Christopher and Jonathan Oakes have a passion for their family business, in which they grew up and remain heavily involved.
Active in the operation of Lynoaken Farms, Christopher is vice chair of the New York Apple Association and Jonathan is president of the New York Cider Association. They are likely the only brothers ever to serve in those positions at the same time.
They recently attended annual meetings of their respective organizations in Albany, which they believe is important in getting lawmakers to make laws and provide funding for programs beneficial to farmers.
In addition to their involvement in statewide agricultural organizations, their aunt Wendy Oakes-Wilson is a member of the New York Grape and Wine Foundation.
Jonathan has been a member of the New York Cider Association since its founding in 2015. He was elected president in June 2022.
Christopher has been a member of the New York Apple Association board since 2020 and was elected vice chair a year ago.
“Our involvement in agricultural goes back to our grandfather Jim,” Jonathan said. “He was active in many agricultural agencies, specifically apple organizations.”
Jim’s father Leonard founded the family farm in 1919, raising poultry and vegetables through the end of World War II. After Leonard died in 1951, Jim took over and transitioned the farm more into fruit and vegetables, Jonathan said. By the 1980s, the farm was mostly a fruit farm. Christopher’s and Jonathan’s dad Darrell heads the farm today.
Farming has become more challenging in recent years, with all the rules and regulations being enacted in Albany, Christopher said, which is why the Oakes brothers believe it’s important to support the apple and cider organizations.
Jonathan has always had a penchant for cider and started fermenting in 2003. The tasting room at Lynoaken was opened in 2008.
Cider was one of original key beverages in the United States, according to Jonathan, and since his family farm had a lot of apples, it made sense to start making cider.
“Then we have a school like Cornell in our back yard. It’s nice for us to collaborate with each other and assure we stay on the front end of things,” he said.
The New York Cider Association is young, as organizations go, sort of running on the shirttails of the New York Apple Association, Jonathan observed.
“It’s been a good relationship so far,” he said.
Lynoaken Farms currently raises 250 acres of apples, 16 acres of peaches and 15 acres of wine grapes. The major apple orchards are on the home farm on Platten Road, while the winery is located on Ridge Road in Medina. Fourteen varieties of apples are grown for the commercial market, while the U-pick orchard boasts more than 350 varieties, including an ancient variety named Ben Davis.
“This was a big variety when the canal came through,” Christopher said. “You could put them on a ship to England and they would still look like an apple when they got there. Of course, they were like shoe leather.”
Source: lockportjournal.com
Categories: New York, Crops