The Grape Discovery Center Presents: The Role of Cooperatives in the Wine and Grape Industry

Week 4 | W | Turner 106 | Ages 21 and up

Grower owner agricultural cooperatives are an important part of the wine and grape industry's success in the Lake Erie region. Learn how these cooperatives work to provide strong, robust markets for grape juice and grape products, including wine. From National Grape Cooperative's famous WELCHS brand to lesser know farm to table products, these farmer owned cooperatives are essential to the Western New York and Western Pennsylvania economy. You will be intrigued by the different products and tastes produced from Concord and other locally grown varieties of grapes.

Class Times

Andy Putnam

Andy Putnam

Westfield Maid Cooperative

Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson

Thomas G. Wilkinson: Elected to the Welch’s Board of Directors in 2008 and served through 2022. Was Elected Chairman of the Welch’s Board of Directors in February 2017, serving as Chairman for three years, through January 2020. Tom has been a National Grape Cooperative member for 36 years and served as a National Director from 2007-2022. He served as President of National Grape from 2017–2020.

Tom is the owner of Thomas Wilkinson Farms and President of Thomas Daniel Vineyards, Inc. He operates a 155.9-acre farm with 144.9 acres of Concords and 6.2 acres of Niagaras contracted under National Grape. The farm also consists of 3.0 acres of Vidal Blanc and 1.8 acres of Seyval Blanc.

Tom was employed as Vice President and General Manager of E.D. Smith/North Coast Processing from 2002-2006; Executive Vice President of Operations of Red Wing/Carriage House Company from 1996-2002; and Director of Corporate Engineering of Welch Foods, Inc. from 1982-1996. He was appointed to the Erie County, PA Agricultural Preservation Board in February 2023.

Tom received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Valparaiso University and attended the Masters of Business Administration program at Western Michigan University. Additionally, he received certificates in finance and management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and the Boston University School of Management.

Steve Cockram

Steve Cockram

Growers Coop