TOWN OF GOSHEN – Site clearing has been ongoing for several weeks on a huge track about a quarter mile north of Route 17M in the Town of Goshen, but the ceremonial kickoff took place on a gray damp Friday morning. Over 100 turned out to welcome Amy’s Kitchen.
Andy and Rachel Berliner, who started Amy’s, named for their daughter, in California over 30 years ago, said coming to Orange County was an easy call, because of the welcome they got at all levels.
Andy spoke of daughter Amy’s motivation in the company’s growth.
“Amy has brought a stronger emphasis on sustainability to the company,” Andy said. “We always were organic and the sharing which makes a big contribution.”
“We really want to thank you so much from our hearts, and we couldn’t have done it without you and we really look forward to working with you in the future,” Rachel said, adding that when they saw the Town of Goshen site, they “felt like this is going to be our home.”
Town supervisor Douglas Bloomfield said this is the biggest thing for his town since the Erie railroad came.
“This is the biggest event in the Town of Goshen, and it is, since 1843,” Bloomfeld said.
The Legoland people might take exception to that. The theme park is also being built in the Town of Goshen.
One poignant moment came when County Executive Steve Neuhaus, just back from his Naval Reserve deployment to Iraq, spoke of an earlier meeting with the Berliners, when his young daughter interrupted with the breaking news that she would soon have a baby brother, who is now five.
“Andy said, ‘It’s okay, it’s called Amy’s Kitchen because of my daughter’ and that’s what we’re all about here and since then, we’ve had a wonderful, wonderful friendship,” Neuhaus said.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer spoke of Amy’s renowned record of treating its employees well.
“One of the nicest things is to do well by doing good,” Schumer said. “That’s what the Berliners have done. That’s what Amy’s Kitchen has done. They have done well by doing good.”
When up and running in a couple of years, Amy’s is expected to employ about 600 to 800 locally hired workers, and as much as possible, will locally source most of the ingredients for its line of about 250 products.
By the end of the ceremony, the rain had stopped, the sun was breaking through and guests were treated to a sampling of Amy’s pizza and veggie burgers.
