McMahon Embarks On Week-Long Jobs Tour; Visits Woodbury Business

Republican Linda McMahon visited Winding Drive Jams & Jellies in Woodbury on Monday as part of a statewide jobs tour. (Courant/Amanda Falcone)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon is looking to talk to as many business leaders as possible this week, and she kicked off her statewide jobs tour on Monday with stops at four local businesses, including Winding Drive Jams & Jellies in Woodbury.

This is the fifth time McMahon has embarked on a week-long jobs tour since she began her campaign for the Senate seat.  The economy and jobs are what people want to talk about, McMahon said.

Fran Adams and Ron Pinto began making and selling gourmet jams and jellies in 2008 — from their home. Since, Winding Drive Jams & Jellies has grown. The company now operates out of  a small building on Main Street South  in Woodbury, selling their products online.

In 2011, they made 15,000 jars of jams and jellies, they said.

Their business may be growing, but staying ahead is still a struggle, Adams told McMahon Monday. For example, the recently-passed Food Safety Act increases the requirements for small food businesses, and those requirements will be both costly and time consuming, she said.

The couple also said they have had trouble getting a capital loan. They want to purchase expensive machinery that would automatically fill and cap their jelly and jam containers.

They are also concerned about the costs of health insurance and fuel. The cost of everything keeps going up, they said.

McMahon listened intently to both Adams and Pinto, asking questions and offering her opinion. It’s important to hear from business owners, and it is clear that a change is needed in Washington, D.C., she said.

“This Congress isn’t moving,” she said.