Taste NY Invites Farmers and Buyers to Grow Business and Support Local Buying at New Food and Farms Business Expo

Taste NY invites New York State’s diverse agricultural producers and its wide array of buyers to join its new Food and Farms Business Expo taking place Thursday, December 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Michael’s Catering and Banquets in Hamburg.

The Western New York Food and Farms Business Expo is one of five business networking events held across the State that were created to link food, beverage and farm businesses with local buyers, such as area restaurants, universities, among others. The business-to-business event will give vendors the opportunity to showcase, market and sell their products onsite, while allowing buyers to sample and purchase high-quality goods that are grown and made in New York.

The free event, which is organized and sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Chamber of Commerce and Taste NY, is open to buyers, retailers, restaurants, markets, schools, institutions and distributors, as well as farmers, food and beverage producers, brewers, cider and wine-makers, and distillers.

Participants will have the opportunity to sample locally-produced foods and beverages while learning about various crops and commodities grown in the area, as well as where and how to purchase those foods. The networking events are intended to help farmers and agricultural producers grow their businesses and encourage hotels, restaurants, bars, retail locations and institutions to purchase local products.

Registration is required. Details for the event follows.

Western NY Food and Farms Business Expo

Thursday, December 13, 2018 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michael’s Catering and Banquets

4884 Southwestern Blvd.

Hamburg, NY

Participants must have businesses located in Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. For more information and registration, call 716-541-1770 or visit https://foodandfarmsbusinessexpo.eventbrite.com.

New York State boasts a thriving agricultural industry, with top-notch growers and producers of a wide array of food and drinks, including dairy, maple, cheese, meats, apples, Concord grapes, craft beverages and wine. The Western New York Food and Farms Business Expo is the latest Taste NY-sponsored Business-to-Business networking events taking place across the state in 2018. The first event was held in the Finger Lakes, and additional events in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region and Long Island were held this fall.

About Taste NY The Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition since it was created in 2013. The program, which is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at a variety of venues throughout the State and at large public events, such as the Great New York State Fair and the Barclays Tournament at Bethpage State Park. It has also 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.

New York products sold under Taste NY branding are available in more than 70 locations throughout the State as well as the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan, Puerto Rico.