The director of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency wants to have a conversation with a juice manufacturer in Dunkirk that is no longer processing concord grapes, especially since they’re receiving tax breaks.

During the county IDA meeting, Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise brought up how Refresco is canceling contracts with local grape growers.

“I did reach out to Refresco and wanted to have a conversation about the who, the what and the why. I received a message back in the form of an email – not a phone call – from Refresco’s director of communications,” he said.

Geise read the email which essentially stated that the company is no longer sourcing grapes from concord and Niagara grapes growers, beginning this fall.

“This follows a comprehensive assessment of our current inventory levels, market demand and long-term supplier needs,” the letter said.

In an email to the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal, Refresco cited the decision as “the result of sustained grape market challenges and supply imbalances that we do not expect will recover in the foreseeable future.

“We remain focused on supporting those impacted through this transition by maintaining open communication,” said Antonella Sacconi, director of communications at Refresco.

Geise noted that Refresco was given a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement when they purchased the Talcott Street building in Dunkirk in 2023, which is still in place. The building was owned by the county and was previously used by Carriage House.

Refresco bought the building for storage and distribution.

He said the PILOT was given with the condition of a $2.5 million investment.

“We’re going to sit down with them and say ‘hey, what are you doing?’ And if they’re not going to, or if they’re not complying with the PILOT then we (the IDA Board of Directors) need to have a serious conversation here,” Geise said.

IDA board member Dan Heitzenrater, who is also the President of CHQ Chamber, said the email that Geise received is basically a “canned response” to what they’re telling everyone.

Heitzenrater said Refresco needs to discuss this further with the county IDA.

“I would certainly think that the relationship with the IDA warrants better conversation than that,” he said.