College and State to
Partner in Promotion of New York Food & Beverage Products
Media Contacts:
The Culinary Institute of America
Stephan Hengst
845-905-4288
s_hengst@culinary.edu
Governor’s Press Office
NYC: 212-681-4640
Albany: 518-474-8418
press.office@exec.ny.gov
Hyde Park, NY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today named
The Culinary Institute of America an education partner for the Taste NY
program via a partnership between the state
and the college to promote New York’s food and beverage industries.
The
Culinary Institute of America, based in the Hudson
Valley, will work closely with the New York State Department of Agriculture
and Markets on several initiatives to promote awareness of the state’s food
products under the Taste NY brand.
“New York State boasts some of the best local products and
goods around, and this partnership will further showcase all our food and
beverage industries have to offer,” Governor Cuomo said. “I cannot think of a
better partner than The Culinary Institute of America, based in New York, to
work with Taste NY, and look forward to seeing its programs promote goods from
across the state. This is yet another step our administration is taking to grow
the state’s great agriculture industry and provide local products to consumers
all over the world.”
During the first year of this partnership, the CIA will
create programs targeted to food enthusiasts, including Taste
NY-branded boot camps and one-day cooking classes at
the college’s Hyde Park campus along with a series of instructional cooking
videos featuring New York State products. A campus restaurant, American Bounty Restaurant, will also
host three Taste NY-themed Farmer’s Dinners during the fall 2015 harvest
season.
The partnership has the potential to be renewed each year
and, as it grows, the college and New York State will explore opportunities to
use the Marriott
Pavilion’s 800-seat theater and conference center on the CIA campus to host
Taste NY conferences, educational programming, and other events.
In 2014, Taste NY participated in 58 events across the
state, with more to come in the next few years. The program will expand its
stores so more people can access New York State-made products, a new mobile app
will be launched to help consumers find designated Taste NY attractions and
Governor Cuomo’s planned trade missions will promote New York State food
products all over the world.
Taste NY is an initiative launched by Governor Cuomo in 2013
to promote New York’s food and beverage industries. It is overseen by the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and has created opportunities for local
producers to showcase their goods at large public events such as the PGA
Championship and the Great New York State Fair. The program has also opened
stores at Thruway rest stops and New York City airports, enabling travelers to
buy New York State’s homegrown and homemade products. Approximately 1,100 local
companies have participated in these opportunities, further linking their
products and the state’s growing food and beverage market to consumers from
across the globe.
The Culinary Institute of America spends nearly $1 million
each year on products from New York State farms, including fruits, vegetables,
eggs, dairy, meats, mushrooms, syrup, and honey. The college has also taken the
Pride of New York Pledge in support of the state’s agricultural products and
beverages and its restaurants will increase sourcing their ingredients from
state-grown and -made products. They also plan to feature locally produced
beverages on drink menus and introduce New York-themed dishes prepared with seasonal,
locally-grown products.
“The Culinary Institute of America is proud of our long
history of supporting New York State products,” said CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “I joined
the faculty more than 30 years ago with a commitment to integrate the bounty of
our state’s farms into the college’s curriculum before ‘farm-to-table’ was even
a term. I now look forward to working together with Governor Cuomo and the
Department of Agriculture and Markets to help educate food lovers across the
Empire State and beyond about the diversity of the products produced right here
in the place we all call home.”
“The Taste NY program is bringing farm products from New
York to every corner of the state, creating economic growth for our vital
agriculture industry,” said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A.
Ball. “This partnership with one of the world’s greatest culinary schools is
sure to link many more consumers to the great products of New York, and that
will give many small businesses a boost while creating more jobs across the
state. I look forward to the great things we can create together.”
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde
Park, NY. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith
Ferris)
View hi-res image >
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier
culinary college. Dedicated to driving leadership development for the
foodservice and hospitality industry, the independent, not-for-profit CIA
offers associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts;
bachelor’s degree majors in management, culinary science, and applied food
studies; and executive education through its Food Business School. Its
conferences and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the
food industry in the areas of health & wellness, sustainability, world
cuisines & cultures, and professional excellence & innovation. The college
also offers certificate programs and courses for professionals and enthusiasts.
Its worldwide network of 48,000 alumni includes leaders in every area of
foodservice and hospitality. The CIA has campuses in New York, California,
Texas, and Singapore.
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