NY K00910

Amy Meisenzahl, founder of Great Lakes Dried Fruit Company, is being honored as Emerging Entrepreneur by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce at its 53rd Annual Awards Gala on March 19, 2026

Great Lakes Dried Fruit Company is a western New York food manufacturing startup producing shelf-stable dried fruit snacks from locally sourced ingredients with minimal processing

Meisenzahl founded the company after studying in Switzerland and recognizing flaws in the U.S. food system, aiming to improve access to affordable, healthy snacks

She is currently pursuing a master's degree in supply chain management at the University at Buffalo and is a Western New York Prosperity Fellow

The company focuses on rebuilding regional manufacturing capacity in western New York through local supply chains, community partnerships, and automation to create sustainable jobs