Torrey Farms

Torrey Farms is a large family farm located in Elba, New York, with a satellite property located in Potter, New York. It is one of the largest vegetable-crop farm operations in New York.[1] Together its two lots total some 10,000 acres, composed primarily of muckland, in the instance drained swampland.

Elba muckland onion fields

The farm grows mainly specialty vegetable crops, such as sweet corn, onions, carrots, cabbage, squash, cucumbers, and potatoes, which is generally what is produced on muckland. The main farm in Elba comprises about 8,000 and spans parts of Orleans, Niagara and Genesee counties.[2]

The 1,200-acre (4.9 km2) property in Potter, New York, makes up the majority of a valley of muckland that stretches all the way from Potter to Gorham, New York along Flint Creek. It was a swamp until it was drained in the 1950s.[3] Not all of the valley is owned by the Torreys. The valley itself was close to being the 12th of the Finger Lakes. The muckland in Elba is thought to be the largest continuous section of muckland in the world.[4]

History

In 1626, the Torrey family left England due to disagreement with the church. The family first settled in Connecticut, but later moved West in search of better soil. In 1803, John Torrey arrived in Bethany, New York. In 1948 Elbert Torrey purchased the Higley Farm in Elba.[5] Today, the Torrey family farms over 10,000 acres (40 km2).

Labor

The farm makes use of migrant workers. In October 1997, 25 illegal migrant workers from Torrey Farms were arrested and set to be deported by Immigration.[6] This was one of the largest immigration raids in New York history and, along with other raids of the time, it caused a significant local labor shortage. Mareen Torrey, owner of Torrey Farms said, "I’m probably going to end up leaving $2 million worth of crop in the field and it’s adding up every day" [7]

Rocket launches

In July 2009, the Tripoli Rocketry Association held the 28th annual LDRS (Large, Dangerous Rocket Ships) rocket launch event at the Potter, New York portion of Torrey Farms;[8] the 31st was held in July 2021;[9] and the 34th in June 2015.[10]

References
  1. RUMBLINGS OF GOVERNMENT RACISM nl.newsbank.com
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2009-06-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Potter records". Archived from the original on 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  4. Elba Mucklands "Number 21: Elba Mucklands". Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  5. Torrey Farms geneseeny.com
  6. 25 MIGRANT WORKERS ARRESTED IN ELBA BY IMMIGRATION AGENTS newsbank.com
  7. IMMIGRATION RAIDS: Local farmers reeling from busts lockportjournal.com Archived 2013-01-28 at archive.today
  8. "LDRS28 Site", LDRS website
  9. LDRS31 Site
  10. LDRS34 Site Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine

43°5′0.9″N 78°12′4.5″W

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