Reporting by northcountrypublicradio.org.

Champlain Valley Milling in Willsboro, NY, which was at one point the largest 100% organic flour mill in New York state, has closed.

Willsboro Town Supervisor Shaun Gillilland says the recent news came as a shock.

"We were not given any heads up on it," he said. "We were not given any reason. We basically found out about it through one of their former employees."

Struggling post-pandemic

Jody Olcott, a co-director of the Essex County Industrial Development Agency, says Champlain Valley Milling had been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We knew things were slowing for the business," she said. "We had hoped that, potentially, acquiring a few more customers would change their circumstance."

Olcott says owners Sam and Derinda Sherman were actively marketing the business to others in the northeast for a possible takeover.

Multiple attempts to reach the Shermans by phone and Facebook were unsuccessful.

The closure leaves behind many devoted customers. Dan Rivera and his wife, Kimmy, own Triple Green Jade Farm in Willsboro. They make organic artisan bread, and have used Champlain Valley Milling’s products since they started their business.

Rivera says they found out the company was closing through their wheat berry distributor last month.

"It's just something you don't want to see happen to any business," he said. "I know they employed a decent amount of folks around the area. They invested a lot in equipment and stuff there."