 34 Slack Chemical …............. 38 State Farm Insurance ........ 13 St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union ….................... 35 Thousand Island Realty …. 31 Timeless Frames …............... 2 Truesdell’s Furniture ….......... 7 Village Office Supply ........ 10 Watertown Local Development Corp ......….. 30 Watertown Savings Bank ... 16 Wells Communications ..... 49 Westelcom …...................... 49

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), formerly Absolutely Business magazine, is published monthly by Johnson Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Copyright 2010, Johnson Newspaper Corp.

All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Johnson Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year for Watertown Daily Times and affiliate newspaper subscribers and $25 a year for non-subscribers.

Call 315-782-1000 for delivery.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, e-mail ccollins@wdt.net In St. Lawrence County, e-mail knelson@ogd.com Please recycle this magazine.

32

INTERVIEW

32 IN THE POLICY CHAIR

Cape Vincent native Darrel J. Aubertine — the governor’s choice for New York State Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets — shares his priorities for agriculture and how the Empire State can prosper in lean times.

COLUMNS GUEST ESSAY

10

ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING 35

AGRI-BUSINESS

38

NONPROFITS TODAY

36

BUSINESS TECH BYTES

COMMERCE CORNER

37

SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 40

ON THE COVER

39

DEPARTMENTS EDITOR’S NOTE

6

CALENDAR

41

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

7

BUSINESS SCENE

43

ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT

8

DINING GUIDE

46

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

12

BUSINESS HISTORY

48

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

30

WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?

50

Boo Wells, culinary instructor, chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen catering company shares culinary delights she prepared from her bountiful garden.

Mrs. Wells is photographed on a haystack in front of her neighbor’s barn on County Route 75 in Sackets Harbor. {Justin Sorensen photo}

April 2011 | NNY Business

|5

EDITOR’S NOTE

T

wenty-five years ago this summer, I started my first job in the sprawling strawberry fields on Junior W. and Dorothy G. Bedor’s Valley Park Farm in the village of Adams. I was 12, still today the minimum age in New York State to be employed in the hand-harvest of berries, fruits and vegetables.

I picked strawberries for 25 cents a quart and peas for 10 cents a pound. That was good money in 1986, especially since baseball cards, penny candy and summer fun topped my list of expenses.

It was challenging work for a young boy, hand-picking berries from early morning until the hot afternoon. But it was good, honest work that made me proud.

I remember the excitement I felt as I took home my first Ken Eysaman paycheck, racing home on my Schwinn Thrasher BMX bicycle, anxious to show my father, who that same afternoon took me to Watertown Savings Bank so I could promptly deposit my earnings.

In the two seasons I worked as a berry-picker on Valley Park Farm, I learned some of the values that agriculture has planted across the north country for generations — values that keep families and farms together to produce some of the finest milk and dairy products in the country. Make no mistake: It takes true grit and a dedication matched by few to succeed in agriculture today.

And as you’ll read in our cover story by Nancy Madsen, despite the consolidation of many farms, there are some bright spots, which I hope will leave you encouraged and excited about the future of agriculture in Northern New York.

If nothing else should leave you moved by what goes on in the north country agriculture, turn to page 20 to see the miracle of life play out before the lens of Photographer Jason Hunter.

The day Jason happened to be on assignment at Andrew J. and Anthony J. Gilbert’s Adon Farms on County Route 72 in Parishville, a heifer gave birth to her calf. To the relief of Adon Farms Herdsman Bradford L. Smith, it was a heifer calf, allowing the farm to keep her and collect her milk when she’s old enough. And with the right combination of luck in timing and skill in photography, Jason captured some stirring images that illustrate one of the best parts of

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NNY Business | April 2011

working in north country agriculture.



20 QUESTIONS — We visit with former state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, a Cape Vincent native and lifelong dairy farmer who in January got the call to serve in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration as commissioner of New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets. Mr. Aubertine shares his priorities as the governor’s top agriculture executive. He also tells us how he’s managing the transition from 16 years of elected service to leading a statewide department.



BUSINESS SCENE — In this month’s Scene section, which begins on page 43, you will find 29 faces from 25 north country businesses and organizations.

We joined Northern New Yorkers at events like the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. annual meeting where Douglas W. Shelmidine, a partner in Sheland Farms in Adams, handed the gavel to Jefferson County Legislator Barry M. Ormsby who began his turn as JCADC board of directors’ president.

For the March Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, Watertown’s Center for Sight threw a party at its State Street practice, during which Dr. Noaman Sanni announced plans that he intends to fund 10 full-tuition scholarships for new students within the Immaculate Heart Central School system.

Early last month, we dropped by the 2011 Job & Career Expo, where hundreds of job-seekers met prospective employers at the Dulles State Office Building in an annual event organized by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and the WorkPlace.

Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook to view more than 160 photos from Business Scene events across the north country since we launched in December, many of which have not appeared in print. We’re just a click away at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness.

Tag yourself, tag your friends and tag your friends’ friends. Like us on Facebook and be the first to see the front page before it hits newsstands, learn who we’re interviewing, what we’re covering and join in the discussion about business in Northern New York.

Yours in business,

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promoted at Carthage Federal Savings & Loan

Bridget Fetterly has been promoted to assistant vice president and manager of retail banking for Carthage Federal Savings and Loan.

Ms. Fetterly will assume responsibilities of policy development, compliance Fetterly and training for the association’s deposit products and services. She holds an associate’s degree from Jefferson Community College, Watertown, and served four years in the military, where she achieved the rank of sergeant.

Ms. Fetterly succeeds Maureen Barre.

Ms. Barre is retiring after 25 years with the bank, working her way from teller to assistant vice president and loan officer.

Also retiring is Karen Jones, who worked for the bank for 26 years. She started as a teller and was promoted to lead loan processor in 1994.

Joins sales staff

Otis Technology, Lyons Falls, a manufacturer of advanced gun cleaning systems and accessories, has hired Frank Devlin as key account manager in its commercial and sporting goods division.

Mr. Devlin will be responsible for executing sales plans Devlin and developing new opportunities in the

retail shooting sports and hunting markets. He most recently was the national sales manager at Steiner Optics (Pioneer Research).

Got business milestones?

n Share your business milestones with NNY

Business. E-mail news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

Banker promoted

The board of directors of Gouverneur Bancorp and its subsidiary, Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, has appointed Cheryl Hay, Richville, as vice president/compliance officer.

Ms. Hay began her career with GouverHay neur Savings & Loan

along with owner Penny Heath. Mr. Hall, a 1995 graduate of Indian River Central School, Philadelphia, attended the Academy of Art University and Jefferson Community College. Heath’s previous production manager, Wendy Morley, is now the firm’s office manager.

Earns excellence award

in 1969 as a teller and was promoted to customer service representative in 1979.

In 1990, she became assistant secretary and loan officer. Since 1997, Ms. Hay has been a member of several bank loan committees. In 2009, she was appointed compliance officer and Bank Secrecy Act/ Office of Foreign Assets control officer.

Kimberly Lane, Watertown, a business sales associate for Verizon Wireless’s upstate New York region, received the company’s President’s Award of Excellence for exceptional teamwork, leadership and outstanding customer service.

Ms. Lane was one of nine Verizon Wireless employees to receive the award at the upstate region’s annual employee meeting in Syracuse.

Studio hires specialist

Heath Photography, Redwood, has hired Aaron Hall of Dexter as its social media and production specialist. In that capacity, he maintains the company’s website and blog, serves as in-house videographer and asHall sembles photographic packages.

In a new venture for Heath Photography, he will also build blogs for clients,

Carousel manager hired

The Adirondack Carousel board of directors has hired Randy Cross as project manager to oversee construction of the Adirondack-themed carousel, slated to open this year in the William Morris Park in Saranac Lake. Mr. Cross is a builder in the Saranac Lake area.

The carousel will be housed in its own Adirondack-style pavilion, with adjacent space for community workshops, exhibits

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April 2011 | NNY Business

|7

ECON SNAPSHOT

NNY

8|

Economic indicators Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers Feb. ’11 $1.53 Jan. ’11 $1.38 Feb. ’10 $1.32

15.9%

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands, OgdensburgPrescott and Seaway International (Massena) bridges

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

311,544 in February 2011 331,743 in January 2011 298,542 in February 2010

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Seaway International Bridge Corp.

Feb. ’11 $3.38 Jan. ’11 $3.29 Feb. ’10 $2.85

U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)

18.6%

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil Feb. ’11 $3.71 Jan. ’11 $3.53 Feb. ’10 $2.99

24.1%

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane Feb. ’11 $3.71 Jan. ’11 $3.57 Feb. ’10 $3.24

14.5%

4.4%

$0.97 on Feb. 28, 2011 $1.00 on Jan. 31, 2011 $1.05 on Feb. 26, 2010

7.6%

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

Passengers at Watertown International Airport 377 in-bound and out-bound in February 2011 540 in-bound and out-bound in January 2011 462 in-bound and out-bound in February 2010

18.4%

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 48, median price $115,000 in February 2011 55, median price $124,400 in January 2011 42, median price $137,500 in February 2010

14.3% Sales

16.4% Price

Source: Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors Inc.

Source: Jefferson County Board of Legislators

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions 87,500 in January 2011 91,100 in December 2010 87,100 in January 2010

0.46%

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

Jefferson County unemployment Jan. 11

Dec. 10

11.7% 10.3 % 9.9%

Nov. 10 Oct. 10

8.8%

Sep. 10 Aug. 10 July 10 June 10

8.2% 7.9%

May 10

8.3%

8.1% 8.4%

April 10

9.3%

Mar. 10

Feb. 10

11.0%

Jan. 10

10.4% 10.8%

Source: New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted)

Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot” categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

NNY NNY Business Business || April April 2011 2011

NNY

Economic indicators St. Lawrence county unemployment rates

Lewis county unemployment rates

12.1% in January 2011 10.3% in December 2010 12.0% in January 2010

11.4% in January 2011 10.0% in December 2010 11.3% in January 2010

0.1

0.1

Percentage points

Percentage points

Source: NYS Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted)

Source: NYS Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted)

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

39, median price $77,000 in February 2011 22, median price $79,000 in January 2011 29, median price $75,000 in February 2010

1,899 in February 2011 1,884 in January 2011 1,764 in February 2010

Sales

16.4%

7.7%

Price

Source: St. Lawrence Board of Realtors Inc.

Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

Real estate sales Watertown city sales March 10

n 0.27 acre, South Hamilton Street, Susan M. Martin and Patricia S. Rose, co-executors, no addresses given, will of David O. Stanley, sold to Ryan M. Madill, Chaumont $137,000 n 145 Bellew Ave., Richard Gillman Dunn, Huachuca, Ariz., sold to Gary R. Fritz and Sarah N. Fritz, Evans Mills $139,000 n Gotham Street, Deborah G. Neher, Watertown, sold to Andrew R. Thoma, Watertown $113,000

March 8

n 206 S. Hamilton St., David J. Bova and Marci B. Cook, both of Watertown, sold to Bryan J. Brooks and Jennifer H. Brooks, no address given $134,000

March 7

n 111 Bowers Ave., Helen W. Carbone, Watertown, sold to John L. Hermanson Jr., Copenhagen $165,000

March 3

n 0.321 acre, 137 Chestnut St., Rebekah N. Holt, Syracuse, sold to Dennis P. O’Brien, Dexter $114,000

Feb. 28

n Three parcels, 1138 Gill St., Roberta Tanner, Watertown; Linda Converse, Watertown; and Jeanette A. Lettiere, Clayton, co-executors, estate of Jane A. Godfrey, late of Watertown, sold to Roberto Guadarrama Sr. and Monica A. Guadarrama, Adams Center $116,000

Feb. 25

Trust Co., trustee for WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through certificates, by JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., attorney in fact, Jacksonville, Fla., sold to Robert D. Connell, Watertown $50,000 n 0.160 acre, 421 East Ave., Christopher J. Barron, by Kimberly D. Barron, attorney in fact, and Kimberly D. Barron, Watertown, sold to Amy Susanne Ouimet and Nicolas Gregoire Ouimet, Burke $218,000 n 726 LeRay St., Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C., sold to Abu S.M. Nurunnabi, Watertown $38,000

Feb. 24

n 132 E. Division St., Frost T. Haviland and Stephanie C. Haviland, Brownville, sold to Christopher G. DiStefano and Leslie M. O’Hara, both of Watertown $95,000 n 0.197 acre, 147 Elm St., Michael A. Nelson and Diane P. Nelson, Schenectady, sold to Michael A. Conzo III, Fort Drum $146,500

Feb. 18

TRANSACTIONS

34.5%

n Four parcels, 1), 2) Brett Street; 3) 27 Brett St.; 4) 29 Brett St., Erin S. Ball Russell, Watertown, sold to Robert Joseph Dyson and Mary E. Dyson, Watertown $177,000

$1,642,500

n 0.256 acre, 641-643 Academy St., Deutsche Bank National

City real estate sales recorded over 21-day period, Feb. 18-March 10, 2011

April 2011 2011 || NNY NNY Business Business April

9 || 9

G U E S T E S S AY

Preparing future business leaders

E

mily, a young entrepreneur and president of Kernel Color, logs on to a computer to check her company’s recent sales. With the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day, profits skyrocketed in the United States and Ireland for green popcorn, while there were slight decreases overall in other world markets. Emily is quickly joined by the company’s marketing director, product development specialist and accountant; the team reviews bank statements before reviewing new package designs for their colored popcorn. It’s a typical day in the corporate world — the virtual business world, that is.

The business people are high school students who have created a “virtual” company, complete with products to sell and all the departments typical of a welloperated firm. The products — in this case, multi-colored popcorns — are sold to other practice firms around the world.

The simulated business experience is part of an initiative called Virtual Enterprises, which has drawn international attention as an applied learning model that allows students to establish and operate a virtual business (including virtual bank accounts and sales transactions, as well as virtual hiring and firing) under the guidance of a teacher-facilitator.

Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-HerkimerOneida BOCES students will be able to take advantage of similar learning opportunities starting in September with the introduction of Virtual Business.

Modeled after Virtual Enterprises, BOCES’ Virtual Business program is designed as a capstone for high school seniors who are on a path to the business world. In addition to creating and maintaining the virtual businesses in this pro-

gram, students will participate in local, regional and state business plan competitions and trade fairs.

“Our students will gain a real sense of awareness of what actually happens Tracy Gyoerkoe in the business world,” said Linda Smith, business/computer/technology teacher at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. “They will know what they need to do to open their own business or, as future employees, will bring the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the business world.”

North country high school juniors and seniors will reap real-world benefits when they take Applied Business Technology, another new program slated for BOCES in the fall. Enrolled students will practice and apply skills in Microsoft Office applications, learn accounting techniques through the use of Excel and business communications through the use of Word and PowerPoint. They’ll also be required to develop formal business plans and present those to educators and local business partners for feedback.

Each program will enable students to earn college credit through Jefferson Community College and Utica School of Commerce while still in high school.

“We’re moving ahead to the 21st century and offering students from the region something very challenging and exciting,” said Arleen Burgess, a 35-year

10 |

NNY Business | April 2011

BOCES business, computer and technology teacher.

Mary Anne Hanley, director of marketing for the Jefferson County Job Development Corp., agreed. “These programs are focused on the new business model,” she said. “You’re teaching for the future.”

This preparation for the future wouldn’t be successful without the generous partnerships formed with local businesses and post-secondary institutions. Every BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is served by an advisory committee made up of local professionals in the related trade or business. Cheryl Mayforth of The WorkPlace, Michael York of Otis Technology, Brian Caird of Northern Federal Credit Union, Ann Merrill of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce, Beth Mac of Kelly Services, Jill Boliver of Climax Manufacturing, Ed Knapp of Jefferson Community College and Peter J. Whitmore of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce served on the committee that helped develop the Virtual Business and Applied Business Technology programs.

These professionals — and all the business people who provide support, guidance and advice — are invaluable resources. They not only help BOCES develop new programs, but also work with students to help them reach their educational and career goals. There’s no better way to prepare the next generation of business leaders for the “real” world. n TRACY J. GYOERKOE is director of the Career, Technical, Adult and Continuing Education Program at Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-HerkimerOneida BOCES. Contact her at tgyoerkoe@ boces.com or 779-7205.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE People, from page 7 and special events. An updated playground will also be added.

Queior top producer at Lake Ontario Realty

Real estate Agent Tammy Queior earned the Top Producer award at Lake Ontario Realty for the second straight year.

Ms. Queior joined Lake Ontario Realty three years ago.

Sales Agent Brenda Sipher earned secondplace top producer.

Ms. Sipher has been Queior with Lake Ontario Realty since 2005.

Visit www.lakeontariorealty.com for more information.

Finalist for award

to others. System Improvements offers instruction and on-site consulting using its products to help clients investigate accidents, incidents, quality problems, equipment failures, schedule delays, cost overruns and other problems.

Mr. Reed served in the Navy for 21 years prior to joining System Improvements in 2005. He graduated from General Brown High School, Dexter, in 1983.

His wife, Debbie Wilson Reed, graduated from Watertown High School in 1983.

They live in Knoxville.

For the second straight year, Larry Jacowitz of Watertown has been named a finalist for the Texas Roadhouse Managing Partner of the Year award, the company’s highest honor. He was chosen from a pool of more than 300. The recipient will be announced April 20.

Mr. Jacowitz has been managing partner of the Watertown restaurant, 20790 State Route 3, for four years. He has been with Texas Roadhouse for five years.

Installed as president

Betty Henderson, an associate broker at Hefferon Real Estate, Watertown, is the 2011 president of the Tri County NY Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, a national professional development organization.

Mrs. Henderson has been active in the Henderson chapter from its inception and has been secretary and president-elect. She has been a Realtor for more than seven years.

The chapter has partnered with the Victims Assistance Center for 2011. The agency will be the beneficiary of charitable contributions raised by Tri County NY.

Promoted to partner

System Improvements Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., has promoted Ken Reed to partner.

Mr. Reed previously was Equifactor program manager. Equifactor is a systematic approach to equipment troubleshooting.

Mr. Reed developed new programs for System Improvements and has contributed substanReed tial improvements

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 11

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE program director, and Rick Roberts.

Back row: Kyle Robinson, Emily Pfeil, Julianne Rehley, Maddie Wetterhahn, Colleen Hathaway and Alex Denny.

European partner for Otis

Allstate donates $1,000

Watertown Allstate Insurance agent Rick Roberts has received the Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to volunteering in the community. With the award came a $1,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation for the South Jefferson Central School District, Adams, where Mr. Roberts volunteers.

The grant will implement ongoing training programs for the South Jefferson Education/Challenge Course. From left, front row, Logan Corey and Alexis Derrigo; middle row, Steve Robinson,

Otis Technology, Lyons Falls, a manufacturer of firearms cleaning systems and accessories, has entered into an agreement with international distributor Helmut Hofmann of Mellrichstadt, Germany.

Helmut Hofmann has been in business for more than 50 years supplying industry products for hunters, shooters, police, military and security services.

Pizza in the Plaza

City Center Plaza, Arsenal Street, Watertown, soon will be home to New Haven Pizza Co. General manager William Gittings said the restaurant doesn’t have an opening date yet, but the company’s sign is on the large plaza sign.

The company specializes in handstretched Neapolitan-style pizza baked in a wood-fired brick oven. For information, visit www.brick-oven-pizza.com.

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PHONE: 232-4581

12 |

NNY Business | April 2011

National Grid aids ADK Business Center

National Grid recently donated $25,000 toward renovations of Clarkson University’s new Adirondack Business Center in Saranac Lake.

The center provides resources for development of sustainable small business communities in the Adirondack Park, with support from the Entrepreneurship Center at Clarkson University, Potsdam.

Pictured, from left, are Rich Burns, National Grid senior energy consultant, Erin Draper, Entrepreneurship Center associate director, and Marc Compeau, director.

Car-Freshner Corp. to expand in Watertown

Car-Freshner Corp. is looking to add 17,650 square feet to its headquarters in Jefferson County Corporate Park, Watertown.

The addition will be two stories and add two sides to the buildings already on the site to create a courtyard in the center.

The company houses 115 administrative, sales and product development staff in the headquarters building, which has about 22,000 square feet.

The full plans for the addition will be presented to the Watertown Town Planning Board later this month with a public hearing likely in May. Car-Freshner would like to break ground by July and occupy the new building by February.

Clarkson nets Alcoa grant

During a March visit to the Alcoa East plant in Massena, Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld announced a new partnership with Clarkson University, Potsdam, to promote education in the community.

Mr. Kleinfeld presented Clarkson President Tom Collins with a $56,400 Alcoa

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Foundation grant to support the Alcoa Fellows Program at the university. The Alcoa Fellows will assist local teachers in delivering cutting-edge science, technology, engineering and math curriculum.

Canton facility to bear benefactors’ names

The owners of Coakley Carpet One Ace Hardware, Josie’s Little Pizzeria and Sylvia’s Lounge and Eatery, all of Canton, have made donations to SUNY Canton’s $39.5 million athletic center.

William J. and Carol M. Coakley, Carol J. and Ronald J. Spadaccini and Thomas F. and Nellie E. Coakley, owners of Coakley Carpet One Ace Hardware, will name the Coakley Family Student-Athlete Study and Classroom in the new athletic office suite within the new Roos House facility. A donation amount was not disclosed. The Coakley family was the recipient of the Canton College Foundation’s Community Leadership Award in 2008. They most recently won the Small Business Administration’s Syracuse District Family-Owned Business of the Year Award and Region H Award, which includes all of New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sylvia M. Kingston, owner of Josie’s Little Pizzeria and Sylvia’s Lounge and Eatery donated $25,000 to have a fireplace on the second level of the building named after her parents, Lloyd J. and Josephine F. Kingston. The athletic center is scheduled to be completed in June.

Pictured, from left, are William J. Coakley, Carol J. Spadaccini and Thomas F. Coakley.

Productions, 7 Paddock Arcade, as its business of the month for February. Steve Weed Productions’ day-to-day operations are overseen by Steven L. Weed Sr. and Steven L. Weed II, with assistance from computer technicians and website developers Ricky Hare and Weed Cassie Weed.

Steve Weed Productions started in 2005 to cover local events, such as high school sports, weddings and government. Since then, the business has moved to a larger office and shop and has made progress in technology, operations and business services. It has introduced live streaming capabilities of events onto the Internet.

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Business. E-mail news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the tenth of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

“Together, we now have agents positioned all over the county to better serve our clients,” Broker and Owner Amanda Miller said.

The combined firm is headquartered on Main Street in Chaumont. Hopkins Homes has served the north country for Miller three generations, Broker and Owner Beth Hopkins said.

“I am very excited about the great team of outstanding real estate professionals who call Lake Ontario Realty home,” Ms. Hopkins said.

Visit www.lakeontariorealty.com for more information.

Lake Ontario Realty, Hopkins Homes merge

North country real estate firm Hopkins Homes merged with Lake Ontario Realty.

The 6-year-old Lake Ontario Realty averages annual sales of $10 million to $12 million.

Business of the month

Watertown’s Downtown Business Association and the state Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College honored Steve Weed

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 13

A Cows eat at W. Edward Walldroff’s Homestead Fields Farm in LaFargeville.

The small dairy farm was transformed into an organic dairy in 2007.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

COVER STORY

PLANTING

a better

future

Agriculture roots strong as region diversifies for bountiful tomorrow

A

By Nancy Madsen | NNY Business writer

ANDREW J. AND ANTHONY J. Gilbert have a familiar story.

“I grew up on the dairy farm my brother and I currently operate,” Andrew Gilbert said. “I like the cows and I like living in Northern New York and I just like the business.”

The dairy, Adon Farms in the town of Parishville, has added 400 cows in the last year to total 1,200 milking and dry cows, he said. Profitability in dairy farming has forced consolidation of many farms and growth in others.

“Dairy production will grow some as we get better at what we do,” he said. “Agriculture is still going to be strong, particularly the dairy presence in the counties.”

Farms don’t just employ people directly, he said, they use agricultural service businesses, veterinarians, hardware stores and other local businesses. Those businesses employ people, who pay property taxes and support other businesses.

“Agriculture is still the foundation of our economy in Northern New York,” said Jefferson County agricultural

coordinator Jay M. Matteson. “Other than government employment, agriculture is the No. 1 part of our economy,” he said. “And it’s going to stay that way for the next 10 to 15 years in our economy.” In fact, he expects the economic ripples of agriculture to reach farther and be stronger.

“We have reinvestment and new investment in dairy manufacturing, we have growth in our ag tourism and our wine and grape industries and we’re seeing a lot more interest in local foods production, including vegetables, grapes and livestock,” he said.

From the expanded Great Lakes Cheese plant in Adams to the expected purchase of a former Agway heifer operation in Nicholville by Pineland Farms Natural Meats to raise beef calves, there is new interest in agriculture.

“Agriculture has been the one constant,” said Jon R. Greenwood, a Potsdam dairy farmer. “Here in St. Lawrence County, the aluminum plant has been big, gone down and it’s come back a little bit. A lot of heavy industry, such as paper mills, has left. Agriculture has been here — the configuration has changed, but total milk production

is the same or up.”

While dairy farming will stay on top of the agricultural industries, the face of agriculture in Northern New York is shifting to include more nondairy facilities. Livestock production in the region, for example, got a boost with two new U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected processing plants.

One opened in Bridgewater in Oneida County while another is planned for Hartwick in Otsego County.

“They’re both very updated, modern, first-class clean facilities,” said Stephen G. Winkler, owner of Lucki 7 Livestock Co., Rodman.

Mr. Winkler, who began raising beef cattle and other livestock under his certified all-natural label, agreed it was a chicken-and-egg scenario.

“I’ve always juggled should I have the product first and the customers later or build the customer base first,” he said. “But now we have the infrastructure in place. We’ve got the processing and customer demand is growing leaps and bounds, which is really good.”

He said the time is right for those who have been considering switching directions or using fallow fields for April 2011 | NNY Business

| 15

16 |

NNY Business | April 2011

COVER STORY raising livestock.

“We’ve always had some people with vacant farmland in the northern part of the county or in St. Lawrence County,” Mr. Winkler said. “Now those folks are retirement age or well-heeled enough that they can put on a second business and are looking to invest in the farm again.”

Under the all-natural label, Certified Natural NY Co., LLC, Mr. Winkler checks other farms under a protocol he designed. The meat produced is sold in several outlets, including Whole Foods and Wegmans grocery stores.

“There are about 50 to 60 farmers in the group,” he said. “There’s still a lot of room to grow.”

W

n

n

n

hen W. Edward Walldroff transformed his small dairy farm, Homestead Fields Farm, LaFargeville, into an organic dairy in 2007, the goal was to become profitable.

“Without the organic opportunity, this farm would’ve shut down,” he said. “A 100-cow dairy by today’s standards is non-competitive. I refused to be part of the race to the bottom: to get bigger, more productive and provide the product at a cheaper price.”

Through a contract, the milk from his cows ends up either in Organic Valley milk or Stonyfield Organic yogurt. He continues to follow the organic model not just for the profitability.

“It taught me that everything I had done for 20 years prior to that was flawed,” he said. “It was short-sighted in terms of ag sustainability … When you think about it, most post-WWII farms, and all agriculture then by today’s standards would be certified organic.”

The land, plentiful and inexpensive, is the first resource farms across the board say makes Northern New York a good place for agriculture. The region has other abundant natural resources, such as water. Weather can be a challenge, but a cool climate is also a better environment for raising dairy cows than a warm one.

“Cows are most comfortable at 20 to 50 degrees,” Mr. Gilbert said. “If you think about it, they’re big and hairy and their surface area is small for the size of the animal they are.”

In this region, farmers only use fans and sprinklers for a few months to keep the cows cool. In a time of ris-

A pig pokes its snout through a fence at Stephen G. Winkler’s Lucki 7 Livestock Co. in Rodman.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

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April 2011 | NNY Business

| 17

COVER STORY

Buy local, fresh: A foodie speaks out

B

uy local. Support your local farmer. Join a CSA. neighbors and your environment. Visiting local farms Plant a garden. Is this just the latest rage, or with children and grandchildren brings that education is the go local movement the real deal? I know and appreciation to the next generation. food. As the mother of three young children, my BUYING LOCAL PROMOTES GENETIC DIVERSITY, interest in the nutritional value of food is more than REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND LAND CONpassing. As a professional chef and teacher, the SERVATION. Local farmers are not only good stewpreparation, presentation and flavor of food fasciards of the land, but their farms, in contrast to large nates me. As a caterer, I know all about the supply commercial farms, are more apt to include ponds, chain, from the large producopen meadows, wooded ers to the smallest farmers. areas and other habitat that So my response is: Yes, this is support wildlife. the real deal.

We need to educate our We all have the Herculean children about food. Let task of educating our children them see a carrot that is less about the benefits of nutritious elegant than its supermarket food — the importance of eatequivalent. Have them handle ing vegetables being foremost a potato that still hints of in my mind. Many children dirt, an egg that is blue, or today have no idea where their an ‘ugly’ tomato. Let your food comes from. Who does? children pick the vegetables The family garden, with its that look good to them. They obligatory smattering of chickwill be more likely to try ens, is long gone. How are we something new if they have to teach our children about the Boo Wells | Farm House Kitchen had a voice in its selection. relevance of worms and dirt, Overwhelmed? Start chicken and eggs, rain and drought? small. Find a farm stand that you can drive by on First, why should we care? Does it really matter your way home from work or school. In the summer, who grows our food or where it is from? Yes and there are farmer’s markets almost every day of the here’s why: week in Jefferson County. You can also join a CSA LOCAL FOOD TASTES BETTER. Long distance (Community-Supported Agriculture) and support produce ripens in transit and, as more time passes, several farmers at once. Plant a few seeds in a pot or its cells shrink and its sugars turn into starches. Bite plop some tomato plants into that empty corner of into a freshly picked and naturally ripened apple. Its your yard. flavor, texture and sheer vitality will get you hooked.

Do I want to be a true locavore, a person dedicated LOCAL FOOD IS MORE NUTRITIOUS. The longer to eating locally grown food, and strictly limit myself produce sits and the more it is handled the more to food that has been produced within a few hundred nutrients it loses. miles? I love the idea. Could I give up olive oil and BUYING LOCAL SUPPORTS YOUR COMMUNITY. artichoke hearts? Not a chance. As with all great Typically, 80 percent of a dollar spent on long things — moderation is key. Can it be done? Sure. distance food goes to corporate marketing and The platters of food you see in the cover photo were delivery systems. If the farmer is lucky, they receive all created from vegetables in my garden. My children 20 percent on the dollar. Buy a potato from your local and I dug through the snow blanketing our garden, farmer or neighborhood stand, and almost 90 percent and pulled out the veggies and herbs that had winof your dollar stays at home. tered over. A bushel of parsnips, butternut squash, BUYING LOCAL BUILDS COMMUNITY, NOW AND spaghetti squash, potatoes, sage, parsley, carrots INTO THE FUTURE. Half the fun of buying local is and shallots later, and a locavore’s delight was born. getting to know the people who are out there planting n BOO WELLS is chef and owner of the Farm House the seeds, digging the dirt and praying for rain. By Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in getting to know the farmers who grow your food, you Sackets Harbor. Contact her at sacketsfarmhousekitchbuild understanding, trust and a connection to your en@gmail.com or www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

18 |

NNY Business | April 2011

ing commodity prices, the north country has an advantage. “Out West and in the Midwest, they buy all their inputs,” Mr. Greenwood said. “When soybeans, hay and corn are up, they’re at a much bigger disadvantage.”

On his 1,200-cow Greenwood Dairy, the farm has added land for grain corn production, some of which he sells.

“Grain prices have been low enough so that we could buy it cheaper than it would be to grow it,” he said. As the tide has turned, “our bunks are filled with corn and it looks like a real good bargain.” High grain prices are a doubleedged sword.

“Even if you grow your own, you have to buy the seed, petroleum and run the tractor,” Mr. Winkler said.

As he’s seen the fuel price rise, Mr. Winkler has had to go to customers and increase the price on his meat.

“I gave them the option to reduce production to reduce the risk or to continue with orders and bring the price per pound up,” he said. “Almost everyone asked why and I laid out the balance sheet and every one of them said, ‘OK.’” In return, Mr. Winkler promised prices would fall when the fuel price falls. But compared to other parts of the U.S., the north country looks good.

“If customers in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut or Boston have to get Iowa or South Dakota pigs, they’ll get them, but they want the animal closest to their home,” Mr. Winkler said. “They’ll get them from the next closest place and not be afraid to pay for them.”

Those city customers tend to include those who are conscious of the environment, food safety and the amount of carbon spent to produce and deliver their foods, he said. And the Northeast has a high concentration of those types of customers.

“We are the center of the universe,

COVER STORY By the numbers

2,850 Number of farms

768,800 Acres of farmland

181,500 Total number of cattle

89,000

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

W. Edward Walldroff pushes hay toward his cows at Homestead Fields Farm in LaFargeville.

in my opinion,” Mr. Winkler said. “It’s expensive to live in New York, but we have people not afraid to pay the prices to alleviate the input costs.”

For Dani F. Baker, co-owner of Cross Islands Farm, Wellesley Island, the close customer base is even nearer than the urban markets – it’s mainly vacationers.

That’s why Cross Islands Farm became a certified organic facility for its vegetables, eggs, goats, pigs and cows.

“Because we’re on Wellesley Island, with vacationers, the organic label has a lot of meaning for them,” she said. Unlike the year-round locals who talk to farmers about the produce, the vacationers “are not in a position to get to know their farmers, but the quality they’re looking for in produce is here.”

She and partner David L. Belding have prepared land to add 50 percent capacity for corn and tomatoes this summer.

“I do my best to plant more of what the customers really liked last season,” Ms.

Milking cows

Baker said. “Everything is looking up – I’m very excited about this season.”

F

n

n

$13,737

n

Economic benefit, including jobs, taxes and other expenses of dairy farms per milking cow

armers have a wide range of concerns: weather, labor, taxes, regulations, perception. This year farms are looking at planting their crops a little earlier because of the warm weather, but early- and lateseason frosts can trip up crop planning.

“Weather is always a big question mark and we’re seeing more extremes in the weather,” Ms. Baker said. “What follows is that different kinds of pests that we’re not accustomed to dealing with.”

The unknown territory means trial-anderror in dealing with pests.

“With some season extension, you can have a reasonably long growing season.”

Through the winter, she has continued to harvest potatoes and leeks. Greens wintered in her hoop houses. Already,

4,670

Estimated number of agriculture jobs in 2009

$22.7m

Potential income for six-county winery industry in 2011 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2009 county estimates, Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp., Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 19

COVER STORY those mustards, arugula, lettuces, radishes and carrots have seedlings poking through the soil.

Farmers have long hours, especially during the growing season. In May and June, Ms. Baker is up before the sun to pick greens and plants until dark.

“It’s very hard to take time away,” she said. “You can’t rest in season. There’s a lot of work and it’s consistent work.”

Farmers routinely cite taxes and regulations as barriers to business.

“Regulations are certainly a big challenge,” Potsdam farmer Mr. Greenwood said. “The cost of doing business in New York compared to our neighbors — there are taxes on everything.” And larger dairy farms struggle to meet the changing regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFO. “New York seems to be at the forefront of instituting regulations,” Mr. Greenwood said. “They’re strict and everchanging, so it’s hard to keep up.” The rural region, while offering available land at reasonable prices, also creates difficulty in getting milk to a market.

“We’re a long way from any interstate,” Mr. Gilbert said. “With the North Lawrence plant closing in April, most all the milk in the county has to be shipped out.”

W

n

n

“

Dairy production will grow some as we get better is still going to be strong, particularly in the da

— Andrew J. Gilbert, second-generation operator, A

n

hile the future for dairy sometimes looks shaky, dairy farmers expect some growth and all agricultural products should increase production in the region.

“People don’t have the connection to where their food comes from that they have in the past,” Mr. Gilbert said. “To the extent that they can go to a farm, meet a farmer, handle animals, learn how we grow crops or even try it themselves in a community garden, it’s a great thing.”

Opportunities in new crops are encouraging more niche product development.

Mr. Walldroff is considering artisan cheese-making, saying the market for agriculture is the best in 40 years with the opportunity to export proteins to foreign markets.

But at a time when the markets are growing, agriculture proponents are lobbying hard to save some state funding for programs. The state’s Assembly and Senate agreed on $4.4 million in agricultural spending, much more than Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed at $1.2 million.

Those numbers must be reconciled in the state’s budget.

For development in the region, the

20 |

NNY Business | April 2011

etter at what we do. Agriculture he dairy presence counties.

tor, Adon Farms, Parishville

JASON HUNTER PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

C

lockwise from top left, Bradford L. Smith, Canton, a herdsman for Adon Farms, Parishville, helps birth a heifer calf on the farm. Mr. Smith was pleased to see a heifer calf, allowing the farm to keep the heifer and collect milk from her when she’s old enough. Alan J. Lamica, Malone, an artificial insemination technician, pulls out a device used to impregnate a cow. A heifer cleans her minutes-old calf. Scott D. Durant, Hopkinton, a milker for Adon Farms attaches a tubing system to a cow’s udder while working on the farm.

Cows rest at Adon Farms.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 21

COVER STORY Attendees of a seedling transplanting workshop listen in as Susan J. Gwise talks about growing seedlings indoors and transplanting them to a garden later in the growing season.

AMANDA MORRISON | NNY BUSINESS

Perfect produce year-round

By REBECCA MADDEN NNY Business

E

xperienced gardeners go beyond growing their own produce from the ground up — they start from planting seeds and tending to them indoors.

Raising produce from seeds is inexpensive and fun, but also labor intensive, according to Susan J. Gwise, a horticulturist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County.

“If you buy them at the store, you’re kind of at the mercy of what they have there,” she said at a March workshop on starting vegetable transplants indoors.

The first step is to select certain vegetable and fruit seeds. Pepper seeds should have been planted in March since they have a lengthy germination process, while tomato seeds should be planted in early April. Cucumber, eggplant, melons, zucchini/summer squash and winter squash seeds should be planted in mid-April.

People should then purchase peat pots to begin the transplantation process. Those pots can be buried, unlike plastic pots in which the seedling would have to be taken out and planted in the ground.

Seedlings will also grow inside old yogurt or cottage cheese containers, so long as a drainage hole is poked in the bottom. Egg cartons are also a good

®

resource, Mrs. Gwise said.

All containers should have a soilless mixture, made up primarily of peat moss. There should be no fertilizer in it because plants need time to grow on their own, she said. Soil from the outdoors will be too heavy.

Seedlings need supplemental light once they grow their first full set of leaves. Building an adjustable shop-light grow-light frame would be the best option for that, Mrs. Gwise said. Light should be three to six inches above the top of the plant, and should be turned on for 12 to 16 hours a day. Rotating plants on the frame’s shelves will promote even growth.

Mimicking outdoor weather conditions is the final step before seedlings are ready to be planted in a garden.

“They’re like little babies, and need a little help,” Mrs. Gwise said. “Maybe around May 1 take them outside for a few hours, and do this periodically until it’s Memorial Day and then plant them outside.

That’ll slowly get them used to outside conditions.”

To learn more about starting produce transplants indoors call Mrs. Gwise at the Extension office, (315) 788-8450. n REBECCA MADDEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at rmadden@wdt.net or 661-2375.

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NNY Business | April 2011

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Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has given partial support to research projects on issues more specific to the region, such as the best varieties to grow in the unique climate, optimal fertilizer use in growing corn, the quest for a solution to stop the pest alfalfa snout beetle and types of material that would make the optimal biomass fuel.

“A lot of them have multiple benefits,” Mr. Greenwood, co-chairman for the program, said. “It’s not strictly saving money or increasing yields. They are also better for the environment, like lately, there’s been a lot with fertility and the usage of manure to maximize resources a dairy or beef farm would have.”

The Legislature’s budget includes $300,000 for the program, which got no funding in 2010-11. State Sens. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, Joseph A. Griffo, RRome, and Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, who represent the region, support the funding.

On the state and federal levels, the region has political representatives who sit on or chair agriculture committees, which set the agendas for agriculture programs and spending.

The list includes Mrs. Ritchie as chairwoman of the state senate’s committee, while Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, and Assemblyman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, sit on that house’s committee. Congressman William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, sits on the federal House’s committee. And Darrel J. Aubertine, former state senator from Cape Vincent, is the governor’s pick for commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets.

“Overall, I think we have a great opportunity with them and we’re already seeing good things happening,” Mr. Matteson said.

Mr. Gilbert doesn’t think the state will revive funding for agriculture or agricultural research.

“We’ll end up getting cut because there’s not as many of us to advocate for it,” he said. “But that’s the way things go.

Companies will do research because they want their varieties to sell, so they have a vested interest in it.”

But the lack of support on a state level doesn’t dampen his spirits about farming in the region.

“I’m generally optimistic about the future,” Mr. Gilbert said. “There are more people in the world all the time and they need to eat.” n NANCY MADSEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at nmadsen@wdt. net or 661-2358.

F E AT U R E S

Local foods fuel region’s economy n Expert: NNY could be ‘self-sustaining’

S

By ANDREA PEDRICK NNY Business

mall potted plants of basil and lavender adorn the windowsill of Kathleen Mereand’s farmhouse. She has nurtured and cared for these plants so that they will get a healthy start on the growing season.

As the sun continues to warm the earth, these plants will be taken from the windowsill and delivered to their rightful place in one of Ms. Mereand’s many gardens at Wyn-De-Elm Farm at 20598 Rome State Road in Watertown.

During the summer and early fall seasons, her fresh food stand features a variety of organically grown herbs, vegetables, apples, pumpkins and berries. And if you need a fresh bouquet of flowers for the dinner table, well, you can cut your own from her flower garden and take it with you.

Phyllis F. and Tom E. Roberts, of Five Cedars Greenhouse on Route 26 in the village of Theresa, have also been busy since February preparing their seedlings for the garden. They have high expectations for their seedlings. Later this summer they need the plants to produce tomatoes, cucumbers, and green and red peppers for market at their food stand.

“The advantage to our growing season is that our climate is not too dry and usually there is access to a good source of water,” Mr. Roberts said. “We can also grow some cool weather crops.”

Five Cedars and Wyn-De-Elm are just two examples of the many small food stands and farms throughout Jefferson County that have found a niche market in growing and selling local foods. And it is not just vegetables they are selling.

Mid-sized and larger farms are producing free-range chickens, eggs and beef. And local foods, like honey, flour, pumpkins and corn, are already being sold at commercial establishments like Hannaford Supermarkets.

Nutritionally, an apple grown in New York is equal to one grown out of state.

However, every local apple bought supports a local orchard and supports the overall community’s economic well-being.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Dani Baker prepares to plant Swiss chard in her organic garden at Cross Island Farms on Wellesley Island.

Cross Island Farms is one of many farms that provides food for the region.

A local food guide published in 2008

by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County lists nearly 30 local farms that will sell organically grown nutritional staples; and that number continues to grow year-to-year.

Catherine M. Moore, acting executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, says the demand for local foods is strong.

“If the market, farm stand or vendor is in a place where there is high tourist traffic, I understand growers do quite well there,” she said. “In front of the Cornell Cooperative Extension building on N. Hamilton Street in Watertown we have a much more modest income neighborhood and purchases made using WIC coupons and Food Stamp benefit cards grow each year. North Country Children’s Clinic has opened a farmer’s market in their parking lot in the summer to ensure fresh, wholesome, local products are available to low income women and their children.”

Community-Supported Agriculture shares are purchased through the Jefferson Rehabilitation Center to provide fresh vegetables to their clients with developmental disabilities in residential communities. The shares that families do not pick up are donated to food pantries and senior citizen centers.

“There is one senior center that pur-

chases a share then has their own farmer’s market for seniors who have limited transportation and mobility,” Ms. Moore said. “Of course, there is everyone else who just stops by the market or road stand to pick up some veggies for dinner.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension is looking at ways to take “grown locally, sold locally” to the next level. The organization wants food to go from the farm to being served in local restaurants, school districts and hospitals. They are doing so by joining others in the industry to find solutions to the challenges in creating a farmer’s cooperative. The co-op would manage the distribution of the food to the larger organizations.

Jay M. Matteson, Jefferson County agricultural coordinator, said a farmer’s co-op could meet the demand of bigger markets, but the challenge is in building the infrastructure to support it.

Mr. Matteson said that he believes the local area can be self-sustaining.

“Imagine the next ice storm and instead of being concerned about trucks that can’t get here to deliver food to supermarkets — we could have food stored away for such a mass community emergency,” he said. n ANDREA PEDRICK is a freelance writer and former television reporter who lives in Dexter.

Contact her at abrped@twcny.rr.com.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 23

F E AT U R E S

Farms connect with consumers n Community-Supported Agriculture a growing trend in north country

By JOANNA RICHARDS

O NNY Business

n a cold, soggy day in midMarch, scores of tiny flower and pepper plants push their way through the soil in the window of Daniel J. and Megan L. Kent’s Lisbon kitchen. A wood stove provides heat as the couple sits at the table, munching homemade raspberry scones and grilled cheese sandwiches made with pesto Ms. Kent put away in the summer.

The pesto’s basil blooms with odor in the warm air. It is for the seedlings that, with continued care, will become some of the products of Kent Family Growers.

The Kents’ former farm in Heuvelton fed 126 of their neighbors a good portion of their diet through last summer and fall. If they didn’t know the Kents before, they got to know them from Mr. Kent’s regular newsletters of farm and family happenings sent with a share of vegetables each week in an arrangement called a CSA, or CommunitySupported Agriculture.

Members discovered that the dearth of strawberries was due to a mold attack, but they gobbled up an abundance of Chinese cabbage, learning it was the Kents’ best crop ever. CSA subscribers buy not only a share of the vegetables produced by a farm or farms, but also a share of the drama of farm life, and the risk of a difficult business.

Starting with two cooperative farms in New England in the mid-1980s, America’s CSA movement has spawned a business model in which customers pay a farm or group of farms up front for a season’s worth of produce, meat or other products, then go to the farm or another drop-off point each week to collect their goods.

CSAs come in many different forms — from requiring labor on the farm to the less hands-on simple subscription service, often with a newsletter that features recipes and sometimes an end-of-season potluck. But the distinguishing feature of

MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY BUSINESS

Megan L. Kent waters pallets of freshly planted seeds at the Kent Farm, 1301 County Route 31, Lisbon.

Mrs. Kent and her husband Daniel J. offer Community-Supported Agriculture shares.

all is shared risk and greater connection between growers and eaters. Subscribers invest early, then cheer the triumphs and rue the failures of the crops along with the farmers. They diversify their diets, and

conventional grocery store produce, but more reliably offering a superior deal for organic, local produce that’s usually within 24 hours of the field.

In the seven counties that make up the USDA’s Adirondacknorth country region, direct-to-consumer agriculture has grown by 22.3 percent between 2002 and 2007 even as the number of farms fell by 6.6 percent, according to the department’s Census of Agriculture in those years. And CSAs have been an important part of that growth, said Bernadette E.N. Logozar, regional local foods specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County and head of the six-county Northern New York Regional Local Foods Initiative that aims to boost production and consumption of the region’s local foods.

So what attracts farmers to this model?

The Kents started their CSA to bolster disappointing sales at the Canton Farmers Market, beginning in 2005 with 11 members. Last year, they had 126.

“We’ve had a waiting list every year since the first year,” Ms. Kent said. “The CSA is the best scenario possible. You pick it, you wash it, you drive it to town and it’s sold.”

CSA subscribers buy not only a share of the vegetables produced by a farm or farms, but also a share of the drama of farm life, and the risk of a difficult business.

24 |

NNY Business | April 2011

learn a bit about their region’s agriculture along the way.

A subscription with the Kents this year will run 22 weeks, include about 40 crops and cost $500 for a full share or $300 for a basic share. Basic shares are most common.

A basic box from early September would include a bunch of carrots, a pint of shallots, four tomatoes, six ears of corn, a cantaloupe, an eggplant, a head of lettuce and a bunch of basil, according to the Kents’ website, www.kentfamilygrowers. com. An early July box would be a bit thinner, offering a quart of strawberries, a head of broccoli, a bunch each of scallions and dill, 3/4 of a pound of sugar snap peas and 8 ounces of salad mix.

The basic share subscriber pays, in effect, $13.64 per box — sometimes and sometimes not offering a better value over

F E AT U R E S Kassandra M. Barton agrees.

She and husband John own Eight O’Clock Ranch in DeKalb Junction, where they raise sheep, cows, pigs and chickens.

Like most farmers interviewed, they have gradually increased the CSA portion of their business so that it now accounts for about half of their income — and that’s income guaranteed at the start of the season.

“It works really well for the farmer.

You know you have a market. It locks in people’s orders for you and for them; they get their meat and you get their business,” Mrs. Barton said.

Delta A. Keeney, who grows vegetables and raises beef cattle in the town of Watertown with her husband Thomas J., at Wind Swept Meadows Farm, said her participation in two CSAs — one made up of six farms offering produce, and another offering beef solely from her farm — has driven customer demand for her products at her farm stand, too.

“With farming the way it is now, it’s really a blessing,” she said. “Any time you can diversify a farm — it’s like not having all your eggs in one basket.”

And the CSA model naturally accommodates farming’s seasonal cycles, Ms. Logozar said.

“The shareholders provide the membership fee up front. You get an infusion of cash at the beginning of the season, which when you’re outlying money for seeds and equipment and compost, that makes sense.”

It’s clear what the CSA model does for farmers, but why would CSA members be willing to take a risk with no guaranteed return on their upfront investment?

Ms. Barnett said it goes beyond economics: “If we want to have a thriving rural economy and if we want to have a thriving local food system that includes a ring of farms around every town — that is a value that a lot of people realize that allows them to take that financial risk. And when things go well, they’re going to get the highest quality of produce available.”

“They might be able to find cheaper meat, but they don’t know the person behind it,” Ms. Barton said. “It’s the connection and the quality — eating food that you’re happy to put in your kids and yourself, that’s a big part of it.”

Or, as Ms. Barnett put it: “Life goes beyond commercial transactions.”

There is value in values. n JOANNA RICHARDS is a Johnson Newspapers copy editor and writer. Contact her at jrichards@wdt.net or 661-2439.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 25

F E AT U R E S

Green Thyme aims for local, healthy n Adams Center store filled with NNY-grown, produced products

By SARAH HAASE

T NNY Business

here is a light brown basket on Kelly L. Widrick’s counter that is half-filled with fresh garlic and one small red potato that still is covered with a light dusting of dirt.

In just a few days that small basket will make way for a bigger one and shelf space will be cleared to make room for fresh, locally grown produce.

Mrs. Widrick, owner of Green Thyme Health Foods, 14056 Route 11, Adams Center, is taking advantage of the farms around her, from southern Jefferson County down to Pulaski. By the peak of growing season, customers will have the option to plan out a five course meal using only locally produced items.

“Eating and buying local really seems to be the way people are thinking these days,” Mrs. Widrick said.

Her store, which opened in the summer of 2008, is filled with products grown and produced by the livelihood of locals. All of whom, consequently, promote healthy lifestyles.

Her product line has increased. She started out supplying food without gluten, dairy, high-fructose corn syrup and non-hydrogenated vegetable oil. She now has begun carrying a variety of snack food staples that boast a healthy twist.

White Creek Gardens Salsa, made from produce grown in Carthage, has a predominant location on shelves at the front of the store.

Producers Kevin H. and Sandra L. Hadley, Carthage, grow all of the 17 different vegetables that are in the salsa.

“Everything that goes into our salsa is grown from seed,” Mr. Hadley said. “Each batch of salsa makes about 16 jars so this isn’t something that is mass produced.

That’s the uniqueness of our salsa; it goes directly from the farm to the store.”

Mr. Hadley said he stocks his product in the smaller specialty stores around the north country, such as Green Thyme. He began making the nacho chip partner in 2005 and since then his production has

grown significantly.

Mrs. Widrick’s produce comes from a bit further away. Grindstone Farm, located about a half-mile from Insterstate-81 along Tinker Tavern Road, grows more than 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Ellie M. Cox has worked at the certified organic farm for about three years.

“There has been an increase in sales for our organic produce in the past few years,” Ms. Cox said. “I think people are more concerned with health issues. People realize there is an alternative to conventional produce that is more wholesome.”

Mrs. Widrick said she adopted healthy eating habits about five years ago. She had not been feeling well, so she changed her diet. She said she cut back on foods that contained man-made ingredients and focused more on whole foods.

“When I started to think about what I was eating, I realized it was the food that I was consuming that was making me

26 |

NNY Business | April 2011

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Kelly L. Widrick, owner of Green Thyme Health Foods, sits with some local products inside the store on Route 11 in Adams Center.

Green Thyme Kelly L. Widrick, owner 14056 US Route11, Adams Center (315) 583-5300 www.greenthyme.net Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m Saturday and Sunday.

sick,” she said.

So after a little difficulty finding food for her and her family, she figured she would open her own store and supply to others the kinds of food she enjoys.

“People are looking to find the foods that haven’t been genetically modified or at least find foods that are still in their natural state, the way they grew from the ground,” Mrs. Widrick said.

Beginning early this month, Green Thyme will begin to get weekly deliveries from Grindstone Farm.

“Orders are placed on Mondays and we deliver on Thursdays,” Ms. Cox said.

“Sometimes we do have trouble getting the complete order, it really all depends on Mother Nature. We might have to substitute something every once in a while.”

Mrs. Widrick said her customers will have the opportunity to buy produce without having to pre-order. She said she is planning on hosting a small farmer’s market behind her store.

“I’ve had some local growers approach me about selling their produce in the store, but that doesn’t always work,” she said. “I figured a farmer’s market would be a better way for them to sell their produce.” n SARAH HAASE is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at shaase@wdt.net or 661-2371.

F E AT U R E S

Sugaring boasts untapped potential n Cornell Extension report estimates $19m across six NNY counties

Maple syrup fills a tube in the foreground as John J. Matejcik, Edwards fills containers with maple syrup following a recent St. Lawrence County Maple Producers Association tree tapping in Hermon.

By STEVE VIRKLER

N NNY Business

orthern New York’s maple sugaring industry could rake in nearly $19 million in annual farm-gate revenues if all six counties tapped the same percentage of maple trees as Clinton County, according to a recent study.

“There is a vast resource of maple trees in Northern New York that could be tapped to fill the growing markets for pure maple syrup,” wrote Michael L. Farrell, director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Sugar Maple Research and Extension Field Station in Lake Placid, in a study of maple growth potential.

The maple sugaring industry in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties — based on production of a little more than one quart of syrup per tap and a bulk price of $3 per pound — conservatively brings in $4.4 million in revenues each year, according to Mr. Farrell’s report.

“By accounting for the additional value of selling syrup in retail containers, producing value-added maple confections, and the associated revenues through agri-tourism events like Maple Weekend, the economic impact is actually much greater,” he wrote.

Annual revenues would be at least $18.8 million if all six counties had 3.2 percent tap utilization rates, like Clinton County, the study states. That county utilizes 165,345 of its potential 5.15 million taps, the report states.

While Lewis County’s 238,129 taps represent 1.9 percent of the countywide potential, the other four counties have much lower utilization rates. Those rates, according to Mr. Farrell’s estimates, are 0.8 percent for St. Lawrence, 0.7 percent for Jefferson, 0.4 percent for Franklin and 0.3 percent for Essex.

Mr. Farrell cautioned not to put too much stake into the exact figures, since available tree-tapping statistics may not be completely accurate and are likely lower than the actual numbers. However, he said there has been a trend toward more tapping in the north country since

JASON HUNTER | NNY BUSINESS

Vacuum tubing systems, which draw sap from the trees into gathering tanks, can achieve two to three times the per-tap yield of a bucket or gravity tube setup.

he conducted a similar growth-potential study a few years ago.

In recent years, maple advocates have been working to better educate property owners on the availability of agricultureuse tax exemptions on land — whether owned or leased — that is used for maple production.

“My survey research found that the tax relief is by far the biggest incentive for landowners to utilize their maples for syrup production,” Mr. Farrell said in a release from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. “Many landowners have decided to start producing syrup themselves or are leasing their trees to another sugarmaker in order to qualify for the tax savings.”

The agriculture exemption is a particularly strong incentive in areas with relatively high land values, he said.

An increased push toward locally grown or produced food is also probably partly responsible for increased tapping, said Michele E. Ledoux, executive director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County in Lowville.

“I think the whole local foods thing is a very big deal,” she said.

Mrs. Ledoux said attendance was up at her agency’s annual Beginner Maple School held in January, with many county residents restarting old sugarbushes or starting new operations. “We had more people in that than ever,” she said.

Along with increasing the percentage of trees tapped, maple producers may also increase revenues by utilizing more modern methods of sugaring, such as vacuum tubing, Mr. Farrell said.

n STEVE VIRKLER is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact him at svirkler@wdt.net or 376-3811.

2nd annual north country technology symposium

Wednesday, May 25th, 8a - 5p Clarkson University, Potsdam Interested in new technology?

Not sure where to start? Want to know who’s already using it?

FIND IT AT THE SYMPOSIUM! The region’s single largest event focused on Information Technology so you have access to the tools you need to put I.T. to work for your organization.

For complete event details and to register, visit: www.stlawco.org/ nctechsymposium

Register early...space is limited!

Early Bird fee of just $35/person available ‘til April 15.

facebook.com/NorthCountryTechnologySymposium

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 27

F E AT U R E S

Wine industry future force for ag n North country one reason grape production up across state in 2010

Jamie J. Turnbull, an employee at Thousand Islands Winery in Alexandria Bay, pulls leaves on a trellis to expose beta grapes so they can be sprayed last season.

T

NNY Business staff

he north country’s grape and wine industry is looking strong with a potential annual income for the six-county winery industry topping $22 million.

A Northern New York Agricultural Development Program report puts the potential income for Northern New York’s 17 vineyard wineries at $22.7 million as five more wineries are expected to open this year.

According to the state Wine and Grape Foundation, New York grape production last year increased 32 percent from 2009 to 176,000 tons – 64 percent used for grape juice, 34 percent for wine and 2 percent table grapes.

“I think the north country is one of the reasons grape production across the state is up,” said Jay M. Matteson, Jefferson County agricultural coordinator.

Ideal autumn weather in 2010 resulted in the region’s harvest being a week early, not only reducing the risk of an early frost but allowing for higher yields.

In Jefferson County alone, there are four wineries and about 90 acres of grapevines.

With 622 vines per acre, that’s almost 56,000 grapevines.

There are more than 50 growers in the region.

“Production in Northern New York is up more than it has been in past years,” said Philip J. Randazzo, owner of Coyote Moon Vineyards, Clayton, and a member of the board of directors for the Northern

New York Grape Growers Association.

The north country is becoming a leader in growing cold-hardy grape varieties, which can mature in negative degree temperatures, according to Mr. Matteson.

Seaway Cold Hardy Grapevines and Vineyard, Evans Mills, is growing a new variety of cold-hardy wine grapes called Frontenac Blanc and is one of the only nurseries in the country to offer the variety.

The grape is a color mutation of the Frontenac grape and produces a white wine. Traditional Frontenac grapes produce red and dark amber wines.

Owner Duane A. Smith has worked with the University of Minnesota to study the grape. Seaway Cold Hardy Grapevines has 150 vines of Frontenac Blanc and plans to increase that number.

“It’s a new grape for the region – and for the nation,” Mr. Smith said.

He has already pre-sold his entire harvest of Frontenac Blanc for 2011, with wineries and juice producers snapping

28 |

NNY Business | April 2011

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

them up. In the future, demand for the grape will be huge in the viticulture world, he said.

“The demand is going to be skyrocketing across the nation,” Mr. Smith said.

“We’ll be known for our regionally grown grapes.”

The official release of the grape through the University of Minnesota — which developed the original Frontenac grape variety — is expected to take place in 2012, he said.

It’s not just the producers who are making a mark. The local wine and grape agri-tourism market also is growing.

The Thousand Islands Wine Trail is the second-biggest tourist attraction in Jefferson County, ranking behind only Boldt Castle. Within the next 10 years, eight more wineries are expected to open in Northern New York — including two next year.

Officials are excited to see how the local grape and wine industry will expand.

R E A L E S TAT E

Firms scramble for office space n Lack of ‘Class A’ professional space felt most in Jefferson Co.

Robert C. Nelson, senior broker with CB Richard Ellis, a global real estate services company, shows office space at 215 Washington St., the former Agricultural Insurance Co. headquarters.

By NANCY MADSEN

W NNY Business

hen investment firm The Morgia Group sought a professional office in Watertown a few months ago, the partners struggled to find a suitable space.

“We needed adequate room, 2,500 square feet or so, and a place for our clients to easily park and find our offices,” partner Phillip J. Banazek said.

They found space at 171 Clinton St., but that may not be their final location.

Among other places, the partners considered the Franklin Building, but wanted plentiful easy parking for older clients, and Washington Summit, a mainly medical development.

“It was surprising, because we made the assumption that there was space available,” Mr. Banazek said. “But when the time came and we really pushed, we found there wasn’t space available.”

Besides parking, location and size, professionals are looking for a specific level of quality.

“If you look at the true definition of Class A office space, there really isn’t any,” said Robert C. Nelson, a senior broker with CB Richard Ellis, a global real estate services company. “In Watertown, it’s really a B or B-plus.”

Class A needs high-quality finishes and amenities such as a full-time property manager and a lunch area.

“In Watertown, we have been able to meet clients’ needs, although the rent may be higher than they expected,” Mr. Nelson said. “In other markets, the opposite is true. There are a lot of options and when their leases come due, they are looking to see what other places are charging and negotiating their leases.”

Christopher D. Clark, a sales agent for Pyramid Brokerage Co., said the only space in the area that could be considered Class A is in the HSBC Bank building, KeyBank building and 215 Washington St. “I see a need for more office space around Interstate 81 exits,” he said.

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

The availability is fairly well-balanced with the need, the two brokers agreed.

In Watertown and near Fort Drum, new buildings for medical office space still have some openings. Non-medical office space has a vacancy rate around 5 percent, he said.

“It’s only being built on an as-needed basis if there is a tenant on hand,” Mr. Nelson said.

One of the higher-end office buildings in the region is 215 Washington St., the former Agricultural Insurance Co. headquarters.

“It’s definitely harder to find office space, which is good for the area, with as little as three to four years ago, there was a lot of vacant space downtown,” Brian H. Murray, owner of 215 Washington St., said.

The lower level was recently renovated, continuing the list of improvements made since Mr. Murray bought the building in June 2007.

It isn’t likely more Class A office space will be built in the Watertown area.

“You have to invest a lot of money into a space for someone to come in and consider it Class A office space,” Mr. Murray said.

“It costs so much to build new that the rents you need to command are too high.”

Some of the original features, including the windows and the marble floor and fireplace in the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney office’s conference room, are unique to the Classical-style building.

In his building, there’s one 600-squarefoot space available. Down the street, Donald G.M. Coon said he has three

spaces between 600 and 1,200 square feet available in the KeyBank building, which he manages.

“A couple of years ago, when things were ramping up, I was getting calls about three times a week from people looking for space,” he said. “Now it might be three calls a month.”

Other markets, such as Lowville, Canton, Massena and Ogdensburg, have “very limited demand” for non-medical office space, Mr. Nelson said.

“There is blurring when in smaller markets,” he said. “We tend to see people go to B and C space.”

With lack of office building space, professional offices tend to seek storefront downtown properties. They’ll also turn to renovated buildings that have changed use, such as Canton’s Rushton Place, made from the former Gray Lanes Bowling Alley.

Michael E. Kassian, owner and broker of Kassian Real Estate, said the Massena market has seen government and medical offices under construction recently.

The previous space, if available, may be snatched up by professional offices.

He and the other brokers didn’t think the supply is keeping professionals from opening offices in the north country.

“We don’t have a lot of modern space to rent,” he said. “The market has turned the corner, which is good news.” n NANCY MADSEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at nmadsen@wdt. net or 661-2358.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 29

R E A L E S TAT E R O U N D U P

April is 43rd fair housing month

A

pril marks the 43rd anniversary of the signing of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. The law makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale, lease or rental of housing, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. The sale and purchase of a home is more than the simple purchase of housing. It includes the purchaser’s hopes, dreams, aspirations and economic destiny.

There are certain rights and responsibilities that the home seller, the home seeker and the real estate professional have under the law.

Home sellers and landlords have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. In addition, they cannot instruct a licensed broker or salesperson to discriminate or establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental of housing, deny that housing is available or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

The home seeker has the right to expect that housing will be available without discrimination or other limitations. This includes the right to equal professional service, the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices and no discrimination in the financing, appraising or insuring of housing. It also includes reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities, non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing or insuring of a dwelling and freedom from

harassment or intimidation for exercising fair housing rights.

Finally, real estate professionals in a real estate transaction are prohibited by law from discriminating on any of the previLance Evans ously mentioned bases. A request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional.

In 2010, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) added a prohibition against discrimination against sexual orientation to Article 10 of its Code of Ethics. Article 10 now reads: Realtors shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

Realtors shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

Realtors, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

The term Realtor identifies a licensed real estate professional who is a member of NAR. Not all real estate licensees are members of NAR and only those who are may identify themselves as Realtor. A Realtor pledges to conduct business in keeping

with the spirit and letter of the Code of Ethics. Article 10 imposes obligations upon Realtor and is also a firm statement of support for equal opportunity in housing.

There are a number of things you can do if you suspect discrimination. You can call the local Board of Realtor. Part of our duty is to accept complaints alleging violations of the Code of Ethics filed by a home seeker who alleges discriminatory treatment in the availability, purchase or rental of housing. We have a responsibility to enforce the Code of Ethics through professional standards procedures and corrective action in cases where a violation of the Code of Ethics is proven to have occurred.

Another avenue is the local Fair Housing Office. Each county designates a Fair Housing Office. In the tri-county area, Jefferson County contracts with the Community Action Planning Council (782-4900), Lewis County uses Snowbelt Housing (376-2639) and in St. Lawrence County, the St. Lawrence County Housing Council (386-8576) handles fair housing complaints. You can also contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the New York State Attorney General’s office. n

n

n

Last month, I inadvertently omitted the name of a 2011 Women’s Council of Realtors officer. Janet Handschuh is vice president for membership. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. He has lived in the north country since 1985. Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

CONTACT WLDC TODAY - GROW YOUR BUSINESS TOMORROW! THE WLDC EXISTS TO HELP move your strategic business plans forward.

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For help with expanding or relocating your business to the City of Watertown Contact: Donald W. Rutherford CEO

Watertown Local Development Corporation (WLDC) 82 Public Square Watertown, NY 13601 30 |

NNY Business | April 2011

Phone: 315.786.3494 Fax: 315.786.3495 email: don@watertownldc.com

R E A L E S TAT E

North country foreclosures climb

By NANCY MADSEN

F

1,000 households, to 49 foreclosure filings in 2010, a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 households.

The state ranked 21st nationally in the number of foreclosures in 2006, but now sits at 42nd.

“In general, the foreclosure crisis in New York State and New York City was less severe than in other parts of the country,” Mr. DiNapoli said.

Mr. DiNapoli reported sub-prime mortgages in several New York City bureaus still represented a significant problem.

Across the country, the number of foreclosures continued to climb in 2010.

In 2006, the country saw 718,000 filings, or 5.8 per 1,000 households. In 2010, the number was nearly 3 million, or 22.2 per 1,000 households.

In New York, the number of foreclosures was about 10,200 in 2006, but that peaked at 50,000 filings, or 6.3 filings per 1,000 households in 2008. In 2010, the number was 43,900.

2010 NNY foreclosures

NNY Business

oreclosures in the north country were up in 2010 compared to 2009, but the state and region still ranked low compared to other states.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released a report Friday on the annual numbers, collected by RealtyTrac and analyzed by his office.

“New York had a sharp drop in new foreclosure filings in 2010, but that drop can be attributed in part to a temporary suspension of foreclosure-related activity, not an improvement in the market,” Mr. DiNapoli said. “The growing percentage of mortgages in foreclosure is a more precise indicator of the continuing fallout from the housing crisis and recession.”

Jefferson County had the highest regional numbers in both 2009 and 2010. It had 59 foreclosure filings in 2009, or 1.0 per 1,000 households. In 2010, the number increased to 105, or 1.8 per 1,000 households.

Lewis County had a more-than five-fold

Jefferson

105

43.8%

St. Lawrence

49

42.9%

Lewis

11

81.8% Source: RealtyTrac, analysis by NYS Office of the Comptroller

increase from two foreclosure filings in 2009, a rate of 0.1 per 1,000 households, to 11 in 2010, or 0.7 per 1,000 households.

St. Lawrence County increased from 28 foreclosure filings in 2009, a rate of 0.6 per

n NANCY MADSEN is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at nmadsen@wdt. net or 661-2358.

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April 2011 | NNY Business

| 31

20 QUESTIONS

Growing agriculture’s

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

I

n January, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo nominated longtime Cape Vincent dairy farmer and former state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine to serve as commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets.

Mr. Aubertine shares his thoughts on the new job and what the future could bring for agriculture in Northern New York.

1

NNYB: What are your priorities as New York State’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets?

AUBERTINE: You have to understand the priorities of the department and the department’s mission, which is primarily promoting agriculture in the state, food safety and animal safety. With my background, people typically look at it as: ‘Here’s a guy who’s been in agriculture primarily all his life.’ But one of the things, too, is being able to work legislatively. Knowing my way around the capital is certainly helpful in helping former colleagues to understand what the mission of the department is and using my background in agriculture to help do that. The administration is right on the mark when they link economic development in rural areas of the state to agriculture.

Without being overly critical, up to now, past administrations have not made that link.

2

NNYB: Much of what the north country produces for agriculture are raw materials that contribute to the manufacture of food products. What should be done to bolster sales of all the agricultural products New York farmers produce?

OPPORTUNITIES

n Region gains big influence with former Sen. Darrel Aubertine in top state policy job Central New York is looking to put on a nearly $100 million addition. It would make it the largest milk-processing plant I believe east of the Mississippi, right here in New York. That kind of economic development can be overlooked.

3

NNYB: What can you do as commissioner to encourage this?

AUBERTINE: With that kind of investment in the state, they are the processing plant, they will be looking and they want to be assured that the raw materials that they need, in this case raw milk, are going to be there. So we want to promote and encourage milk production in the state. Quite honestly, this year, for the first time in several years, dairy is on the cusp of having a pretty good year.

4

NNYB: The wine industry, especially in Northern New York and the Thousand Islands region, has really taken off. How can we capitalize in its growth?

5

NNYB: Have you gotten any direction from the administration on wine in grocery stores and would you support it?

AUBERTINE: We really have not had that discussion. I had concerns that the way that it was proposed initially and the impact that it would have on small mom and pop liquor stores. I certainly can’t speak for the administration but I think that those concerns would probably have to be addressed before they moved very far on it.

6

NNYB: You don’t have an office in a rural area close to agriculture. Do you plan to open a Watertown office or a rural office?

AUBERTINE: I have had a chance to go to all of the offices so far, there are five: Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Buffalo and Brooklyn. The one in Rochester is located by the regional market. I would love to be able to, but I am just not sure the funding is there that would allow us to do that, to open a regional office here. I think by virtue of the fact that I live here, I will always to the extent that I can attend meetings and be a presence across the state. For example, I think next Sunday I’ve got to go to a maple tapping ceremony, actually for the next two weekends I have to do that.

It’s those kind of events that I enjoy doing. Those kinds of things I’ll be able to do anyway.

AUBERTINE: I’m not so sure I buy into the argument that we primarily produce raw materials. If you look at what’s produced, whether it is milk, apples, fruits, wine, produce of almost any kind, and then go to any of the farmer’s markets. I think the things we can do as far as economic development is to promote processing and processing plants. I know that one particular milk plant in

AUBERTINE: I think the promotion of it. I’ve worked and am working with the Wine and Grape Foundation. Again, it’s no secret to the fact that we in the state aren’t as flush with cash as we were at one time. The Wine and Grape Foundation over the years has been a line item in the budget and has benefited from somewhere north of $3 million in funding. I think there are other ways to provide that funding without actually bringing it out of state coffers. I think to provide the funding with some sort of market order.

Market orders are fairly common.

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NNY Business | April 2011

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NNYB: Brooklyn, really?

AUBERTINE: Brooklyn is where all the markets are. When people think of the department, and I was no different, when you think of Agriculture and Markets you think of farms

20 QUESTIONS and farmers, which is the case. Agriculture and markets is connected to agriculture, no question about it. But it’s also connected to the marketplace. Hunts Point Market [in the Bronx] is billed as the largest market of its kind on earth. I’ve been there and I’d be hard-pressed to argue that. It’s huge. They have three loading docks and I think they’re a third of a mile long. You back in on either side. It’s a couple miles of loading docks. They do roughly $2 billion of produce every year. Serving basically that region of the east from New York City to Boston, Philadelphia, Maryland and this whole hub. So it’s just a huge marketplace. They are looking to expand there, that’s something that I certainly support and I know the administration supports. As of now, Hunts Point market is a wholesale market; we’d like a portion of it to open up to a farmer’s market

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NNYB: How does the north country benefit from the local food movement and how will your department help improve that?

AUBERTINE: It’s the promotion of it. You may or may not be familiar with the Pride of New York.

It’s a label, a seal that we want to put on New York State products. This region of the state has a lot to offer, but it’s primarily dairy. If you go down along the Hudson, it’s vegetables, apples.

If you go to the Finger Lakes you think of wine.

There are regions in the state, now that is not to say that the only thing here is dairy. I’m going to tap a maple tree next week. We have honey and we have a lot of other products as well. I think consumers want it. I think they want high quality and New York is among the world’s best.

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NNYB: You went from being a legislator to a member of the administration, what’s that transition like for you?

AUBERTINE: It’s a big transition; it’s been one that I’ve been working my way through. One of the biggest pieces of the transition is that as a legislator you deal with any number of issues.

From the big obvious ones like health care and education and college education and nursing homes and highways and bridges and then you have constituent issues. This position is very little of that, not that it isn’t diverse and a lot going on, but it’s more singular focus with agriculture.

Agriculture touches a lot of different industries in a lot of different ways from regulation to marketing to promotion and everything in-between, but at the end of the day it comes back to a single focus. Being a legislator, you can unlock the office door every morning and you were never greeted with the same issue you locked the door with that night.

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NNYB: Your experience as a legislator, do you think that’s informed your position as a commissioner, are you able to navigate those channels better?

AUBERTINE: It’s very helpful, whether it’s me or anyone else. Having been on the other side of the fence as a legislator and working on the budget from that point of view versus working on the budget from the point of view as a commissioner in an administration, very different vantage points. That was a big part of the transition there. The fact that I have been privileged to be able to serve in the Assembly, Senate and

NORM JOHNSTON | NNY BUSINESS

Former New York State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, a Cape Vincent native and longtime farmer, talks about his new job as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s pick for New York State Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets during an interview at NNY Business’ offices in Watertown. that there will be more interaction. There really hasn’t been an awful lot of interaction. I think it may seem awkward from the outside, on a few different levels, not the least of which is literally eight weeks ago I was chair of that committee, and now it’s the very same committee I’ll go before for confirmation. The reality is that in a professional way we are keeping the good of the whole state in mind. I think everybody can get behind that. In fairness to Sen. Ritchie, coming into a position like that I’m sure there are things maybe she didn’t anticipate, like trying to put an organization together. I know what it’s like.

At the same time trying to chair a standing committee and become familiar with all of the issues right in the middle of a budget, your first budget at that, that’s a lot.

The Darrel J. Aubertine file AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Cape Vincent EDUCATION: Cape Vincent High School, 1971.

PROFESSIONAL: Cape Vincent farmer since 1970 who has had several side jobs to support his operation, including working as a building and fire inspector for Atlantic Inland Inspection Inc.; a licensed pilot since 1977; a licensed National Association of Securities Dealers security salesman and life and health insurance salesperson for the Relph Agency Inc.

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NNYB: Have you gotten any direction on a farm labor bill and is it safe to assume it won’t come up again?

POLITICAL: Cape Vincent town councilman (1994-1995), Jefferson County Board of Legislators (1995-2001), New York State Assembly (2002-2008), New York State Senate (20082010), nominated for New York State Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets (2011).

AUBERTINE: There really has been no discussion on that, wine in grocery stores, and some other big issues as of yet. I have very little control over whether farm labor would ever come to the committees or the floor in either house at this point. I think my stance on the issue was pretty clear. It died in the agriculture committee. The committee I chaired. I work at the will of the governor and I am going to promote the agenda that the administration lays forward.

FAMILY: Married to Margaret since 1977; three children, Erin Churchill, 29, Paul Aubertine, 27, and Timothy Aubertine, 23, and 7-month-old granddaughter Grace Churchill.

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NNYB: As agriculture commissioner, how do you balance the statewide conflict over demand for wind-generated power with agricultural use of land? How much are you going to be involved in that battle?

now in the administration, that’s pretty much the whole gamut unless someone was crazy enough to make me a judge.

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NNYB: What has your working relationship been like working with Sen. Ritchie, chairwoman of the Senate agriculture committee?

AUBERTINE: I don’t think it’s limited to wind, it’s all renewable energy; whether it’s wind, solar, transmission or any other aspect of it. I think that a lot of these issues ultimately will be dealt with at the local level. If the governor or the Legislature chooses to set out guidelines, I and the other commissioners and other agencies will be forced to adhere and force those guidelines to the extent that we’re mandated to do so. I did have

AUBERTINE: It’s been good. The rigors of a campaign and things like that, that’s been pretty much laid to rest. Both Sen. Ritchie and I can develop a good working relationship. There’s not been too much interaction between her office and mine as of yet. But I’m certain as we go forward in the budget in the legislative session

April 2011 | NNY Business

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20 QUESTIONS the privilege to chair the energy committee in the Senate. Wind energy seems to be more and more controversial as time goes on but, again, should there be some sort of state oversight? That’s something that is certainly subject to debate.

14

NNYB: Tell us a little about the enforcement side of your job in keeping the food supply safe.

AUBERTINE: The field force of Agriculture and Markets inspectors are out inspecting everything from delis and grocery stores to processing plants across the state. I’m finding out that these people work very, very hard and sometimes, as I’m sure you can imagine, probably not under the best of conditions. I think that just by virtue of the fact that if there’s a recall on peanut butter, for example, or as I took some ribbing over, a recall on yellow raisins, those recalls are done in a very deliberate and measured way so that you can rely on the food you buy being of the utmost quality and safe. Enforcement is really inspections and enforcement of those inspections is something that the agency does very well in times when budget constraints and diminished resources for enforcement are difficult. But they do a great job.

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NNYB: With you in office, Sen. Ritchie as head of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Bill Owens on two House agriculture subcommittees, do you think we’re better represented as a region in terms of steering agriculture policymaking?

AUBERTINE: Yes. The reason I think yes is because, as a chair, Sen. Ritchie is going to be active and informed. Assemblywoman Addie Russell, Ken Blankenbush and our federal representatives Bill Owens and Kirsten Gillibrand are on the agriculture committee. If you put them all in the mix, the state’s No. 1 industry is positioned better than it’s ever been before to certainly be well-represented. The prosperity of agriculture isn’t limited to agriculture, as goes the farm, so goes the city. I said it on the floor of the Senate once: I believe people look at a place like Wall Street and talk about the wealth that’s generated there and all the economic activity that takes place on Wall Street and how the state benefits from that. I don’t want to diminish what Wall Street means to the state, but there’s no wealth created there. Wealth changes hands there; it’s not created there. It’s created on places like the farms right here in our backyard. I think that’s why this administration, to its credit, is linking agriculture to economic development.

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NNY Business | April 2011

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NNYB: What about agri-tourism here, how can we make that better? How can we make it more of an interest to the common tourist?

AUBERTINE: It’s one of the things we’re trying to do, with Patrick Hooker being in the position that he’s in. I think he’ll be able to be the conduit between I Love New York and Agriculture and Markets. To that extent we can work together and promote that, whether it’s working with Parks and Recreation or DEC or I Love New York or any of the other agencies out there to promote agri-tourism. We’re certainly more than willing to do that.

NNYB: In regards to milk prices, which is mostly a federal management issue, what can you do that will affect farmers here in New York?

AUBERTINE: A lot of farmers say they’re skeptical, which is an understatement, about the idea of forward contracting. That’s selling milk in advance at a preset price. There are advantages to doing that. If you watch milk over the past few years, the peaks and valleys are astronomical.

From a few years ago seeing $9 per 100-weight milk to now seeing $19 per 100-weight milk.

These swings are one of the things that are crushing the dairy industry. About two weeks ago, we started a series of these workshops going on around the state to help farmers understand that process of forward contracting. I know one farmer in particular who forward contracted a portion of his milk for a year at $19.75 per 100-weight.

If it jumps to $21 he’ll get $19.75, but if it falls to $14 he’ll still get $19.75.

attendance or make it a little more relevant to folks outside of Syracuse?

AUBERTINE: I have been to the fair, I have an office at the fair and I was at the fairgrounds the weekend before this with my sons. We went down to the farm show, an annual event for us.

I want to do all I can to promote the fair and anything we can do to increase attendance. The fair is the premier event there but there are many events, everything from the RV show to the boat show to the farm show. I think we should be promoting the fairgrounds. There’s the ability to utilize them more, and we should be.

NNYB: Diversification is a big thing we hear lately, too. Some farmers in our part of the state have soybeans headed to China. What more can we do?

AUBERTINE: I think that some of the wineries here in Northern New York, be it Coyote Moon, Otter Creek, Thousand Islands, Yellow Barn, they’re all wineries that are doing pretty well, owing mainly to the hard work of the owners. I think the owners of those wineries would be pretty quick to point out making a link to the 1000 Island Tourism Council and the chambers here and those benefits to them. I think people who come here for the week or the weekend during the summer maybe on a rainy day and are looking for something to do, these wineries are certainly going to be a place that they can go.

AUBERTINE: One of the biggest assets we have here is the St. Lawrence Seaway. We have two ports here, Ogdensburg and Oswego. Corn is just out of this world. We’re north of $7 a bushel. A couple years ago it was $2.50 a bushel. As the needs for ethanol and things like that go up and you see oil break through $110 a barrel, ethanol becomes more and more part of the equation. I think you’re going to see more of an infrastructure being developed to support the growth of corn.

Corn has changed so much in the last decade.

The new hybrid, round-up ready corn, the yields that the new corns have is fantastic. It’s not your father’s corn anymore. It was the same way with soybeans up until a couple years ago. A decade ago you just couldn’t grow soybeans here. You just didn’t have enough growing time. Now you have double lot beans and beans that are roundup ready and we’ve seen the genetics change so much that now areas of the nation and state that weren’t part of that suddenly are. I think you’re seeing land values, because of that, go up. As land values go up, one of the issues of agriculture has been access to capital. If you have more assets by virtue of your land values going up, your ability to access capital is a little better. Because of that, you’re able to diversify and make changes to your operation. Overall, the future for agriculture is bright. That’s not to say it’s always going to be easy. I think as goes agriculture so goes the rest of the economy. Especially in this region of the state, we’re in a good place right now.

NNYB: The State Fair is a big part of the focus of your job now. Do you have any plans to boost

— Interview by Ken Eysaman, Brian Amaral and Sarah Haase. Edited for length.

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NNYB: Are you starting to see NNY as the next Finger Lakes in terms of the wine industry and what would you do to capitalize on that?

E C O N O M I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Keeping Drum Country on the list

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n March 4, “Drum Country Business: Choose North Central New York,” was launched at Jefferson Community College with 100 community and business leaders from across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in attendance. This was a significant day for the region.

It was the first time in recent memory a public-private partnership of the Jefferson County Job Development Corp., Lewis County Office of Economic Development and Planning, St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, Development Authority of the North Country and National Grid leveraged their collective resources to launch a regional marketing initiative that benefits the tri-county region.

In today’s economic climate, site selectors play a key role in determining where a corporation will locate its next facility.

When a site selector begins the process of vetting communities for a business, they do not start at the micro-level. They don’t look at a map and say “I like City A or I like City B.” In today’s global economy the playing field has become much larger and leveled.

Today, site selectors look to regions on a map. They take their clients parameters for locating the business, such as workforce, energy costs, transportation, etc., and look at regions on the map that might fit the client’s needs. Once they identify the regions, they start comparing them against one another. As Robert Ady,

tions, food processing facilities, renewable energy firms and general manufacturers.

So, what are the tools in our toolbox for economic development officials to promote the region to businesses?

The new Drum Country Business website, www.drumcountrybusiness.com, provides a wealth of information on the region’s vast resources. It was designed to enable site selectors to find the information that they need to make informed recommendations to their clients.

We also have a first-ever regional prospectus. This is a four-page handout that touts our assets that is accompanied by one-page inserts profiling three industries – financial, insurance and real estate, food processing and renewable energies. The partners in this initiative will use these tools, along with their own, to promote the region. The group is also working with Ady-Voltedge, Madison, Wis., to develop an 18-month marketing plan identifying ways to promote the region.

This initiative is a public-private partnership made possible through contributions by the partners and a legislative initiative by former Assemblywoman Deidre Scozzafava.

Money has been matched by our private partner, National Grid. Together, we are working to attract businesses and jobs to our North Central New York region that we like to call Drum Country.

internationallyrecognized site selector and consultant on the Drum Country Business marketing campaign noted, “You don’t want your community to fall off the list.”

Michelle Capone As Mr. Ady explained, all regions begin on the list. Once site selectors start comparing regions against one another that is when the true competition begins. That is when your region needs to rise to the top and not fall off the list.

So, how does our region stay on the list? Simply answered – Drum Country Business.

The Drum Country Business partnership recognizes the importance of marketing and promoting regional assets to attract businesses rather than simply marketing county or municipal assets, like in the past. While these are equally important, it is the bigger picture that will catch the eye of site selectors and businesses.

The Drum Country Business region has much to tout. It is home to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, has a skilled and available workforce, excellent colleges and universities and a state-ofthe-art telecommunications network that exceeds those in other rural areas of the country. The Drum Country region is primed for attracting back-office opera-

n MICHELLE L. CAPONE is senior project development specialist for the Development Authority of the North Country. To learn more about Drum Country Business, contact Michelle at mcapone@danc.org.

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N O N P R O F I T S T O D AY

Nonprofits at a critical crossroads

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n recent months, there has been much said about the impact of local, state and national government’s decreasing ability to fund programs at levels we have grown accustomed to. There is little doubt that this will affect the nonprofit sector, which has traditionally relied heavily, in some cases entirely, on government support to carry out its mission. Make no mistake; the nonprofit sector in the north country is big business. The uncertain role of government has big implications.

There is a clear theme that has begun to emerge: none of us can do business as we have in the past. This has forced thought about how the nonprofit world can more efficiently and effectively remain forces for good. Two statements caught my attention recently and caused me to think bigger.

Bill Drayton, a pioneer in social entrepreneurship, said, “Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.” This is big-picture thinking. Well, it used to be. For years, communities have been very good at giving fish and teaching to fish. The third step is knocking at our door.

Conversations are already taking place by local funding organizations such as the United Way and the Northern New York Community Foundation about how to move forward under this “new normal.”

How do we address community needs while filling the void left by government?

Inevitably, some nonprofits will cease to

exist or reduce their levels of service. While in some cases it will be survival of the fittest.

Ultimately, any needs that go unmet come back to haunt us all. David Rande Richardson Bornstein, another advocate for social entrepreneurship offers some additional food for thought: “Social entrepreneurs identify resources where people only see problems. They view the villagers as the solution, not the passive beneficiary.”

Now, there’s an interesting concept.

Last fall, the North Country Council of Social Agencies sponsored a forum that generated thought-provoking conversations regarding navigating through the stormy seas. One of the most profound comments that day stressed the need to take the conversation from talk to action, particularly as it related to doing more effective work with, and through, other organizations. The concept is simple: We can have more impact if we act together rather than alone.

Is it possible that the nonprofit community can serve both their clients and one another even in a time of scarce resources? A major challenge: competition. The posturing that ego or turf wars can produce, if not eliminated, must at least be looked at in a different way. Can we build

nonprofit networks that result in stronger individual organizations? Can we look past the short-term benefits realizing that partnerships may allow individual missions to have greater reach? Can we do this with the understanding that we will encourage, uplift and invest in organizations that provide the best value?

The good news is that some of this is already happening in our north country.

The not-so-good news is that not enough of it is happening. Let me be the first to say that the foundation is not exempt from this call, especially when we require evidence of collaboration and partnerships prior to funding an initiative. We must build a network of funders that can find new ways to transform communities.

I think Mr. Drayton and Mr. Bornstein might be on to something. Perhaps it is the nonprofit sector itself, with the continued help of community-minded businesses and individuals that can intervene before the intervention is done for them.

I hear a call to action in the vision of Mr. Drayton’s organization, which envisions an “everyone’s-a-change-maker” world in which our communities emerge from these stormy seas on a stronger course for a healthier community. Human beings helping other human beings; together we stand or separately we fall. There are only so many ways to pass the buck. Maybe it’s not as complicated as we thought.

n RANDE S. RICHARDSON is executive director of the Northern New York Community Foundation. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident and former funeral director. Contact him at rande@nnycf.org. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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Impact of agriculture felt every day

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s I began to think about agriculture and how it has affected my life, I struggled, and then it became easier once I started to open my brain and realize how agriculture touches us every day in the north country.

My father’s family started as dairy farmers years ago and somehow, like many farmers, either grew too tired or just decided it was time to move on. I still have the greatest memories of walking through my grandfather’s farm in Adams, trying to milk a cow (much harder than you think) and how days seemed endless, in a good way and honest. There’s nothing like the smell of a farm, which includes the haymow and the manure pile to bring you back to center.

Later in life I helped my brother raise horses and to this day I continue to help my neighbor in a very small, hobby sugar bush. You haven’t lived until you draw off a little fresh maple syrup from the evaporator at just the right moment and nature gives you literally the sweetest gift you can imagine.

I still live in the country and, after growing up in the city, I wouldn’t trade an east-side penthouse for a few acres of peace and quiet. If you ever doubt how difficult farming is, volunteer during hay season and spend a few hours stacking hay bales. You will never want to work that hard again.

I can’t quote impressive statistics, (turn to Jay Matteson for that), but I am still amazed every time I visit a grocery store or go out to eat (if you’ve seen my waistline, you know I’ve done Peter Whitmore a lot of R&D with food), how blessed we are to have the quality, quantity and variety of food choices. I am con-

some level, even if you share space with someone else. I can’t tell you how much better tomatoes and cukes taste when we walk into our backyard and cut off a few for dinner during the growing season. If I could only learn how to grow shrimp or prime rib in the garden! The trip to the farmer’s market should be routine, not an exception. The Chamber of Commerce holds a market every Wednesday from May through October. There are also other fine markets and vegetable stands throughout the area. If nothing else, support agriculture locally and globally by purchasing the goods from an industry that provides everything from vegetables to beef and milk to honey, wool and countless other staples and luxuries.

I own an old Massey Ferguson 65 tractor and after a few hours sitting in that seat, mowing a field (game food plots) or rototilling the garden and life is good. It’s therapy for me, (and I need it) something uncomplicated and satisfying, back to center.

I salute our farmers and all of those in agriculture who work so hard to provide us with some of the very best food choices in the world. They are “udderly” amazing.

The days of ‘cheap’ food are ending. This will mean we will have to grow smarter and make better choices at the market; and perhaps it will force us into better eating habits. It may not be all that bad. cerned where food prices are going and we have certainly seen it in our fast-food business. I urge you to really think about the “food chain” and appreciate how productive and efficient agriculture has become to feed so many people around the world with fewer and fewer resources. I think there will be tougher times ahead and the days of “cheap” food are ending. This will mean we will have to grow smarter and make better choices at the market; and perhaps it will force us into better eating habits. It may not all be bad.

I also urge you to consider gardening on

n PETER S. WHITMORE is president and CEO of the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce. He is a longtime small business owner and Jreck Subs franchisee who is also active with the Fort Drum chapter of the Association of the United States Army. Contact him at ceo@watertownny.com His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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April 2011 | NNY Business

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AGRI-BUSINESS

North country’s roots in agriculture

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reenhouses, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, wine, grapes, beef, goat’s milk cheese, goat’s milk body lotions, all have something in common. State-of-the-art feed mills, computer-driven egg hatcheries, equipment dealers, veterinarians and tourist destinations share the same common denominator.

They are bright spots in the future of agriculture in Northern New York.

As we look across the landscape of the counties that sweep from the shores of Lake Ontario, through the Black River Valley, flowing along the banks of the St. Lawrence River to the granite monoliths of the Adirondack Mountains, the agriculture industry gives us something to look forward to. Farming and the businesses that surround our farms form the soil through which our economy can grow, if we properly tend the crop and till the earth.

Our climate and soils are well-suited for growing crops and raising livestock and poultry. Our vegetable production is limited because growing seasons start later and end earlier than other areas of the state and nation.

However, new technologies, such as high-tunnel greenhouses, extend our growing season, allowing producers to start earlier with leafy vegetables and end later. This brings more to market and provides better volume to service larger markets. As we expand our produc-

tion and reach these markets, it will help our farms grow and improve their profitability.

Northern New York is well-matched for dairy farms and manuJay Matteson facturers and will continue to grown and develop well into the future.

Our dairy manufacturers are reinvesting in their operations. Great Lakes Cheese in Adams invested $80 million, Crowley Foods Inc. in LaFargeville continues to reinvest in its plant, Kraft Foods in Lowville is still the largest cream cheese plant in the United States.

These plants create a local destination for our milk. Presently, our farms do not produce enough milk to meet local manufacturing demands.

A person might ask why our farms don’t produce more milk to meet that demand. The short answer is that the milk pricing system is broken and doesn’t reward local farms for increasing milk production.

The system inhibits manufacturers from offering better pricing to local farmers. They compete nationally to sell their products and are forced to offer the same price to dairy farms in New York, where it costs more to make milk, as is offered

in other areas of the country, where production costs are comparably lower.

The bright side to this story is that it appears that changes to the milk pricing system are on the way. A number of proposals are being considered by the industry and policy makers. A marked increase in the amount of milk products we export also is improving our industry and at least one local plant is taking advantage of this.

Great Lakes Cheese, in building its expanded plant, is now able to take advantage of the export market, sending some of their byproducts overseas. A new goat’s milk creamery is expected to open later this year in Jefferson County.

Overall, we expect that Northern New York will remain a strong dairy-producing area, providing jobs, supporting our local tax base and spinning off many support businesses.

Excitement is growing over local wine and grape production. Two new wineries are expected next year. Beef production is expanding as is the demand for other locally produced foods. Agri-tourism, partly a response to the start of our farm wineries, is rapidly expanding. In 2009 more than 84,000 people traveled the Thousand Islands Wine Trail.

The future of agriculture in Northern New York is promising and will benefit our entire economy. Cornstalks are our region’s smokestacks. n JAY M. MATTESON is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. He is a lifelong Northern New York resident who lives in Lorraine. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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NNY Business | April 2011

BUSINESS TECH BYTES

Tech on farms a vital component

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ust a casual drive most anywhere in our beautiful tri-county area and you see evidence of farming and agriculture. For most of us, a first glance at the small farms scattered

everywhere might seem like low-tech businesses. But farms, from the small hobbyist to the large professional enterprise, have benefited from computerization more than one may think.

Information technology is an increasingly necessary tool for successful farm operation and management. Farmers throughout the north country actively seek information on relevant technology and are adopting it as rapidly as finances and accessibility allow.

The 1000 Islands Agriculture Tour is a self-guided tour of various agricultural businesses throughout Jefferson County where information technology has met the farm. The tour’s website, www.agvisit.com, features a YouTube video front and center on their professional, well-organized website highlighting the various agricultural enterprises in the 1000 Islands region.

Embracing technology, this self-guided tour allows you to use your cell phone to hear audio highlights of the various stops along the route. From the north, the tour visits the certified organic Cross Islands Farm, Wellesley Island.

In southern Jefferson County, Sheland Farm in Adams, a fully-operational 600-head dairy farm with roots to the early 1900s, is a stop on the tour. Dairy and produce are not the only agriculture options on the 1000 Islands tour; it also includes some of the most prosperous and awarding-winning businesses to hit the north country agriculture business scene.

The tour would not be complete without

all five Jefferson County wineries and the accompanying vineyards rounding out the selection of attractions.

Home Again Farm, Theresa, is one of the latest farms to embrace the winemaking Jill Van Hoesen success of the north country.

Stop 41 on the tour, and already a successful Alpaca farm, Home Again owners Gail and Daryl Marsh’s vineyard is now completed and ready for this year’s tourist season. Mrs. Marsh said, “Once grape growing matures and becomes fully sustainable here in the north country, we will become an even larger employer base.”

Other driving forces of the local economy are not lost on agricultural businesses.

“The growth of the local economy, in part due to the expansion of Fort Drum, has provided a large audience of families turning to the Internet looking for sensible local family fun,” Mrs. Marsh said. The agriculture tour provides Home Again Farm the ability to supply just that. The Marshes also see how technology is already subtly changing the experience.

“Over the past few years, less and less people are calling for directions to the farm. More and more are just using GPS,” Mrs. Marsh said. With this in mind, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are presently attending a distance learning marketing course through Cornell Cooperative Extension.

“The instructor (for the class) is in Can-

ton, we attend in Watertown and others are in Massena,” she said.

Mrs. Marsh marvels at the option to attend right from the farm as an Internet connection is all that is needed. This forward-thinking marketing course uses Web collaboration tools, like video conferencing, to instruct farmers and other small business owners on the basics of website management. The course content concentrates significantly on the use of taxonomy to make business websites more viable.

Mrs. Marsh has quickly caught on to website taxonomy and the use of the Internet to build the future success of her agri-business.

“Living in a rural community, we have to design our website to drive people to us,” she said. “Words like day tour, hobby farm and alpacas and the more key information we can associate with our website through the use of taxonomy, the more foot traffic we should see. All of this from a relativity inexpensive and highly available technology.”

Home Again Farm attributes more than 50 percent of its retail business to its participation in cooperative advertising with the 1000 Islands Agriculture Tour and the even larger efforts of the 1000 Islands Tourism Council. The impact of technology is not lost on Northern New York agriculture enterprises. Could you and your business benefit from a similar technology-driven collaborative approach? Take the time to look around; fresh ideas for your business are only a click away. n JILL VAN HOESEN is the information security officer for Johnson Newspapers and a 25-year IT veteran. Contact her at jvanhoesen@ wdt.net. Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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April 2011 | NNY Business

| 39

SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

Spruce up customer service plans

I

n February I wrote about the poor side of customer service. Now some positive suggestions for business owners to freshen up customer service policies for spring.

Start by looking at the physical appearance of your business. It’s so easy for us to get used to the way our shop or office looks that we don’t actually see it anymore. Try this: step outside, then walk back up to your building and look at it with fresh eyes. Check out the exterior of your business. Does your sidewalk or your entryway need repair? Are the windows sparkling clean? Is your window display fresh and compelling? Sometimes it just takes a few small changes to make the approach to your business more inviting.

Now walk inside and walk around your shop.

Get rid of that pile of papers behind the desk or counter. Tidy up the shelves — make sure they’re dust-free and orderly. Perhaps you want to invite a friend or family member to walk around with you and see if anything catches their eye that could be improved. Also, evaluate your navigation paths through your business, and see if any pathways are crowded or narrow.

Remember, it’s all about making your business a good shopping experience for your customers.

If you’d like some more ideas, the Kansas State Small Business Development Center website offers a walk-through checklist to help you evaluate your retail location: www.fhsu.edu/ksbdc/checklist.

Now, moving beyond the physical appearance, check to make sure you are providing enough information for your customers to easily find you and to contact you.

Sarah O’Connell I remember a few years ago trying to find out if a particular company

your customer that you don’t really care if you have their business or not.

Finally, evaluate your staff. Remember, your employees represent you at all times.

How are they at answering your telephone or greeting your customer in person at your business? Do you know how they behave when you’re not around? If they’re curt, or disinterested, or unknowledgeable, it reflects on you. When I had a business, I always told my employees to treat each customer coming through the door as if they were one of my family members or friends.

So, are you training your employees in good customer service?

I left this point for last, but it really is the most important. Good service can be more important to customers than price or even quality of the product. Your customers want to feel that they are taken care of.

A satisfied customer will be happy that day, but if you can build a loyal customer base, they will come back again and again, and tell their friends and family members.

That is surely worth the investment of a little paint, some dusting, the time spent to return an e-mail, and hiring employees who understand your commitment to customer service.

Good service can be more important to customers than the price or even quality of your product.

Your customers want to feel that they are taken care of. A satisfied customer will be happy that day. had Saturday hours, without actually driving there. I looked at their ad in the Yellow Pages and their website, and also called (after-hours) their phone number and listened to a recorded message. The business missed all three opportunities to share their store hours. Not surprisingly, they are no longer in business.

Be sure that you return phone messages and e-mails promptly. When a client asks me if they should have a website, I tell them, “Absolutely — if you will respond to contacts made through it. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money.” And worse yet, when you don’t reply to people’s calls or e-mails, it sends a message to

n SARAH O’CONNELL is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College. She is a former small business owner and lifelong Northern New York resident.

Contact her at soconnell@sunyjefferson.edu.

Her column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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NNY Business | April 2011

 SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Arbor Day Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., South Jefferson High School, 11060 Route 11. Sponsored by South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Vendors, crafts, food, educational information. Contact: 232-4215.

CANTON  THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Employee 25th Anniversary Recognition Reception, 3 to 4:30 p.m., St. Lawrence University Eben Holden Center. Reception to honor retirees and employees celebrating 25th anniversary. Contact: sjjohnson@stlawu.edu.

CLAYTON  WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Coyote Moon Vineyards, 17371 County Route 3.

Sponsored by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Register by noon Tuesday, April 19. Cost: Members, $8; non-members, $12. Register: 7884400 or www.watertownny.com.

 SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Second Annual Green Fest, 11 a.m., Recreation Park Arena. Sponsored by Clayton Chamber of Commerce and Thousand Islands Young Leaders. Community clean-up from 9 to 11 a.m., Green Fest exhibition begins at 11 a.m. Recycled art show, up cycled fashion show, Food Less Traveled event, speakers, vendors and demonstrations. Free admission. Contact: TIYLO@live.com.

FORT DRUM  WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

2011 Fort Drum Employment Readiness Teen Job Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on base.

No cost for businesses to participate. Setup begins at 9 a.m., access requires valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, current state vehicle inspection and proof of insurance.

Reservation deadline: Wednesday, April 13. Register: Mandy Thompson, 772-9611 or amanda.e.thompson@us.army.mil.

LOWVILLE  THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Spring Fling Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Timberview Lodge. Keynote speaker: Sen. Joseph Griffo. Cost: $20. Reservations with payment required. Reservations: 376-2213.

OGDENSBURG  SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Annual Sportsman’s Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., E.A. Newell Golden Dome, 1100 State St., Ogdensburg. Sponsored by Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce. Muzzleloader rifle raffle, taxidermy display, Army

climbing wall, vendors and refreshments.

New vendors welcome. Information: Alisha, 393-3620.

OLD FORGE

 TUESDAY, APRIL 12

 SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Taste of Home Cooking School, 3 p.m., Hiltebrant Recreation Center, North Street.

Sponsored by Arts Center/Old Forge.

Booths from local vendors, gift bag of coupons, Taste of Home cookbook, demonstrations with simple recipes and entertaining tips. Doors open at noon. Cost: $15. Register: 369-6411 or www.oldforgeny.com.

SYRACUSE  WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

Business Before Hours, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Ophelia’s Place, 407 Tulip St., Liverpool.

Sponsored by Centerstate CEO. Cost: Members, $10; non-members, $15. Register: www.centerstateceo.com.

 TUESDAY, APRIL 12

Centerstate CEO Annual Membership Meeting, noon to 1:30 p.m., Onondaga County War Memorial Arena at OnCenter, 800 S. State St. Largest business gathering in the region that features CEO Business of the Year Awards and New York’s Creative Core $250,000 Emerging Business Competition. Register: 422-8284 or www.centerstateceo.com.

WATERTOWN  THURSDAYS, APRIL 7 – MAY 19

Entrepreneurial Training Course, 6 to 9 p.m., Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. Sponsored by New York State Small Business Development Center at JCC. Covers topics from how to check personal credit to what goes into a business plan and what types of insurance are necessary. Upon completion, clients are eligible to apply for low-interest, micro-enterprise loans. Registration with payment required. Register: 7829262 or SBDC/JCC, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601. Cost: $195.

Quarterly Speaker Series – Strategic Planning for Businesses, 8 a.m., Ramada Inn, Arsenal Street. Sponsored by Greater WatertownNorth Country Chamber of Commerce, Slack Chemical Co. and Watertown Daily Times. Guest speaker: Mike Plummer. Cost: Members, $10; non-members, $12. Register: www.watertownny.com or 788-4400.

 THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Insurance Options for Small Business, 6 to 9 p.m., Jefferson Community College Extended Learning Center, room E-130. Learn the types of business insurance, what is required by law, what is required by contract and what is necessary or advisable. Cost: $40. Register: JCC Continuing Education Division, 786-2438.

NORTH COUNTRY  TUESDAY, APRIL 12 – THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Business Development Tactics, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Development Corp., Plattsburgh, 2 p.m. Wednesday, SLC One-Stop Career Center, Canton, and 2 p.m. Thursday, Charles H. Bohlen Technical Center, Watertown. Sponsored by CITEC Manufacturing and Technology Solutions. Cost: $45.

Registration required. Register: www.citec. org or 268-3778.

DOWN THE ROAD  SATURDAY, MAY 7

Kentucky Derby Day, 4 to 8 p.m., ItalianAmerican Civic Association, 192 Bellew Ave., Watertown. Watch the derby, best hat contest, silent auction, live auction with Johnny Spezzano. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres with cash bar featuring mint juleps. Cost: Advance, $30 per person; $50 per couple; at the door, $40; $60. Reservations: Family Counseling Services, which proceeds benefit, 782-4483.

 WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

 SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Ninth Annual Taste of the Town, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street. Benefits Victim’s Assistance Center. Information, sponsorships: Irene, iccrph@twcny.rr.com.

 A Day About Me, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Best Western Carriage House Inn, 300 Washington St. Sponsored by Tri-County Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors. Admission by donation to benefit Victim’s Assistance Center of Jefferson County.  MONDAY, APRIL 11 & WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

Chinese Culture and Business Etiquette, 6 to 9 p.m., Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St. For those looking to take steps necessary to understand Chinese cul-

ture and start doing business in the global market. Short vocabulary and language lesson. Cost: $69. Register: JCC Continuing Education Division, 786-2438.

North Country Technology Symposium, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Clarkson University, Potsdam. Largest one-day regional event focused on information technology related to leaders in business, health care, government, agriculture and community service industries. Cost: $35, includes lunch, refreshments and workshop materials. Registration required, early bird price expires Friday, April 15. Information, registration: www. co.st-lawrence.ny.us/NCTechSymposium or Laura Perry, laurap@slic.com or 265-4233.

 GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? E-mail editor Ken Eysaman at keysaman@wdt.net. Submission deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NNYBusiness for updates to our business events calendar.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS EVENTS CALENDAR

ADAMS

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 41

CHAMBER / WEB DIRECTORY

NNY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

686-3771, www.1000islands-clayton.com

 GREATER WATERTOWNNORTH COUNTRY

 ALEXANDRIA BAY

7 Market St., Alexandria Bay, NY 13607; 482-9531, www.visitalexbay.org

 BOONVILLE

1241 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY 13601; 788-4400, www.watertownny.com

 GOUVERNEUR

214 E. Main St., Gouverneur, NY 13642; 287-0331, www.gouverneurchamber.net

122 Main St., P.O. Box 163, Boonville NY 13309; 942-6823, www.boonville chamber.com

 HENDERSON HARBOR

 CAPE VINCENT

175 N. James St., P.O. Box 482, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; 654-2481, www.capevincent.org

 CARTHAGE AREA

120 S. Mechanic St., Carthage, NY 13619; 493-3590, www.carthageny.com

 CENTERSTATE CEO

572 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202; 470-1800, www.centerstateceo.com

 CHAUMONT-THREE MILE BAY

P.O. Box 468, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651; 938-5568, www.hendersonharborny.com

 LEWIS COUNTY

7576 S. State St., Lowville, NY 13367; 376-2213, www.lewiscountychamber.org

 MASSENA

50 Main St., Massena, NY 13662; 7693525, www.massenachamber.com

 MALONE

393-3620, www.ogdensburgny.com

 OLD FORGE

3140 Route 28, P.O. Box 68, Old Forge, NY 13420; 369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com

 POTSDAM

1 Market St., Potsdam, NY 13676; 274-9000, www.potsdamchamber.com

 PULASKI

3044 Route 13, P.O. Box 34, Pulaski, NY 13142; 298-2213, www.pulaskiny chamber.com

 SACKETS HARBOR

304 W. Main St., P.O. Box 17, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; 646-1700, www. sacketsharborchamberofcommerce.com

 SOUTH JEFFERSON

14 E. Church St., Adams, NY 13605; 232-4215, www.southjeffchamber.org

 ST. LAWRENCE

101 Main St., 1st Floor, Canton, NY 13617; 386-4000, www.northcountryguide.com

P.O. Box 24, Three Mile Bay, NY 13693; 649-3404, www.chaumontchamber.com

497 East Main St., Malone, NY 12953; 1(518) 483-3760, www.visitmalone.com

 CLAYTON

 OGDENSBURG

1 Bridge Plaza, Ogdensburg, NY 13669;

907 Route 11 C, P.O. Box 297, Brasher Falls, NY 13613; 389-4800, www.tritownchamberofcommerce.com

JEFFERSON COUNTY JOB DEVELOPMENT CORP.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER VALLEY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

517 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624;

BIZ WEB DIRECTORY CITEC MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

www.jcjdc.net

www.citec.org

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP www.helpmysmallbusinesstoday.com www.facebook.com/CUEntrepCtr www.twitter.com/CUEntrepCtr

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE NORTH COUNTRY www.danc.org

LEWIS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

www.northcountryptac.com

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT SUNY JEFFERSON

 TRI-TOWN

www.slrvra.com

www.sba.gov www.facebook.com/SBAAtlantic www.twitter.com/SBAAtlantic

www.watertown.nyssbdc.org www.facebook.com/WatertownSBDC www.twitter.com/nys_sbdc

WATERTOWN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP.

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY IDA / LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP.

WATERTOWN SCORE

www.slcida.com

www.watertownldc.com

www.scorewatertownny.org

www.lcida.org

788-6840

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NNY Business | April 2011

BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce / WorkPlace 2011 Job & Career Expo

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, Naomi Petrie, left, Hampton Inn Watertown assistant general manager, Michelle Farrell, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce director of events. Above, Christopher M. Castle, HSBC Bank Adams branch, left, Kari L. Bartlett, HSBC Bank Washington Street branch, and Deborah A. Marconi, HSBC Bank Carthage branch. The 2011 Job & Career Expo held March 4 at the Dulles State Office Building was organized by the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce and the WorkPlace.

Top, David Leonard, Caskinette’s Lofink Ford service manager, left, Jeff Disco, Caskinette’s Lofink Ford-Mercury Auto Spa Detail Center & Car Wash manager, Amber Leigh Wilsie, Caskinette’s Throttle Shop floor manager, and Lynn R. Leonard, Caskinette’s Lofink Ford-Mercury general manager. Above, Jacob S. Hoch, Kinney Drugs Carthage & Lowville store manager, and Wendy J. Rambone, Kinney Drugs Watertown’s Coffeen Street store manager.

CREG SYSTEMS n VISIT NNY BUSINESS at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness to view more than 160 additional Business Scene photos from events across the north country since we launched in December. Tag yourself, tag your friends and tag your friends’ friends. Like us on Facebook and be the first to see the front page before it hits newsstands, learn who we’re interviewing, what we’re covering and join in the discussion about business in Northern New York.

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April 2011 | NNY Business

| 43

BUSINESS SCENE Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. annual meeting

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, Jefferson County Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, R-Belleville, left, accepts the gavel as incoming board of directors president for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. from Douglas W. Shelmidine, outgoing JCADC board president and Sheland Farms partner. Above, Dr. Richard Halpin, former director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, accepts a service award from JCADC during its annual meeting March 4 at the Best Western Carriage House Inn.

44 |

NNY Business | April 2011

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, Chanda A. Lindsay, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, left, and Dr. Melanie A. Parker-Geurtsen, a large animal veterinarian with Cow Calls. Above, Julie Berry, New York Animal Agriculture Coalition agricultural outreach coordinator, left, and W. Edward Walldroff, owner of Homestead Fields Farm, LaFargeville.

BUSINESS SCENE GWNC Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Watertown Center for Sight

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

Top, Dr. Noaman Sanni, left, Dr. Robert M. Johnston, and Dr. Debra A. Koloms, of Watertown Center for Sight. Above, George J. Haley, WPBS-TV, and wife Brenda I., of New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services in Ogdensburg. Watertown Center for Sight hosted the March 16 Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.

Top, April A. LaRock and husband Todd W. of Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Watertown. Above, Gillian Maitland, Watertown Center for Sight, Judy C. Linton, Le Fashion Cottage of Watertown, and Dr. Grace Y. Burke, Watertown Center for Sight.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 45

DINING GUIDE Café Mira 14 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4470

Fung Hing Chinese 225 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9689

Johnny D’s Bistro 108 108 Court St., Watertown (315) 755-2333

Cam’s Pizzeria 25 Public Square, Watertown (315) 779-8900

Gary’s Restaurant 5424 Shady Ave., Lowville (315) 376-6612

Karen & Jasper’s Bar & Bistro 1322 Washington St. Plaza, Watertown (315) 788-4110

Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge 380 S. Railroad St., Parish (315) 625-4005

G&F Italian Pizza and Restaurant 2972 E. Main St., Parish (315) 625-7177

King Star Food Oriental 22265 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 786-0246

Cavallario’s Cucina 133 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 788-9744

Gold Star Deli 343 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-6155

Korean Grill 525 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 681-4226

Cherry Tree Inn 8541 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-7281

Goodfellos 202 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3463

Lake Ontario Playhouse 103 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2305

China City 1125 Arsenal St. Suite 2, Watertown (315) 788-8289

Gram’s Diner 13 Main St., Adams (315) 232-4881

Leanna’s at the Manor Store Route 11, Pierrepont Manor (315) 465-4400

Church Street Diner 107 Church St., Carthage (315) 493-0997

Great Wall Chinese 300 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-7668

Limerick Hotel 16331 State Route 12E, Limerick (315) 639-6804

Coleman’s Corner 849 Lawrence St., Watertown (315) 782-6888

Harby’s Hots Outer Washington Street, Watertown (315) 788-2250

Lloyd’s of Lowville 7405 S. State St., Lowville (315) 376-7037

Crossroads Diner 22474 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 782-9591

Herrings Inn 35802 State Route 3, Carthage (315) 493-9829

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant 11613 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-2223

Crystal Restaurant 87 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-9938

Highland Meadows Country Club 24201 State Route 342, Watertown (315) 785-0108

Maggie’s on the River 500 Newell St., Watertown (315) 405-4239

Daily Buffet (Chinese) 1283 Arsenal St. Stop 8, Watertown (315) 786-8598

Home Deli Pizza & Subs 305 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 782-6340

Mariano’s Pizza 981 Waterman Drive, Watertown (315) 788-8088

Dano’s Pizzeria and Restaurant 24411 State Route 971V, Felts Mills (315) 773-3266

Hot Diggity Dogs Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 788-4844

McCarthy’s Restaurant 5821 U.S. Route 11, Canton (315) 386-2564

Depot Café 13449 Depot St., Adams Center (315) 583-6555

India Palace 1196 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-8457

Midway Ice Cream 891 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 405-4996

Blue Heron 12050 Route 12E, Chaumont (315) 649-2240

Erin’s Isle Restaurant 928 State Route 11C, Brasher Falls (315) 389-4100

Ives Hill Restaurant 435 Flower Ave. W., Watertown (315) 775-4837

Mo’s Place 345 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-5503

Boondocks Restaurant and Bar 3950 State Route 12, Lyons Falls (315) 348-4040

Fairground Inn 852 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7335

Jean’s Beans 259 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 788-7460

Morgia’s Pasta 22560 Fisher Road, Watertown (315) 788-3509

Brookside Diner 1873 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9824

Fiesta Mexicana 566 State St., Watertown (315) 779-7577

Joey’s at the Thousand Island Club 21952 Club Road, Alexandria Bay (315) 482-9999

Mr. Sub Sandwich Shop Public Square & Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1760

Brownville Diner 114 W. Main St., Brownville (315) 786-8554

Fireside at Partridge Berry Inn 26561 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 782-8401

Johnny D’s 1 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-6108

NuPier 13212 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3312

n A directory of independent coffee houses, bars and restaurants.

Full-service restaurants 1025 Ruyi Japanese Steak House 1025 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 405-4501 1844 House “An American Bistro” 6885 U.S. Route 11, Potsdam (315) 268-1844 2000 Chinese Restaurant 22070 U.S. Route 11, Watertown (315) 788-2000 Adams Country Club 10700 U.S. Route 11, Adams (315) 232-4842 A & J’s Diner 455 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-4811 Andy’s Caribbean Cuisine 302 Court St., Watertown (315) 777-8658 Apollo Restaurant 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 788-3569 Art’s Jug 820 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 782-9764 Bella’s Bistro 602 Riverside Drive, Clayton (315) 686-2341 Bernardo’s Pizzeria 702 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9500 B J’s Grill 610 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-8126 Black River Valley Club 131 Washington St., Watertown (315) 788-2300

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NNY Business | April 2011

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Ph. 315-755-2333 Fax. 315-755-2739

Live Music Tuesday to Saturday!!

DINING GUIDE Original Italian Pizza 222 N. Massey St., Watertown (315) 786-0000 Papa Tino’s Pizzeria 716 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-7272 Pete’s Restaurant 111 Breen Ave., Watertown (315) 782-6640 Pizza Shack 12699 State Route 3, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2267 Rainbow Shores Restaurant 186 Rainbow Shores Road, Pulaski (315) 298-5110 Rajit 262 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5513 Ramada Inn 21000 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-0700 Riccardo’s Market & Deli 710 Holcomb St., Watertown (315) 782-7810 Riverhouse 4818 Salina St., Pulaski (315)509-4281 Roberts Family Pizzeria 839 State St., Watertown (315) 786-2006 Roma Restaurant 19 Bridge St., Carthage (315) 493-0616 Romalato’s Gourmet Deli 450 Gaffney Drive, Watertown (315) 681-6653 Ryan’s Lookout 9290 State Route 3, Henderson (315) 938-5151

Read the reviews

 Log on to www.watertowndaily times.com to read restaurant reviews

by Watertown Daily Times restaurant critic Walter Siebel.

Get on the list

 Call NNY Business advertising specialist Clarissa Collins at (315) 661-2305 or e-mail ccollins@wdt.net to have your restaurant or bar listed in our monthly dining guide today.

Shorty’s Place 1280 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-7878 Shuler’s Steak & Seafood 802 Mill St., Watertown (315) 782-1429 Soluri’s Pizza 526 Factory St., Watertown (315) 782-2888 Sonora’s Authentic Mexican 300 Washington St., Watertown (315) 782-8000 Stonefence Resort 7191 State Route 37, Ogdensburg (315) 393-1545 Stone Jug Pizzeria 104 Bartlett Road, Sackets Harbor (315) 646-1008 Suk Hui Hi’s Korean 1301 State St., Watertown (315) 785-9740 Super Wok Chinese Restaurant 20991 State Route 3, Watertown (315) 788-5389

Sackets Harbor Brew Pub 212 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2739

Teriyaki Experience 21852 Towne Center Drive, Watertown (315) 785-9254

Sandy’s Luncheonette 5 Public Square, Watertown (315) 782-2935

Thailand Thai Restaurant 1857 State St., Watertown (315) 788-6688

Savory Café 1511 Washington St., Watertown (315) 785-6464

The Place 1612 Ford St., Ogdensburg 315-393-3080

Sboro’s Restaurant 836 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1728

Tico’s Mex Mex Grill 65 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-4778

Tilted Kilt 1050 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-5458

Clueless 545 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 782-9006

Tin Pan Galley 110 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-3812 United China Restaurant 144 Eastern Blvd., Watertown (315) 782-4432 Violi’s Restaurant 209 Center St., Massena (315) 764-0329

Crazy Legs Saloon 536 Arsenal St., Watertown (315) 777-8333 Edge of the River Pub 519 W. Main St., Watertown (315) 788-0695 Fat Boys 743 Huntington St., Watertown (315) 779-0087

Village Inn 8208 Main St., Harrisville (315) 543-9382

Fort Pearl Inc. 557 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 786-3333

VV’s Mexican Kitchen Noble Street, Evans Mills (315) 629-4652

Hitchin’ Post Tavern 404 Court St., Watertown (315) 782-9656

Walsh’s Pub & Grill 101 E. Main St., Brownville (315) 782-6065 Watertown Golf Club Grill and Bar 1 Thompson Park, Watertown (315) 782-5606 Willowbrook Golf Club 25075 State Route 37, Watertown (315) 782-8192 Wing Wagon 71 Public Square, Watertown (315) 836-3205

Coffee Houses Brew Ha Ha 468 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 788-1175 Chrissy Beanz Bakery 105 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor (315) 646-2330 Coffee Shop Carbone Plaza, Watertown (315) 782-0450 Danny’s Coffee 21181 Salmon Run Mall, Watertown (315) 782-7057 Paddock Coffee House 4 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 836-1508

Hometown Pizzeria 4 W. Church St., Adams (315) 232-3000 Joe’s Tavern 548 Coffeen St., Watertown (315) 782-9709 Kicker’s Lounge 498 Factory St., Watertown (315) 785-9392 Mick’s Place 204 Factory St., Watertown (315) 786-1992 Paddock Club 5 Paddock Arcade, Watertown (315) 786-6633 Pappy’s Bowlmor Lanes 227 E. Orvis St., Massena (315) 769-9877 Pewter Mug 1120 Gill St., Watertown (315) 782-0200 Seth’s Pub 558 State St., Watertown (315) 681-6645

Bars / drinking establishments

Shootie’s Bar 504 Pearl St., Watertown (315) 782-9724

Artie’s Tavern 329 High St., Watertown (315) 782-9616

Time Warp Tavern 302 State St., Watertown (315) 782-9784

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 47

BUSINESS HISTORY

A.W. Polley’s Jefferson County Butter and Cheese Store in Watertown

JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Cheese-making thrived in NNY Nearly every town in Jefferson County had cheese factory by 1899 s Jefferson County was being settled, it became evident that extreme winters and difficult soil conditions of the area did not lend themselves well to traditional crop farming. As an alternative, dairy farming was introduced in 1834. The first dairy farm in the county was owned by John Sherman of Rutland and consisted of 20 cows.

During the first half of the 19th century, there was a lack of reliable rapid transportation that could get raw milk to market before it spoiled. Cheese-making was introduced as a solution to the problem and as a viable home industry.

Milking cows and making, storing and marketing of cheese was a job typically reserved for women.

Women have traditionally worked in the cheese industry, even after it became a factory operation. It is not uncommon to read of women living on cheese factory sites

with their families. There are also instances of women-run dairies and cheese factories.

Diana Benoit Cooper and her husband, Madison Cooper, of Leray, introduced the milled-curd method of making cheddar to Northern New York. The Coopers operated seven cheese factories between 1875 and 1879. Christine Baumert was another famous Jefferson County cheese maker.

During World War I, when the French product was difficult or impossible to obtain, Christine Baumert and her husband, F.X. Baumert, made Camembert cheese in Antwerp.

During the 1850s, cheese-making moved from a home to a factory industry with the opening of the first New York cheese factory near Rome. Local cheese factories began to open in rapid succession across the Northern Tier.

From 1860 to 1865 alone, more than 400 rural cheese factories were built in New York. By the 1880s, homemade cheese was in decline, with eight million pounds produced across the state. By the 1890s, the number was down to four million

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By LENKA P. WALLDROFF

A

Jefferson County Historical Society

NNY Business | April 2011

pounds, with most cheese produced commercially.

The term “commercial” can be misleading. Because of the relatively low population density in the north country during the 19th century, the market for local cheese was smaller, necessitating smaller operations.

Cheese factories were often a single building with a number of rooms packed with cheese vats and other equipment.

Due to the relatively short shelf life of raw milk, these new cheese “factories” were located close together, usually within three miles of each other. By 1899, almost every village in Jefferson County either had a cheese factory in it or near it.

Although some of these factories were privately owned, many were milk cooperatives — an American concept that eventually spread to parts of Canada and beyond.

Xerxes Addison Willard, New York’s crusading modernizer of cheese factory methods, wrote passionately in 1863 about the virtues of the cooperative method.

The cooperative method of cheese-

making pooled the capital of a number of dairy farmers within a small geographic area. The money was then used to cover the construction costs of the cheese factory, the equipment and the cheese maker’s salary. Profits were then distributed according to percentage of capital investment and milk contribution.

The cooperative method streamlined the cheese-making process by allowing farmers to share equipment and other costs instead of having each farmstead purchase their own. Many dairy cooperatives still survive today across the state.

With the development of the railroad, trade possibilities were expanded for many perishable food markets, including the Jefferson County cheese market.

During the late 19th century New York was the country’s largest cheese producer, although Wisconsin cheese was gaining in popularity. In order to protect the New York market share and to guarantee continuing quality, the state began to regulate the cheese-making industry. In 1872, the state strengthened its regulations for cheese-making and dairy production.

State inspections of dairy products were implemented, and the application of substantial fines and penalties were imposed on any farmer who adulterated his milk or cheese in order to cut costs.

Other efforts to maintain and improve the quality and reputation of New York cheese included annual cheese contests at local fairs. Representatives from the state Department of Agriculture judged and awarded prizes to local cheeses based on flavor, texture, body, color and finish.

The introduction of gas refrigeration during World War I expanded the shipping possibilities of raw milk. Trains with refrigerated bulk tanks could now ship locally-produced milk all over the state.

This development eventually condensed cheese production from small, locallyowned cheese factories to large-scale milk processing plants in major cities.

The same technology also allowed for the export of Jefferson County milk south to New York City, where the demand for fluid milk was high. These innovations gradually drove most of the small local cheese factories out of business by the end of the 1920s. n Lenka P. Walldroff is curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum. She is a former museum specialist and conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. n For museum hours and program updates and to learn more about the Jefferson County Historical Society, visit www.jeffersoncountyhistory.org. Business History appears monthly in NNY Business.

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 49

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G H E R E ?

HOSPICE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENT FACILITY LOCATION:1398 Gotham St., Watertown SIZE: 8,378 square-foot, eight-bedroom residence and administrative office on a 5.5-acre lot.

COMPLETION DATE: Fall 2011.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October.

LOCAL JOBS: 25 full- and parttime present Hospice employees.

About 15 new full- and part-time employees.

COST: $4.3 million.

CONTRACTORS: Purcell Construction, Watertown, general contractor; Bernier and Carr Engineers, Watertown, construction management services; W.D. Bach Co., Clayton, CREG Systems Corp., Watertown, Vespa Sand and Gravel, Watertown, and Big Apple Music, Watertown.

ARCHITECTS: Aubertine & Currier, Watertown — Compiled by Kyle R. Hayes and Rebecca Madden.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY BUSINESS

Site preparation is nearly complete at the Hospice of Jefferson County residential facility on Gotham Street. The 8,378 square-foot, eight-bedroom residence and administrative office is on a 5.5-acre lot donated by Aline C. Taylor next to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. The first-of-its-kind facility for the north country is slated to open in the fall.

NEXT MONTH

I

n our May cover story, we examine the impact of tourism and recreation on Northern New York and its economy. Also coming next month: n THE JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIR is the nation’s oldest county fair. We take a look at the business behind county fairs in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties. n THE FISHING INDUSTRY brings thousands of people to Northern New York waters each year. We talk to some charter operators about the business outlook for the coming season.

Serving Northern NY For Over 21 Years!

n 20 QUESTIONS WITH Jude Renzi, vice president of sales and marketing for Renzi Foodservice. As competition in the marketplace increases for the longtime food distributor, Mr. Renzi discusses his company’s history and shares some hints of its future. n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Business Tech Bytes, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agri-Business, Business History, Business Scene and more. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nnybusiness.

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NNY Business | April 2011

One of the area’s leading banks in mortgage lending.

Home of totally free checking and three other checking accounts that pay you interest!

Three Full Service Locations...

Carthage 493-3480

Watertown 779-9775 (below STREAM Call Center)

Clayton 686-4850

Member owned since 1888

WWW.CARTHAGESAVINGS.COM • 800-232-0450

April 2011 | NNY Business

| 51

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