Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Washington County and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB will co-host a Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase on Tuesday, October 27. This event will be the first of its kind in the state. The two-hour online event, offered in partnership with Taste NY and NYS Grown & Certified, will provide a unique opportunity for New York food and beverage producers to connect with area food buyers. The event will help these businesses to expand their reach in the marketplace that, in many cases, has been impacted due to the nationwide pandemic.

Event: Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Time: 10 am – 12pm

The event will utilize Webex, an interactive video conferencing platform that will enable vendors to present their product and tell the story of their company in a virtual format, allowing these producers to reach a wide audience of potential buyers. Buyers and vendors will have the ability to communicate via a chat feature immediately following each presentation to discuss pricing or offer additional information. In addition to the virtual presentations, both buyers and vendors will receive an electronic directory of all participants before the event so that they can be both prepared and follow along easily during this fast-paced virtual food show. Many producers will also be offering special pricing to buyers at the show.

Vendor registration for the event is now open. Registration will provide access to the full list of attendees and allow two minutes to present their products live to a host of area buyers. Vendors will also be offered a free marketing webinar in advance of the event date where they will learn how to develop a fast-pitch to highlight their products. The seminar will allow producers an opportunity to prepare for the event and learn new skills that will be useful in an agricultural business environment that depends on technology now more than ever. The event is capped at 50 producers for this initial event.

Buyers will be required to register as well to obtain the link for the event. Retailers, restaurants, grocers, specialty markets, schools, institutions and distributors are invited to attend. Farmers, food and beverage producers, brewers, cider and wine makers, and distillers are also encouraged to participate.

For more information about the Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase, call the Taste NY Market at the Adirondacks Welcome Center at 518-487-0045 or visit www.lakegeorgechamber.com/tasteny

This region of New York boasts a thriving agricultural industry with top-notch growers and producers of a wide array of food and beverages, including dairy, maple, cheese, meats, apples, craft beverages and wine. The Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase is a pilot project for the state’s Taste NY program and follows a series of in-person business-to-business networking events the program hosted over the last two years.

Adirondack Almanack file photo