O'Mara: Finger Lakes Cheese Festival on Saturday great chance to support local agriculture, tourism

Odessa, N.Y., July 20—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today reminded area residents that the 6th Annual Finger Lakes Cheese Festival takes place this Saturday, July 22, at Sunset View Creamery in Odessa, Schuyler County.

"The Finger Lakes Cheese Festival offers a great opportunity to sample a few locally made cheeses and help bring attention to an important sector of New York State’s agricultural industry,” said O’Mara.  “Cheese making has long played an important role in so many upstate New York communities, including Schuyler County.  The great news is that it’s still going strong and has an exciting and promising future.”

Read and listen to more from Finger Lakes Radio, "6th Annual Cheese Festival Saturday"

O’Mara also took the occasion of this year’s festival to recall his own family’s history in New York State cheese making.  O’Mara’s grandfather, John, was a cheese maker and owned and operated the Colosse Cheese Factory in Oswego County in the early 20th Century.  The senator’s father, also named John, grew up working in the factory throughout his high school and college years.  Colosse Cheese is still produced and sold in central New York, but the O’Mara family is no longer involved in the business.

Sunset View Creamery is a Farmstead & Artisan Cheese Production Facility operated as part of Hoffman Dairy, a century farm located in Odessa, New York, just south of Watkins Glen. Fourth and fifth generation Hoffmans operate the farm and all the milk used in their cheese making comes from their predominantly Holstein herd.  

Earlier this year, O'Mara honored Carmella Hoffman, Owner and Operator of Sunset View Creamery and a driving force behind the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance, as a New York State Senate 2017 "Woman of Distinction." 

O'Mara said, "Carmella exemplifies the commitment and quality of Finger Lakes agriculture.  She stands for all of our regional producers making enormous contributions to the overall strength and success of New York State’s leading agricultural industry.  Cheese making has long played an important role in so many upstate New York communities, including Schuyler County. Thanks to Carmella and the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance, it’s still going strong and has an exciting and promising future.  It was truly an honor for me to have this opportunity to have the New York State Senate pay tribute to Carmella as a ‘Woman of Distinction.’”

For more information on other local cheese makers, including the schedule of events for this Saturday’s Finger Lakes Cheese Festival and other upcoming events, visit the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail online at http://flcheesetrail.com/.