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Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase to boost New York's farms, small food & beverage businesses

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Fri, Sep 11th 2020 12:15 pm

Pilot program to kick-off in Adirondacks & Capital Region

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase, which was created to boost business for New York's farms and small food and beverage makers. The first of its kind, online business-to-business networking event will help to connect New York's agricultural businesses with potential new buyers of food products, and to grow new business relationships in the marketplace, which has been impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase, taking place on Oct. 27, is now open for registration for vendors and buyers.

"Agriculture is a leading driver of New York's economy and the bedrock of so many local communities," Cuomo said. "This showcase gives our farmers, brewers and local businesses the opportunity to expand their business and spur growth as New York continues to move forward during this unprecedented times."

The Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase is being hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB, in partnership with Taste NY, New York state's marketing program for agricultural and food and beverage businesses. Using an online platform, farms and food and beverage makers from the Adirondacks and Capital Region, as well as from across the state, will present their products to potential buyers in the region. Buyers can include retailers, restaurants, grocers, specialty markets, schools, institutions and distributors, looking to purchase New York products.

Producers must register online at www.lakegeorgechamber.com/tasteny by Sept. 25. The event will be capped at 50 vendors. Buyers must register by Oct. 20. Registration is $15 for vendors and $5 for buyers, and will provide a directory of participants, and a marketing webinar in advance of the event date where businesses will be provided tips to fast-pitch and highlight their products.

The two-hour virtual event is a pilot project and follows a series of successful, in-person regional Food and Farms Business Expo networking events first announced as a part of the governor's State of the State in 2018.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "One of our goals at the department is to help connect the dots between our agricultural businesses and the marketplace. So many of our farms and small food businesses have endured a very challenging time because of COVID-19, and so this event is needed now more than ever, helping to facilitate these connections in a safe and socially distanced way. We encourage our businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to help grow their business and our buyers to continue to support their communities through the purchase of high-quality, local products their customers are sure to enjoy."

For more information or to register for the Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase, call the Taste NY Market at the Adirondacks Welcome Center at 518-487-0045 or visit www.lakegeorgechamber.com/tasteny.

Taste NY is the official eat-local, drink-local program for New York. Taste NY, launched by Cuomo in 2013, highlights the quality, diversity and economic impact of food and beverages grown, produced or processed in the state. The program creates opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at a variety of venues, with over 70 Taste NY retail locations throughout the state. It has helped farms and companies reach more customers, increase online sales, and in some cases, expand the processing capacity of their businesses. Taste NY supports farmers by working closely with the NYS Grown & Certified program. Learn more about Taste NY at www.taste.ny.gov or follow Taste NY on Facebook and Twitter.

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