Visit Taste NY Locations During The Summer: Cuomo

LAGRANGEVILLE, NY — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Thursday encouraged travelers to visit Taste NY locations this summer — including a few in the mid-Hudson Valley — to support the growth of local businesses and enjoy some of the best food and beverages the state has to offer. From travel plazas along the New York State Thruway and other roadways, to major airports and train stations, hundreds of New York-made products will be available at more than 35 travel hubs across the state.

Welcome Centers and Taste NY stores in the Mid-Hudson, Long Island and Southern Tier regions drive tourism and boost the local economy. In addition, Taste NY concessions have now been expanded to 10 state parks.

"The busy travel season is the perfect time to visit a Taste NY store and experience first-hand the high-quality of Empire State-made products," Cuomo said.

"Our hard-working farmers and businesses produce some of the finest food and beverages out there, and I encourage every traveler to stop by a Taste NY store or concession this summer to experience these world-class, locally-grown products for themselves," he said.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and New York State Parks are partnering to increase and highlight locally made foods and beverages at even more New York State Parks this summer. These offerings will not only support local businesses but also attract additional visitors to New York's state parks by offering them more fresh and healthy food options while setting out to explore New York’s public lands.

A wide selection of food and beverages produced by hundreds of New York-based companies are sold at nearly 30 travel plazas and rest areas throughout the state, including the Taste NY Market at Todd Hill, which is just south of the Route 55 exit on the Taconic State Parkway, and the Long Island Welcome Center.

The Market at the Todd Hill rest area on the Taconic State Parkway is the state’s first standalone Taste NY store and one of the most popular. It sells more than $1 million of local products each year, including farm-raised meats, dairy products, and pantry items such as maple syrup, pickles, and tomato sauce. The market also operates a seasonal outdoor farmers’ market to offer additional delicious, fresh produce and a variety of other farm products. The farmers' market runs from June through October. More information on the vendors and schedule is available here.

In 2017, Taste NY products will be available at concession stands at 10 state parks and historic sites:

Columbia County
Olana State Historic Site

Rockland County
Bear Mountain State Park

Suffolk County
Bethpage State Park
Robert Moses State Park
Sunken Meadow State Park

Nassau County
Jones Beach State Park

Wyoming and Livingston Counties
Letchworth State Park

Niagara County
Niagara Falls State Park

Saratoga County
Saratoga Spa State Park

Schuyler County
Watkins Glen State Park

Nearly one dozen rest areas along the New York State Thruway will also host Taste NY farmers' markets this summer. A list of participating rest areas and farmers’ markets can be found here.

In addition, travelers will find Taste NY at six major airports, Grand Central Terminal and on several Amtrak trains, giving visitors an opportunity to taste top-notch, local products and to purchase gifts and souvenirs as they visit New York’s tourism destinations.

A complete list of Taste NY locations across the state can be found on the Taste NY website, here.

Photo caption: Taste NY Market at Todd Hill. Photo credit: Google Maps.