UCEDA Votes to Sign Letter of Intent with Ronnybrook Farm Dairy
Published on March 23, 2026
UCEDA Votes to Sign Letter of Intent with Ronnybrook Farm Dairy to Anchor New Ulster Agribusiness Center at iPark 87
KINGSTON, NY - The Ulster County Economic Development Alliance (UCEDA) voted today to sign a non‑binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, a multigenerational New York dairy producer, to establish operations at the future Ulster Agribusiness Center located on UCEDA‑owned property within iPark 87, in the Town of Ulster.
In her State of the County address, County Executive Metzger announced that she was working with UCEDA on a proposal to partner with a local food and beverage company to site a production facility at iPark as well as to manage a cold/freezer storage facility that would lease space to local farms and value-added businesses. Access to cold storage is a priority-need identified in Ulster County's 2025 Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan to enable agricultural enterprises to grow their sales and markets.
Under the LOI, Ronnybrook would lease two buildings on a UCEDA-owned property located on the iPark East campus. The existing warehouse building would be used for cultured dairy production, and the second building, a former power house, would be converted to a cold/freezer storage facility that Ronnybrook would manage on behalf of UCEDA. The proposed lease includes approximately 21,700 square feet in the warehouse building (Phase 1) and 20,000 square feet in the former powerhouse (Phase 2), with a 10-year term and two five-year renewal options.
“We're excited about this proposed partnership with Ronnybrook, which will advance the kind of forward-looking, sustainable economic development we are committed to in Ulster County," said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. "The proposed Agribusiness Center aims to expand value-added production, diversify food and beverage manufacturing, and support shared services that strengthen the region’s farm economy. Ronnybrook is an ideal partner as a values-driven business and respected New York State dairy producer with deep roots in the Hudson Valley dating back more than 80 years as a family farm. We look forward to working with owner Rick Osofsky and his team to bring the new Center to fruition, and I want to thank the UCEDA Board for its continued commitment to transforming iPark into a hub of innovation and opportunity.”
Ronnybrook, based in Ancramdale, N.Y., is known statewide for its high‑quality dairy products and longstanding commitment to sustainable farming. The company is seeking to expand its production and distribution capacity, particularly for cultured dairy products, and views the Ulster Agribusiness Center as a strategic location for growth.
“We’ve been interested for some time in exploring the possibility of locating production at iPark, and this opportunity feels like the right fit for our farm and our future,” said Rick Osofsky, owner of Ronnybrook Farm Dairy. “We share Ulster County's vision for a strong and sustainable food economy and are excited about the County Executive's proposal to manage a shared cold storage facility alongside our company's own operations. We look forward to working with UCEDA and the County's economic development team to move this project forward."
“UCEDA is excited for this partnership and for the positive momentum it brings to iPark,” said Gregory Simpson, Chair of the UCEDA Board. “Ronnybrook is a respected, values-driven producer, and we’re thrilled to see them take this step with us. We’re grateful for County Executive Metzger’s partnership and look forward to the progress ahead.”
“For over 80 years, the multigenerational Ronnybrook Farm Dairy has been a leader in high-quality dairy production and responsible stewardship, and their expansion into iPark is smart economic development that will strengthen our food system and agricultural economy,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee. “This plan, paired with a commitment to increase shared cold storage capacity, responds to a critical infrastructure need that will help many of our small and mid-sized producers grow, compete, and generate new market opportunities. I thank Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and the Economic Development Alliance for forming this exciting partnership to bolster our farm and food businesses in Ulster County.”
“Ronnybrook’s commitment to the Ulster Agribusiness Center is a tremendous opportunity for UCEDA to lead by example in strengthening our regional food system,” said Joshua Stratton-Rayner, Ulster County Director of Economic Development. “Expanded cold‑storage capacity — one of the core functions Ronnybrook will help manage — is directly aligned with a priority recommendation of the 2025 Ulster County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. By co‑locating processing, storage, and distribution infrastructure, we’re creating favorable conditions for small and mid‑sized producers to grow and innovate. This partnership moves us closer to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, and we’re proud to be working with Ronnybrook to bring that vision forward.”
The LOI outlines the parties’ intent to negotiate a full lease agreement within 180 days, and UCEDA and Ronnybrook will continue those negotiations with the goal of beginning phased occupancy once site preparation and build-out are complete.
The Ulster Agribusiness Center is envisioned as a multi‑organizational partnership that will provide shared infrastructure, cold storage, and value‑added processing capacity to support farms and food businesses in Ulster County and beyond. By co‑locating services and production facilities, the Center aims to reduce costs for producers, strengthen supply chains, and create new opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurship.