Organic production in Rochester is expected to expand over the next few months, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. Mason Farms in Williamson dedicates nearly half of their 900 acres to Wegmans Food Markets, and they are still growing.

Doug Mason, of Mason Farms, said that thanks to Wegmans his business is “going to be expanding a lot from them in organic production.”

Wegmans contributes so much to the agriculture industry in the area, said Mason and other farmers. In fact, one supplier noted in that article that because of these expansion changes that Wegmans is making, this area could become the “Silicon Valley of food.”

When people think of agriculture, Western New York might not always be one of the places to come to mind first. Bringing up Texas as a cultivation powerhouse seems more appropriate, as nearly one in seven (14%) of all working Texans are currently employed in agriculture-related jobs. However, Western New York can stand on its own and produces many quality crops.

Local researchers and agricultural institutions have produced new innovations and studies on more than just food items. Western New York’s wine industry has been doing very well over the last few years.

A Geneva, NY, researcher from Cornell, Marc Fuchs, studies issues regarding vineyards, including those that could have negative consequences on consumers and the economy.

Fuchs recently accepted an award for contributing to education and research that benefits the wine and grape industry in New York, stated in an article from the Finger Lakes Times. Focusing on the biology and ecology of viruses inside vegetables and fruit crops, Fuchs said that this will aid us in the future of preventing these viruses and give us more information on these crop infections.

Western New York is certainly doing its part to expand the agriculture industry in the area and it looks like this trend is going to continue. Rochester and the surrounding areas have much to look forward to in the near future: nice weather, great wine, and healthy, organic foods.