NEWS RELEASE –
Waterloo, NY, August 10, 2023
Bill Lutz, President of Waterloo Container Company recently hosted NYS Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball, and Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Wolters for a tour and discussion at the company packaging headquarters in Waterloo, NY for a discussion on growing the Wine, Spirits, and Craft Beverage industry in NY.
Commissioner Ball has been at the helm of the Department of Agriculture and Markets since 2014. His department of is tasked with promoting New York State agriculture and to ensure the viability and growth of New York’s agriculture industries. “We are beyond grateful for the work that Commissioner Ball has done for all types of farmers in New York State. After meeting with him in Albany earlier this year it was clear that he is a true advocate for all farmers in New York State. We appreciate his level of commitment to the Finger Lakes region and his promise to involve stakeholders like us into discussions that will positively impact the Wine, Spirits and Craft Beverage industry across the state. His dedication to farmers, including grape growers, in New York State is admirable. We are glad to be part of this important discussion which also addressed important environmental issues that impact our region” said Bill Lutz, President of Waterloo Container.
“We exchanged several ideas and left our meeting with a sense of understanding. We plan to continue to work with his department to improve fair competition practices for our industry and entice tourism and push for budget inclusions and allocations to support the industry as a whole. As we always try to represent the best interests of the industry, we are a part of, we appreciate these discussions, and we believe we were heard. As supporters of industry programs at Cornell and FLCC [in Enology and Viticulture] we know there is a demand for more workers and winemakers in the industry, and we hope the Commissioner will continue to work to find new ways to support industry growth for these future workers, including ways to encourage new markets. The goal is to grow with the industry on all fronts, and we think with his help we will be on the right track.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York State is home to a diverse, innovative wine industry, which continues to set itself apart and produce some of the very best wines in the world. We were glad to meet with Waterloo Container today to talk about how we can work together to support this critical industry and our agricultural community that produces the ingredients used to create these outstanding varietals.”
“Waterloo Container is committed to continuing to work with Commissioner Ball in his efforts to grow the Wine, Spirits and Craft Beverage Industry in New York State. We look forward to keeping in touch and we are very thankful that the Commissioner took the time to meet with us today.” Ssaid Mark C. Pitifer
Mark Pitifer, Waterloo Container President Bill Lutz, NY State Commissioner of Ag & Markets Richard Ball, Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Wolters, and George Hall
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Waterloo Container is a family-owned wine and beverage packaging supplier with over 40 years of experience in the wine packaging industry. We provide partnership through packaging with an unrivaled ready-to-ship inventory of glass wine, spirit and craft bottles sourced both domestically and globally, helpful services like glass printing, shrink sleeve labeling and state of the art re-pack. Our alliances with the most reputable vendors in the industry means we can offer leading brands like Ardagh Glass and STELVIN® brand closures, along with our unmatched selection of stock capsules and corks, all with an unmatched customer service experience. Get your package when you want it, the way you want it with Waterloo Container.
