Yates CFB Successfully Defends Local Cidery
NYFB County Farm Bureau Relations and Development, Region 4
A dream of producing cider and opening a cidery is now about to become a reality for the Geertz family in Jerusalem. But the road to this dream has been filled with hiccups along the way.Jean, Syd, Doug and Eric Geertz are the owners of TreeTops Cidery, located on the Bluff on Keuka Lake.
Eric and Doug began making cider as a hobby, sharing their creations with friends and family. Jean and Syd purchased a small farm in 2001. The family has roots in agriculture, with Syd’s father growing coffee beans and Jean’s father growing fruit and vegetables.
One day, Doug said, “We could make a living off this land.” They started talking about sustainable agriculture and the rich heritage of apple growing in the area. Friends and others in the craft beverage industry encouraged them to start their cidery. In 2020, they officially launched their business.
They started working towards their dream during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the spring of 2022, they received their license from the NYS Liquor Authority.
Shortly thereafter, they received an operating permit from the Town of Jerusalem. Neighbors began sharing concerns about their c
idery and farm with the town zoning and planning boards. In July 2022, the town denied a special use permit and revoked their operating permit.
Because they are in a county-approved, state-certified agricultural district, they requested a review from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. The review began in the spring of 2023. In November 2023, Jean was speaking with a dairy farmer friend about their issue with the town, and he suggested she contact Yates County Farm Bureau.
I spoke with Jean several times, and she immediately joined Yates County Farm Bureau. I had discussions with NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets regarding a timeline for the review process. Coincidentally, the agricultural district that the farm is in was scheduled for an eight-year review.
The Town of Jerusalem requested that the county Ag and Farmland Protection Board remove their farm from the district.
Yates County Farm Bureau leaders met with the Farmland Protection Board and lobbied them to keep TreeTops Cidery within the district.
County Farm Bureau Vice President Jason Henderson testified before the Yates County Legislature and asked them to approve the board’s recommendation to keep the cidery as part of the district.
In May 2024, the county legislature approved the ag district with the cidery included.
The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a final opinion in May 2024 in which they found that TreeTops Cidery was a startup farm and that the town was unreasonably restricting them within an agricultural district.
The town responded in June saying that while they dispute the department’s findings, they will not seek to push the issue any further. Shortly thereafter, the Geertz family received their operating and sign permits from the town. Jean Geertz commented, “The Farm Bureau was key to our success. They not only prevented the town from overstepping through proposed zoning changes that would have had widespread negative implications for farms everywhere, but they protected our right to use our agriculturally zoned land.” Cider production has begun, and the family is hoping to open to the public this fall.
