Western New York Cherry Producers Cooperative is owned by Kappus Farms, Niagara Orchards, Dave Nichols, Lake View Orchards, Singer Farms and Robert Tower. The Niagara County facility pits and ships tart cherries three weeks out of the year. Farm Credit’s Krista Snell provides the cooperative with credit. Secretary/Treasurer Jim Bittner shared their leasing experience with Financial Partner magazine:

“Our cherry pitters had a number of years on them and needed major work to maintain top quality and get all of the pits out. That’s what it is all about.

“Our members agreed to overhaul the fillers and pitters. While the investment was one-third the cost of new equipment, we did not have the cash flow to pay for it at one time. We wanted to spread the cost over several years. So, I made a call to Krista to ask about financing possibilities. She recommended a lease, because it was simpler and easier for us to do at this point. She handled all of the paperwork for us, which we appreciated.