“Secrets of the Finger Lakes” aired original on September 12 at 8:30 p.m. on WHAM-TV and on 13wham.com
For those of you who missed it — or want to watch it again — here it is broken into four clips.
My television news superiors approached me about putting together a special report after the success of my book. At first I hesitated, because I didn’t want to simply air a rehashed set of stories that already appear in print. But then I saw an opportunity to tell new stories; these are some of the stories that do not appear in the book, but likely would if the book were republished today.
On top of that, I was fortunate to have my colleagues jump into this project. We take a look at the land and the weather, breaking down the advantages growers have and the challenges they face. And we look at the political issues still facing the region, occasionally threatening to divide it.
The stories of risk and unlikely success are exemplified by the Missick family, some of the region’s newest faces.
All about the weather, the land, and the advantages to growing grapes in the Finger Lakes.
A look at why the region has become so appealing to industry professionals from other states or countries, and a look at how the economics of small and large operations weave together.
Some political issues threaten to divide the industry.