North
West New York
Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Team
Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Team
By: Nancy Glazier
Ivan Davis started processing venison in the cellar of his house in 1988. He eventually grew from there to a USDA slaughter facility with a retail counter in Hunt, and now includes a retail store at 30 State St., Mt. Morris, Livingston County. He runs the satellite store with the help of a cashier, and employs fourteen in Hunt. His focus is to provide local products that his customers want – fresh beef and pork raised on his farm, locally raised lamb, and smoked products from his facility in Hunt.
Besides highlighting his own sausages, ham, bacon and hot dogs, Ivan took the approach prior to start-up of looking for customer input. He placed ads in the local pennysaver asking for suggestions for items to carry in his store. His top three suggestions:
1. DiPaulo’s bread, baked in Rochester,
2. Cuba Cheese, and,
3. Oxtails.
Oxtails? The strong Italian-American community in the area was looking for oxtails. Another significant request was for fresh pork hocks to add to “sauce”.
Ivan has done his best to adapt with the times. He began composting his butcher wastes a few years ago to save on rendering fees. The team’s dairy specialist at the time, Roberta Wolf assisted with the process. Recently, the hide market disappeared; China no longer purchases his hides for leather production. He is hoping the retail store will help his bottom line. He is operating in a small location now, with the possibility to move to a bigger location if demand for products increases. He carries the staples like milk, eggs, along with frozen seafood, rabbit, a few nonperishable canned goods and some fresh produce. He can offer his products at a lower price without a middle man, and hopes to offer things not found in the box stores. With no other grocery store in Mt. Morris, there is room to grow!
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