St. Lawrence County Chamber recognizes four organizations at annual dinner

CANTON, N.Y. — The St. Lawrence County (STLC) Chamber of Commerce recognized three businesses and one library during its annual meeting held Oct. 22. The STLC Chamber honored Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers as its 2025 Business of the Year. In addition, the chamber recognized Jernabi Coffeehouse of Potsdam for its Customer Service Excellence, Canton Apples & Cider as the Local Producer of the Year, and the Massena Public Library as the Community Cornerstone. The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its annual business awards ahead of the annual dinner. The chamber used the event to recognize the recipients for their achievements and contributions to the county’s business climate, quality of life, and character. “St. Lawrence County and the North Country are filled with remarkable businesses and organizations that are essential to the vitality of our region,” Ben Dixon, executive director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, said in the announcement. “It is wonderful for us to be able to recognize them for the way they support other businesses, enhance our economy, and present our region as an exceptionally great place to be.”

About the Business of the Year

Founded in 1943, Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers employs more than 50 local residents and consistently reinvests in modern equipment, facility improvements, and sustainability initiatives that strengthen both its operations and the regional economy, per the STLC Chamber’s announcement. Under the leadership of the Winter and Wright families, Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers “balances business excellence with exceptional community engagement.” Its philanthropy has supported local initiatives that include the Boys & Girls Club and youth athletics to health care, including support for the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center. The company also demonstrates ongoing innovation through recent investments in recycling technology and cold-storage systems.

Jernabi Coffeehouse

Jernabi Coffeehouse was recognized with the Customer Service Excellence Award for its “dedication to warmth, consistency, and genuine community connection.” Those nominating the business for the award praised the coffeehouse as an establishment that “embodies hospitality from the moment guests enter,” the STLC Chamber said. It went on to acknowledge Jernabi’s staff as “friendly, knowledgeable, and professional,” and noted for attention to detail like remembering a regular’s custom order or guiding new customers through the menu.

Canton Apples & Cider

The STLC Chamber presented the award for Local Producer of the Year to Canton Apples & Cider, a business “rooted in tradition, innovation, and community stewardship.” Canton Apples works to preserve heritage apple varieties, including rare and heirloom strains, “keeping agricultural heritage alive” while offering consumers a distinctive, local product. The business also demonstrates innovation through its new line of handcrafted ciders. By blending apple varieties, it produces “complex, naturally balanced” flavors. “Their commitment to quality and the environment is evident in their methods, which include sustainable orchard practices and the use of UV treatment rather than chemical additives,” per the announcement.

Massena Public Library

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce honored the Massena Public Library with the Community Cornerstone Award for its outstanding contributions through education, inclusion, and connection. The library serves as a “vibrant hub” that offers free access to technology, lifelong learning, and cultural enrichment for all ages. The chamber praised the library’s staff for its commitment to “making everyone feel welcome.” The library has also supported the Massena Chamber of Commerce, assisting integration efforts by hosting St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Assistant Director Laura Pearson in a temporary office space.