Edelweiss Dairy's $34 Million Expansion Begins in Cattaraugus County
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the commencement of a $34 million expansion project for Edelweiss Dairy located in the Town of Freedom, Cattaraugus County. The project responds to growing demands from regional manufacturers such as fairlife and Wells Enterprises. Empire State Development (ESD) has provided a $450,000 Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit, conditional on job retention and creation commitments by Edelweiss Dairy. Additionally, ESD has approved a reduced-rate loan of $8,403,214 from the State Bond Reserve, in collaboration with the Cattaraugus Industrial Development Agency.
Edelweiss Dairy, a family-owned business established in 1960, operates under John Gerard Borer and his family. The company's expansion will replace its current facility with modernized operations focusing on automation, sustainability, and herd care. The project's first phase involves the construction of a barn, followed by a second phase that will establish two new 1500-cow barns, a rotary milking parlor processing up to 700 cows per hour, a 21-million-gallon lagoon, electrical upgrades, and a manure and sand separation system. This initiative is expected to create 25 new jobs with an average annual salary of $75,000.
Currently, Edelweiss Dairy milks its herd three times daily and produces over 150 million pounds of milk annually. The farm manages over 7,000 acres of cropland, growing corn silage, alfalfa, and other crops to support its livestock. In 2015, it was awarded the Dairy of Distinction, highlighting its commitment to excellence.
Governor Hochul has been instrumental in expanding New York's dairy sector, marked by significant investments such as a $650 million fairlife plant in Webster and a $425 million ice cream facility in Dunkirk. New York State, the fifth-largest dairy state, has nearly 3,000 dairy farms producing over 16 billion pounds of milk annually.
Empire State Development's President and CEO, Hope Knight, emphasized the strategic conditions aligning to enhance New York's competitiveness in the dairy industry. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, Governor Hochul aims to position New York as a leader in the next generation of dairy growth.
