Watkins Salt Company

The Watkins Salt Company was established at the south end of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, NY, in 1898. It was owned and operated by the Clute family until its 1976 sale to Cargill Inc. At the time of the sale, Watkins Salt was one of the largest, independent salt companies in the nation. Brine extraction from wells drilled deep into the salt layer and evaporation before refinement have been the manufacturing processes since the beginning. Cargill products are used in the agricultural, food and medical industries.