Greater Rochester, NY Region Leads New York State in Crop and Dairy Output, Generating Economic Success and Job Growth in Food and Beverage Manufacturing
As the premier breadbasket of the Empire State, the Greater Rochester, NY region is a leading producer of food and beverage products feeding the United States. To build on this essential industry sector, Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) and Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority (GVRMA) have formed a strategic partnership to promote the region’s agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing and drive growth. GRE and GVRMA recently conducted an analysis that shows annual sales of more than $10 billion from the region’s growers, farms, and manufacturers, with total employment exceeding 11,000. These sectors have also secured more than $1 billion in recent private investment and total commitments of 2,100 new jobs.
“The Greater Rochester, NY region’s reputation as the leading agricultural producer in New York State is the result of the nearly 7,000 farms operating across 2 million acres of high-quality farmland with access to a secure and unlimited water supply,” said Brendan Tydings, Administrator, Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority. “Greater Rochester Enterprise provided valuable insight of the specialized skills, site requirements, and production scale required to maintain and expand the region’s dominance in this high-value sector.”
Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority (GVRMA) and Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) partnered to analyze the agriculture, food, and beverage industry assets that underpin this essential, fast-growing sector. Together, GVRMA and GRE engaged more than 100 industry leaders, including company executives from food and beverage manufacturers and farmers representing diverse products leveraging the region’s dairy, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
The Greater Rochester, NY region ranks first in New York State for milk production, apples, beans, cabbages, peas, and sweet corn.1 It also includes the Finger Lakes, which boasts more than 160 wineries2 – the most in New York State – and employs more than 1,400 workers.3 Greater Rochester, NY is also the third largest apple grower in the United States, supplying national brands such as Mott’s, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
Between 2015-2025, food and beverage manufacturers in the Greater Rochester, NY region added more than 1,300 new jobs.4 Earnings in food manufacturing also posted strong gains of 69% for average annual wages of $80,790.5 Corporate investment in the region includes new facilities and expansions from national brands, including fairlife, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, Baldwin Richardson Foods, Barilla, HP Hood, North American Breweries, and Oxbo International. More than 300 food and beverage companies and related suppliers operate in the region, including Constellation Brands, Fee Brothers, Kraft Heinz, LiDestri Foods, Mott’s, Nortera, Seneca Foods, Wegmans, and Zweigle’s.
“GRE continues to support development of market-ready sites and supply chain assets to spur additional investment in agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing, sectors of vital importance to both the regional and state economies,” said Matt Hurlbutt, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise. “This strategic partnership with GVRMA helps unify the region’s agricultural capacity to expand growth opportunities in food and beverage manufacturing.”
Greater Rochester, NY provides food and beverage manufacturers with a geographic advantage. The proximity to major markets enables a one-day drive to 128 million consumers in North America. This saves time and money with shorter shipping times for products, especially those with a limited shelf life. Companies also draw from an abundant source of fresh water with the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes providing a virtually endless and reliable water supply.
GVRMA and GRE will build upon the analysis with a focus on efforts to advance additional investment in critical infrastructure and enhance how the sector continues to collaborate and compete for future growth.
Sources:
- National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022
- New York State Liquor Authority / Alcoholic Beverage Control, accessed Sept 9, 2026
- Lightcast, Industry Table, Wineries NAICS 21313, 2025 jobs, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties,
- New York State Department of Labor, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Labor Market Area: Finger Lakes
- Lightcast, Wages, Salaries, Earning, and Commodity Sales, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties, accessed Q2 2026
© Greater Rochester Enterprise, 2026
About Greater Rochester Enterprise:
Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) is the leading regional economic development organization committed to attracting new capital investments, creating jobs and supporting business growth throughout the nine-county Greater Rochester, NY region. As a trusted advisor, GRE connects businesses with the people and resources needed to support attraction and expansion, including commercial real estate, local suppliers, economic incentives, research and development assets, and workforce recruitment and training.
About Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority:
Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority (GVRMA) is a New York State public authority established by statute in 1951 to serve as a regional food distribution and agricultural market center. Its purpose is to facilitate the distribution, marketing, and processing of agricultural and food products across the Greater Rochester, NY region.