Taste NY’s partnership with five Minor League Baseball teams across New York State is a home run, bringing the very best of New York’s local food and beverages to more than 1.2 million fans at stadiums across New York and giving a boost to New York agriculture. Throughout the season, for many minor league baseball teams, New York’s “Eat Local, Drink Local” program will be showcasing delicious, locally made favorites and exciting promotions at the Buffalo Bison, Rochester Red Wings, Syracuse Mets, Hudson Valley Renegades, and Tri-City ValleyCats stadiums. These partnerships provide an opportunity to boost sales for over 60 participating vendors and increase their exposure to consumers. In 2023, Taste NY’s partnerships with teams brought more than $5.7 million in sales to New York State farmers and food and beverage producers, with expanded partnerships launching in 2024 aiming to build on that success.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “A baseball game isn’t complete without a hot dog and a cold drink, and New York makes some of the best food and craft beverages in the country. Through our Taste NY partnerships with teams across the state, fans can try these delicious products and so many others, while enjoying America’s favorite pastime. This initiative is a true home run – it’s great for small ag businesses, a treat for fans, and a boost to local economies. I encourage everyone to enjoy a game and a ballpark snack from Taste NY this spring and summer!”
The program plans for an exciting 2024 season with the Rochester Red Wings at Innovative Field include. In addition to Taste NY concession signage found throughout the concourse and in the ballpark, Taste NY will be a presenting sponsor of both the Dugout at First Base and the new Dugout at Third Base bars this year. Also new in 2024, Taste NY will take over the L-Bar on more than 50 televisions located at concession stands on the concourse and in suites to spotlight New York State foods and beverages and the Taste NY program through ads and other promotions.
In 2023, 437,560 fans attended games at Innovative Field. Taste NY products offered at the stadium included:
•Craft beverages from Three Heads Brewing (Rochester), Big Ditch Brewery (Buffalo), Black Button Distilling (Rochester), Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn), Dr. Frank’s Winery (Hammondsport), Ellicottville Brewing Company (Ellicottville), Genesee Brewing Company (Rochester), K2 Brothers Brewing (Rochester), Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown), Resurgence Brewing Company (Buffalo), Rohrbach Brewing Company (Rochester), and Young Lion Brewing Company (Canandaigua)
•Perry’s Ice Cream products (Akron)
•Zweigle’s hot dogs (Rochester).
Additional local New York products sold at games included Captain Lawrence Brewing Company beverages (Elmsford) and DiPaolo Baking Company products (Rochester).
Many of these same producers will offer their products at Red Wings games in 2024, along with a rotating selection of new vendors, including Taste NY participants BlackBird Cider Works (Buffalo), Blake Cider (Wolcott), Blue Barn Cidery (Hilton), Clarksburg Cider Co. (Lancaster), Four-Mile Brewing (Olean), Hamburg Brewing Company (Hamburg), Ithaca Beer Co. (Ithaca), Saranac Beers (Utica), and Woodcock Brothers (Wilson); and additional local New York products from Belt-Line Brewery (Buffalo) and Thin Man Brewery (Buffalo).
Rochester Red Wings Director of Ticket Operations Mike Ewing said, “The Rochester Red Wings are thrilled to not only continue but also expand upon our partnership with Taste NY in 2024. Having worked with them since 2016, we are proud of the growth we have made with local products over the last several years. We are excited for a great 2024 and look forward to the future of this partnership.”
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