Taste NY Partners With Baldor Specialty Foods

From the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets:

Taste NY is partnering with Baldor Specialty Foods, the East Coast’s premiere food distributor, to support the growth of local agribusinesses and farms.  

As part of this partnership, Baldor will support the Taste NY Restaurant Pledge through its own newly launched Pledge Local program to increase the use of New York grown and produced products at restaurants and businesses throughout the state.  

This partnership will be celebrated at the Baldor BITE event today (Wednesday, April 6) that brings together more than 1,500 chefs, restaurateurs and other industry members for tastings, cooking demos, contests, breakaway educational sessions and more.

“Baldor’s Pledge Local program complements the ongoing efforts of Taste NY to promote locally made food products and spur economic growth for our vital agricultural industry,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “This pledge bridges local growers and producers with the restaurants and businesses that help share their products with consumers from every part of the state and beyond.”

 

Baldor’s Pledge Local program makes it easier for restaurants to support local businesses. Through the program, customers authorize Baldor’s team of expert buyers to substitute commodity items with similarly priced local alternatives whenever possible.  

The company has already received commitments from major industry players and has identified nearly 500 customers who have the potential to benefit from the program. 

 

Through its partnership with Taste NY, Baldor’s website and Pledge Local webpage, www.baldorfood.com/pledge will promote and feature an opportunity for their customers to take the Taste NY Pledge, encouraging restaurants to increase the sourcing, marketing and education of New York state grown and made products. 

By signing the Taste NY Pledge, restaurants and chefs promise to expand their use of New York state products by 10 percent or more.

 

New York state also will promote Baldor’s Pledge Local program on its Taste NY website, www.taste.ny.gov, social media channels, and on the Taste of NY pledge sign up page at http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/Take_the_Pledge_Distribute.pdf

More than 400 restaurants are now signed up for the Taste NY Pledge.