New Food Processor Job To Bring More Local Foods to School Cafeterias

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/new-food-processor-job-created-to-bring-more-local-food-to-school-cafeterias-20180405 to check out the story.

Taste NY Sales Continue to Grow

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

Taste NY sales continued to increase in 2017, growing to a record $16.1 million. 

Total gross sales of New York products from Taste NY stores, cafés, bars, concessions and events topped last year's sales totals by $3 million. The significant year-over-year growth reflects increasing consumer demand for local food and beverage products, which supports New York's agricultural and tourism industries. 

 
The Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition since it was created in 2013. The program reported sales of $1.5 million in 2014, tripled those figures to $4.5 million in 2015, and $13.1 million in 2016. 

The exposure from Taste NY has helped the farms and companies participating in the program to reach more customers, increase online sales, and, in many cases, expand the processing capacity of their business. 

Taste NY's food and beverage businesses also support the state's farmers by using New York grown and produced ingredients in their products.

 
In the past year, Taste NY made products available at 13 new locations and participated in major, large events, such as The Northern Trust and the New York City Marathon. 

As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's vision to construct a state-of-the-art Welcome Center in each region of the state, Taste NY is promoting local products at the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, New York City and Central New York Welcome Centers, in addition to the Long Island Welcome Center that opened in 2016.

 

In 2017, Taste NY opened concessions in six additional state parks, bringing high-quality New York food and beverage products to park visitors. Guests can now find New York made food and drinks at a total of 10 properties, including Olana State Historic Site, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Jones Beach State Park, and Niagara Falls State Park. 

Together, parks selling local Taste NY food and beverages draw nearly 30 million visitors annually.  

In addition, last year, Taste NY launched the state's first-ever Taste NY Craft Beverage Week in New York City, hosted the Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge with celebrity and professional judges, and held the Taste NY Food Truck Competition and first-annual Craft Beer Competition at the Great New York State Fair.

 

A complete list of Taste NY locations can be found at this link  www.taste.ny.gov  The 2017 Taste NY annual report is available at this link https://www.ny.gov/sites/ny.gov/files/atoms/files/2017_TasteNY_ImpactReport.pdf

 
To build on the success of 2017 and further connect New York producers to new markets, Cuomo's 2018-2019 Executive Budget proposes additional support for Taste NY. 

This year, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will identify 10 core food and beverage categories that will be highlighted in New York's regional Welcome Centers to further strengthen Taste NY branding and tell the exciting stories behind New York's businesses. 

The department will also coordinate with other state agencies on possible new Taste NY locations as infrastructure projects are developed across the state, including the reconstruction of train stations and airports.

 

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will host five regional Business-to-Business Taste NY Networking events to connect New York farms, food and beverage businesses with buyers from institutions, retail locations, restaurants, bars, and distributors.

 

The Taste NY website, www.taste.ny.gov, will also be transformed to operate as a one-stop resource for residents, visitors and businesses. 

The website's presentation, functionality and resources will be improved to provide better information on New York's agri-tourism destinations and better connect New York's producers to new markets.

"Taste NY has put local products on the map, boosting tourism, helping local craft breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries grow, and increasing opportunities for producers in every corner of this great state," Cuomo said. 

"By connecting consumers across the globe with fresh, locally-grown products, Taste NY continues to support the growth of farms and small businesses across New York," he said.  

Local Producers Can Taste Test Products at Fort Drum Commissary

Here is some important information from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County:

Are you a producer trying to market a value added product? 

As part of the Food Hub Initiative Cornell Cooperative Extension and Food Venture Advisors (FVA) invite you to participate in a taste-testing of your product to a potentially significant market – Military Commissaries in the North East.

Northern New York producers making/marketing eligible products will lead the way by showcasing their value added foods at a taste testing in the Fort Drum Commissary from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17.

Food Venture Advisors is searching for high quality, value added products that can meet required year round quantity and food safety standards and which contain mostly locally produced ingredients.  Producers will be asked to supply samples of their products to FVA.   

Samples should be delivered to CCE – Jefferson no later than Nov. 1. Examples of value added products include locally produced cheeses, pickled vegetables, jams, jellies, meat jerky, mustards etc. 

Producers with products that meet the criteria will be notified and should deliver their samples and for-sale products to the FVA warehouse at 200 Howk St., Watertown on Nov. 14. 

Products will be evaluated to ensure the product meets required quality, ingredients, packaging, production history, estimated capacity, etc.  

On the day of the event, FVA will transport all products to the Commissary in refrigerated vehicles.   Any unused products can be returned to CCE Jefferson office for producers to pick up after the event.   

Producers are invited to attend and participate at the event and will be carpooled onto the Fort from CCE – Jefferson Office starting at 9 a.m. Producers will be allowed to sell their product during the tasting. However, samples are not reimbursable. 

Please bring your own sample spoons, cups, napkins, plates, signage, etc. The Commissary will provide: tables, trash, staff and marketing.

Products which attract significant interest at the event will be selected by the Commissary staff.  Selected products will be stocked on a limited basis and distributed by FVA to the Fort Drum Commissary.   

Note: as with any retail opportunity distribution fees and retail markups apply. However, Commissaries generally mark up products only 5 percent. 

For more information contact Remy Cline at (315) 789-0042.

Beers Brewed in New York Need Local Ingredients

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/for-beers-brewed-in-new-york-local-ingredients-are-keys-to-success-20151018 to check out the story.

'Day on the Farm' Event Saturday Outside Baldwinsville

From the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District:

All day Saturday, Aug. 8 is Onondaga County "Day on the Farm" at Abbott Farms on Route 370 outside Baldwinsville.

The event is put on by the county's Soil and Water Conservation District and highlights conservation practices used by farms in the county to keep the water and air clean.

The event will include fresh fruits, local foods, farm tours and kids' activities. The event is open rain or shine.