Jeff Gifford would love to take all of his employees to New York City to see The Birkett Mills products on the shelves. “It’s fun to go to Manhattan and know that it’s all made in our backyard in Penn Yan,” says the President & CEO who has owned the company for the last 13 years.
The Birkett Mills, which is headquartered on Main Street in Penn Yan, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of buckwheat products. Established and in continual operation since 1797, it has over 200 years of buckwheat, soft wheat, and custom grain milling experience. It may even be one of the longest operating companies in the United States.
The company’s claim to fame is its buckwheat products, which are sold throughout the world. “Buckwheat is a really versatile product,” says Jeff. “It’s North America’s answer to quinoa. If buckwheat is on the label, there’s a decent chance it came from us one way or another.”
The company has retail products in distribution in every state and also sells to other food manufacturers. In addition to thousands of small stores, the company also sells to national grocery chains like Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Wegmans.
Locate Finger Lakes is a Finger Lakes economic development initiative designed to assist and foster collaboration among the established Finger Lakes economic development efforts with targeted, proactive, marketing communications and networking.
Locate Finger Lakes is focused on directing local, national and international business leaders to Finger Lakes information and inspire them to look closely at the region’s assets enabling their businesses, their families and their employees families to thrive.
