Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced his support for Governor Cuomo’s proposed Taste-NY initiative, a comprehensive plan that would include creating duty-free “Taste-NY” stores across the state to promote New York-grown and produced products.

“This program that would benefit the Central New York agricultural community on so many levels,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “It will help revive small farms and local businesses as well as stimulate the upstate economy by promoting and bringing to market locally grown food and drink products.”

Taste-NY would promote locally made food and drink items such as yogurt, juice, cheeses, ice cream, honey, meats, maple syrup, pasta, sauces, jams, wine and craft beer in commercial areas statewide. It would combine brick-and-mortar retail venues with strong branding and marketing plans in locations including supermarkets, high-traffic rest areas, train stations and airports. In addition to these retail venues, there will be branded cafes and restaurants that will offer New York-made products for sale and purchase.

Assemblyman Stirpe noted that, most significantly, these retail outlets would sell these products free of all sales taxes, which would help increase access to affordable, healthy, locally grown food. He noted that the idea is similar to the Central New York Bounty program he helped bring to fruition a few years back.

“Like Central New York Bounty, Taste-NY will help provide easy access to local, fresh food products, support local farmers and create new markets for these products to strengthen our area’s economy,” said Assemblyman Stirpe.

All over Central New York, communities are working to support local farms and promote New York-made products, noted Assemblyman Stirpe. In Canastota – a community that borders Assemblyman Stirpe’s legislative district – the Madison County-Cornell Cooperative Extension recently received $1.5 million to develop a hub for shipping locally grown food products to consumers. This hub would house a farmers market and a teaching kitchen, and also provide farmers with a place to store and process meat, dairy, produce, hops and malting barley into retail-ready packages.

“It is my hope that we can continue creating more opportunities to help our agricultural communities thrive through programs like this one, Central New York Bounty and Taste-NY.” Assemblyman Stirpe concluded.