Taste NY 2017 sales rise by more than 20 percent in 2017

Products sold at Taste NY stores generated a “record” $16.1 million in total gross sales in 2017, up by $3 million, or 23 percent, from the year before, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

The figures include New York-made products sold at Taste NY stores, cafés, bars, concessions, and events. The year-over-year growth reflects “increasing consumer demand” for local food and beverage products, “which supports New York’s agricultural and tourism industries,” Cuomo’s office said in a news release.

The Taste NY program’s reported sales have grown from $1.5 million in 2014 to $4.5 million in 2015, $13.1 million in 2016, and now $16.1 million last year, Cuomo’s office said.

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 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 in the release. “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.”

In the past year, Taste NY made products available at 13 new locations and participated in “major, large” events, like the New York City Marathon. As part of Cuomo’s plan to construct a 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.

Cuomo’s state-budget proposal includes additional support for Taste NY “to build on the success of 2017 and further connect New York producers to new markets,” according to the release.

In addition, the New York State 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.” The department will also 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.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com