Local brewery and area businesses team up to raise funds for Crescent Duck Farm workers

A downtown Riverhead brewery and other area businesses are stepping up to help the employees of Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, who are out of work after a bird flu outbreak there forced the farm to shut down its operations nearly two weeks ago.

North Fork Brewing Company, located in the old firehouse on East Second Street, is hosting a fundraising raffle on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.  A long list of people and businesses across the East End have donated raffle items and North Fork Brewery will donate $1 for every pint of four-pack sold during the event.  How U Dogin food truck will donate 20% of its sales during the event. 

“As a community member and a local business owner, it’s vital for us all to work together, and that includes helping others that may be in need,” North Fork Brewing Company owner and head brewer Peter Barraud said. 

“By raising money through the generous support of the East End, we are hoping to provide grocery cards to help alleviate the uncertainty and worry that many of the employees and their families are currently facing,” Barraud said. 

Crescent Duck Farm had to lay off about two-thirds of its 75-person workforce after bird flu was confirmed at the farm Jan. 16, Crescent Duck Farm president and a fourth-generation farmer Doug Corwin told RiverheadLOCAL on Jan. 22. Nearly all of the farm’s employees have been working there for many years, he said. 

Crescent, founded in 1908, is the last duck farm remaining on Long Island, where duck farming once prospered with about 100 operating farms.

More coverage: ‘Bird flu’ outbreak shutters Long Island’s last duck farm, as culling of 99,000 birds is underway

The bird flu outbreak left the future of the farm uncertain, Corwin said. The farm had to euthanize its entire flock of roughly 99,000 ducks. It was able to save some of its eggs for testing and incubation.

The farm remains under quarantine and cleanup will take months. The process of hatching eggs and beginning to raise a new flock will require about 18 months, Corwin said. There are many hurdles to clear, he said. 

“We are trying hard to do the right steps for an eventual rebirth,” Corwin said today.  “One of those steps is having someone incubate the eggs.  We can’t do it onsite until the quarantine is lifted,” he said.

“I’m not certain about the future,” Corwin said.  He’s hoping for a change in USDA policy to allow the birds to be inoculated with a vaccine that’s already in use in Europe. That “would be very encouraging,” he said.

“This has been a  huge, tearful gut punch,” Corwin said.

He’s been touched by the expressions of support in the community and especially by the brewery’s effort to help his workforce. “The community support has been so gracious and heartwarming,” he said. 

Barraud said organizing the fundraiser is the right thing to do for neighbors in need. “My mission for the brewery and how I raise my own family is to always look out for your neighbors and family,” he said, noting that the East End is “banding together as one” for the event.

North Fork Brewing Company is located at 24 East Second Street in Riverhead. See the brewery’s menu of currently available drinks, including cans and bottles to go.