Tierra Farms CEO Todd Kletter touts a workplace culture that inspires enthusiasm and promotes health.

"Obviously, we are conscious of our costs and turning profit, but in the same breath, we want to treat our employees incredibly well,” said Kletter, speaking from the company’s retail store.

Tierra started as an organic vegetable farm in the Finger Lakes 20 years ago. Today, the company employs about 60 people.

"They have a hand in the decision-making process. Promoting from within is very, very important to us; we provide a daily lunch for every single employee,” said Kletter.

From Tierra’s headquarters in Valatie, workers prepare and package more than 250 different products.

"We source and roast both seeds and nuts. We also source and distribute dried fruits, coffee, chocolate, and nut butters,” said Kletter.

Tierra Farm’s customer service manager Ashley Doyle praised the company’s products, saying, “I think the quality speaks for itself. It is definitely the best quality that I have ever found.”

Many of Tierra’s signature products are roasted. Most days, between 6,000 and 7,000 pounds of seeds, nuts, oats, and granola are roasted in a facility with 17 industrial ovens on site.

"We built it with our sweat and blood," said Daniel Laiosa, Tierra Farm’s COO.

He’s been with Tierra for 15 years. He’s also part owner.

"To this day, we still make our products by hand," said Laiosa.

With new walking paths on the property and a store on site, employees hope the Columbia County farm becomes a destination.

"We wanted to give people a little bit better experience, and we’re constantly improving the property," said Kletter.