NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul marked the official grand opening of Oxbo’s new farming equipment manufacturing facility in the Town of Bergen, Genesee County.
The global agribusiness company constructed a new $60.5 million, 200,000 square-foot facility in Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park which will also serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters.
The company has committed to creating up to 78 new jobs at the site. Empire State Development is providing up to $2.5 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments. Genesee County, the Town and Village of Bergen and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the venture.
“Supporting projects that fuel the agricultural industry is essential to New York’s economic future and we will continue to make investments that move this crucial service forward,” Governor Hochul said.
“Oxbo’s commitment is helping us to cultivate those opportunities, ensuring that New York remains an agricultural leader for generations to come.”
Oxbo’s newBergen facility serves as a production center for advanced harvesters for high value crops such as seed corn, sweet corn, green beans and peas.
The site also includes increased laser and machining capabilities, a state-of-the-art ventilation system in the weld shop, the addition of powder coating, a product showroom, an outdoor test track, providing customers, dealers and employees with hands-on demonstrations, technical training and equipment testing.
“This new facility marks an important milestone for Oxbo. By transitioning operations from our former Byron, NY facility into a purpose‑built, highly efficient facility in Bergen, NY we are able to provide more innovative, high-quality products and even stronger support to our customers. We are proud to be part of the Bergen community and excited about what lies ahead,” said Oxbo High Value Crop Division President Joe Perzia.
Founded more than 60 years ago and headquartered in the Netherlands, Oxbo designs and manufactures advanced farming equipment for the global agribusiness industry offering a range of products for various markets, including harvesting equipment, manure spreaders and vegetable harvesters. In addition to the Town of Bergen location, the company maintains additional operations in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and Brazil. They also have global locations for sales, direct service and parts support.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, ESD continues to make key investments that strengthen vital industries like advanced manufacturing and agribusiness, while also helping communities develop the infrastructure to encourage and support these businesses. Oxbo’s decision to open its new U.S. headquarters in Genesee County represents the importance of our public-private partnerships in creating jobs and generating new economic growth, and their impact in building a stronger New York,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight.
The project was in part facilitated through Governor Hochul’s efforts to develop shovel-ready sites for industrial users like Oxbo. In October of 2024, ESD awarded a $1.26 million grant to Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park through the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) initiative to support needed electrical infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to the electrical substation and distribution lines, increasing the capacity to serve anticipated load growth. These upgrades will allow Apple Tree Acres to further develop an additional 47 shovel ready acres intended for future manufacturing.
First announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in February 2022, FAST NY helps to diversify New York State’s economy while generating new investments for businesses, communities and job creation.
Following an initial commitment of $200 million, Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently secured an additional $100 million for FAST NY in both the FY25 and FY26 State Budgets for a total of $400 million. FAST NY has attracted or expanded the presence in New York State for companies such as FairLife, Chobani, Edwards Vacuum, Siemens Mobility and Oxbo. These companies will invest over $2.2 billion and create nearly 3,000 jobs.
FAST NY grants are awarded for pre-development activities and infrastructure investments to develop sites that will attract many eligible industries, including high-tech manufacturing, semiconductors, clean-tech renewable energy, life sciences, agribusiness, optics, transportation equipment, materials processing, industrial machinery manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing.
