Taste NY events in 2015 helped triple gross
sales of participating vendors in 2015, including
its presence at Saratoga Race Course, according
to the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In less than one year, total gross sales of New
York products from Taste NY events and stores
jumped from approximately $1.5 million in 2014
to over $4.5 million today, according to the state.
“The momentum behind Taste NY continues
and is helping to expand New York’s thriving
food and beverage industry faster than anyone
thought possible,” Cuomo said. “I’m proud that
our ambitious sales goal has been reached and
that these efforts are helping to create jobs, support
farmers and small businesses, and get the
word out about the world-class products made
right here in New York.”
Last year, Cuomo called for the further
development of Taste NY in order to continue
strengthening New York’s growing food and
beverage industry. The plan added four new
Taste NY stores, increased marketing opportunities,
established several new partnerships and
strengthened connections to consumers across
the globe, officials said.
The latest piece of this expansion includes
a new Taste NY Café at Whiteface Mountain,
which opened its in late December. It offers a
wide range of North Country and New York
state agricultural products–from local yogurts,
cheeses and baked goods to craft beer, hard cider
and wine.
The Taste NY Café at Whiteface builds on
the successful concession partnerships forged
in 2015 with major venues and sports arenas
like the Times Union Center in Albany, as well
as minor league baseball teams across the State,
including the Tri-City Valley Cats and Batavia
Muckdogs. Additionally, more than 1,100 vendors
and small companies participated in more
than 43 Taste NY special events, ranging from
the New York State Racing Association's Belmont
Stakes and the Saratoga Race Course to the
Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally, Summer Fancy
Food Show and the Great New York State Fair.
Another key part of Taste NY's success was
the addition of four Taste NY stores opened
earlier this year bringing the total number of
stores to 11. This includes the very first Taste
NY store outside of New York state which was
established in Old San Juan Puerto Rico and new
stores inside travel plazas and rest stops along
State highways.
The Taste NY Market at Todd Hill having recently
hit a major milestone and bringing in $1
million in sales, and the Grand Central Station
store reporting having carried 3,500 different
products and having served 53,000 customers
in 2015, officials said.
Additionally, the state Department of Agriculture
and Markets partnered with Empire
State Development to provide New Yorkers and
visitors worldwide instant access to a list of all
the Taste NY agri-tourism destinations through
the I LOVE NY mobile app, bringing greater
exposure to New York's food and beverage businesses
across the state.
The department also worked with Food Export
USA and Empire State Development this
year to ensure Taste NY products were included
in the Governor Cuomo's trade missions to Cuba
and Puerto Rico.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard
A. Ball said Taste NY "is making a significant
impact on our farmers and producers, helping
to provide exposure for their products and grow
their business. New York has some of the most
unique and diverse food and beverages in the
world, and I couldn't be happier to see that consumers
from across the globe are taking notice
and responding to the Taste NY brand to support
New York homemade products."
Taste NY is an initiative overseen by the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and
has created opportunities for local producers to
showcase their goods at large public events, such
as the Great New York State Fair. The program
has also opened stores at Thruway rest stops
along the state's highways and in transportation
hubs, enabling travelers to buy New York state's
homegrown and homemade products. For more
information, visit www.taste.ny.gov.