For Immediate Release: June 28, 2012
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
NEW BUSINESS CRITICALLY NEEDED FOR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY INSIDE THE ADIRONDACK PARK
WILL CREATE 14 JOBS IN ESSEX COUNTY
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency approved the Adirondack Meat Company project at its June Agency meeting. Approval of this project will result in the first USDA certified meat processing facility inside the Adirondack Park. Once operational, the business will employ twelve full-time workers and two part-time employees. In addition, it is anticipated the project will support twenty-four full time and six part time workers in related industries.
APA Chairwoman Leilani Ulrich stated, "This new industrial use addresses the serious need for a meat processing facility inside the Adirondack Park. Presently, a lack of this type of facility in proximity to North Country farms and the limited capacity of regional processing facilities has prevented industry growth. The development of this meat processing facility will support the expansion of the cattle production industry and local direct market farming."
A 2010 study by the Cornell Cooperative Extension found that North Country farmers have the potential to increase beef production by 137%.
The Adirondack Meat Company will be located in the Town of Ticonderoga, Essex County on land adjacent to the Agency-approved Ticonderoga Business Park. The meat processing facility will operate Monday through Friday, 5am to 5pm, and will process a maximum of 10 animals per day, primarily beef cattle, but will also have the capacity to process pigs, goats, and sheep.
"The Adirondack Meat Company has the potential to be a transformational project for the agricultural industry, especially for small scale farming operation inside the Adirondack Park," said APA Executive Director Terry Martino. "This facility is the important infrastructure component required to accelerate growth of the local farming movement. This is the right project in the right location at a most opportunistic time."
Mr. Peter Ward, Adirondack Meat Company owner said, "We are excited to develop this project in New York and specifically in Ticonderoga. We believe there is a critical need for this type of facility in the region and we look forward to helping expand sustainable agriculture throughout the Adirondack Park. The Park Agency quickly and diligently reviewed the project in six months helping us realize our goals in a very timely manner."
The facility is proposed adjacent to the Ticonderoga Business Park and in a former agricultural use area and as such the facility is consistent with the character of the surrounding area. Further, since all activities will occur inside the building and no outside pasturing areas or waste disposal areas are proposed or authorized, impacts to adjacent land uses will be minimized. All renderings and by-products will be stored in freezers and collected weekly, thus minimizing any potential odor impacts from the facility. Further, a USDA inspector will be present on site and have an office in the building thereby ensuring compliance with all USDA regulations.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.ny.gov.
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