Food and Beverage Manufacturing

The Greater Rochester, NY region offers a full range of resources for food and beverage manufacturing companies.

diagram of how food products go from farm to consumer with examples of stores

Fully Integrated Supply Chain: Local companies have access to fully integrated supply chain assets, including precision manufacturing, engineering, and packaging support. In addition, there are world-class research and development resources available at Rochester Institute of Technology and Cornell University.

Agricultural Resources: The combination of rich, fertile land with access to an unlimited supply of fresh water gives the Greater Rochester, NY region an incredible supply of fresh fruit, vegetables, and wine. Approximately 44% of New York State dairy and crop output is produced by our area's 6,000+ farms. (source: USDA Census of Agriculture, 2017)

Access to Fresh Water: Our region has millions of gallons per day in excess water capacity at rates well below the national average. Companies do not face water rationing or water rights fees. Monroe County Water Authority has 12 million gallons a day of excess water capacity.

Dairy Supply: New York is the third largest milk-producing state in the U.S. The Greater Rochester, NY region is #1 milk-producing region in New York. This abundant milk supply was one of the reasons HP Hood chose to expand in our region.

Proximity to Major Markets: Rochester is conveniently located within 500 miles of one-third of the U.S. and Canadian population. This puts us close to major markets without major market costs. We are near Interstate 90, which provides easy highway access and distribution of goods. In addition, commercial rail service is available through three Class 1 carriers: CSX, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific. The routes handle up to 60 trains per day.

Market Ready Sites: Market ready sites and facilities offer low-cost utilities, solid infrastructure, low-cost supply of water and wastewater capacity, and pre-permitting secured.

Skilled Workforce: The region has more than 9,000 employed in the food and beverage manufacturing sectors. (source: NYS Dept. of Labor analysis of Quarterly Census Employment and Wages annual average for 2018)

R & D Resources: Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT) provide expertise to support research in agriculture and farming technology; food manufacturing and packaging; and food security and nutrition.

Major Corporations: There are more than 250 food and beverage manufacturing companies in the Greater Rochester, NY region. Local firms account for 38% of New York State food and beverage production. (source: NYS Department of Labor, 2019)

Notable Local Companies

Company	Nature of Local Operations
Baldwin Richardson	Manufacturer of dessert toppings, sauces, syrups, and condiments
Barilla America	Manufacturer of pasta products
Constellation Brands	Leading international producer and marketer of wine, beer and spirits
Kraft Heinz	Manufacturer of Cool Whip and Lunchables
LiDestri Food & Drink	Contract manufacturer of sauces, dips, and beverages
Mott's	Leading producer of applesauce and fruit juices
North American Breweries	Manufacturer of alcoholic beverages
Seneca Foods	Producer of canned and bottled fruits and vegetables
Wegmans Food Market	Regional grocery store chain, consistently ranked by Fortune as one of the best companies to work for in America.

World-class talent at competitive rates below the national average.

Position	Rochester Annual Mean Wage	National Annual Mean Wage	Rochester Advantage
Agriculture and Food Science Technicians	$42,150	$44,440	5.2%
Bakers	$29,100	$29,630	1.8%
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	$36,260	$36,960	1.9%
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders	$29,940	$33,880	14.3%
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$45,070	$46,850	3.8%
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$42,270	$43,000	1.7%
Light Truck Drivers	$33,090	$38,520	14.1%
Machine Feeders and Offbearers	$31,410	$33,010	4.8%
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	$40,710	$41,960	3.0%
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	$32,980	$34,800	5.2%
Soil and Plant Scientists	$60,740	$69,860	13.1%

Source: Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2019: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Did You Know?

Good Dirt: Rich agricultural land, a partnership with LiDestri Foods, and infrastructure available at Eastman Business Park are key assets that attracted Love Beets USA to our region.

World-class Wines: Rochester's Finger Lakes Region is New York's largest wine-producing region. It is home to more than 109 wineries, many of which are earning international awards. (source: New York Wine and Grape Foundation, 2020)

Wegmans Food Markets headquartered in Rochester, NY, is recognized on Fortune magazine's list of "100 Best Companies To Work For in America." It is the twenty-third consecutive year Wegmans has made Fortune's Top 100 list. (source: Fortune Magazine, February 2020)

We're home to Constellation Brands, the largest wine company in the world, which produces nearly 9 million cases of wine in New York each year.

Tim Hortons, the Canadian quick-service restaurant franchise, roasts all of its coffee in the Rochester area. This roasting supports the two billion cups of Tim Hortons coffee that are served annually throughout North America. This volume is second only to Starbucks.

The NY Kitchen opened in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region to serve as a gateway to New York's food, wine, and agriculture attractions.

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