LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Adams Family upon the occasion of
receiving the Quality of Life Award from Family Services on April 29,
2010

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its
citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Adams Family upon the occasion of receiving the Quality of Life Award
from Family Services at its 2010 Family of the Year Awards Dinner to be
held on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, New
York; and
WHEREAS, Adams Fairacre Farms has been active in the Hudson Valley
since Ralph Adams, Sr. and his wife, Mary, began selling produce from
their farm on Route 44 in a front of a small building near the highway;
and
WHEREAS, In 1960, Ralph Adams Jr., and his brother, Donald Adams took
the family business a step further and built a store at the present
location; after many enlargements and renovations, Adams now offers
produce, meat, fish, cheese, candy, flowers, plants, gifts, and garden
supplies; there is also a Fencing department, Power Equipment facility,
and Landscaping service; and
WHEREAS, In addition, two more stores have been added, one in Ulster
County at Kingston and another in Orange County at Newburgh; a fourth
store is in the beginning stages, destined for Route 9, near Wappingers
Falls; and
WHEREAS, Today, Adams Fairacre Farms has 700 employees, among whom are
high school and college students who are able to work part-time, while
being able to fully participate in academics and extracurricular activ-
ities; and
WHEREAS, The business is currently owned and operated by Ralph and
Donald Adams, and Donald's two sons, Patrick and Stephen; Ralph's son
Mark owns Mark Adams Greenhouses, an independent business run by Mark
and his wife, Susan; they supply all three of the Adams' stores with
bedding plants (flowers and vegetables), poinsettias, mums, and other
perennials; and
WHEREAS, Mark Adams also serves as the President of the Dutchess
Putnam Westchester Farm Bureau; Diana Adams, sister of Ralph and Donald,
owns the buildings that are the homes for two businesses on the property
at Adams Fairacre Farms in Poughkeepsie; the Marlene Weber Day Spa is
located in a renovated barn behind the market, and the popular bakery,
The Pastry Garden, is next door; and
WHEREAS, All four of the children of Ralph Adams, Sr., Diana, Dorothy,
Ralph Jr., and Donald, worked on the farm in the early days, when the
store was operated only in the summer, selling the crops that were
raised on the farm; and
WHEREAS, Many of the employees of Adams serve on the boards of several
local organizations including: Vassar Brothers Medical Center, The Astor
Home for Children, The Mid-Hudson Civic Center, and the Dutchess County
Area Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, The Adams Family has continually demonstrated extreme compe-
tence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership in their
unwavering service to their community; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which the members of the Adams Family have
displayed throughout their lives; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Adams Family upon the occasion of receiving the Quality of
Life Award from Family Services on April 29, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Adams Family.