Vending Plays Key Role In New York States Buy-Local Trend

CHECK IT OUT:College student passing through Clifton Park rest area on I-87 near Albany ponders locally produced options in Taste NY vending machine. [Photo by Christopher Dunn]

The governor has ambitious plans to expand the program -- which appears to be the first of its kind in the nation -- and the New York State Automatic Vending Association is closely involved in the effort. Taste NY stands to benefit New York's farmers and producers and keep dollars in the state. It's also a way for vending operators to satisfy consumers' growing tastes for locally grown, better-for-you fare, while helping the industry strengthen ties with government officials in Albany.

"These vending machines will complement existing stores and kiosks located throughout the state and expand opportunities for New York food and beverage producers," Cuomo said. "Taste NY is a great program with a huge upside for New York agriculture."

Zane Greenwald of Betson Advance Distributing (Syracuse, NY), who chairs NYSAVA's government affairs committee, is coordinating the trade group's collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to maximize the exposure in vending machines of products made and distributed in the state.

Likewise, Ag and Markets is collaborating with the New York State Commission for the Blind and the New York State Department of Transportation. The Commission's Business Enterprise Program trains blind individuals to manage vending facilities located in federal and state office buildings and highway rest areas.

"The vending industry has a great relationship with Ag and Markets and we want to help in any way we can," Greenwald told VT. "We all want to keep jobs in the state and it's a great way to support that -- and even increase jobs by expanding the market and volume of sales for New York products."

He pointed out that there are many high-quality products that people don't realize are produced in New York, including Frito-Lay snacks, PepsiCo beverages, spring water, iced tea, milk and yogurt.

"Excitement around buying local is at an all-time high and Taste NY is at the center of that movement," said Ag and Markets public information director Joe Morrissey. "The vending machines tie into the growing trend of healthy on the go, while supporting local agriculture and producers. New York is the country's top 10 producer in many fruit and vegetable categories, so we have a good story to tell, and Taste NY gets the word out."

Morrissey said New York is the No. 1 producer of yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and cream cheese in the country and the No. 2 producer of apples and maple syrup. It's also the nation's fifth-largest milk producer.

Gov. Cuomo said last fall that he aims to triple gross sales of participating Taste NY vendors by the end of 2015. The strategy includes expanding vending machines and stores that sell the products on roadways, at state office buildings and on all State University of New York and City University of New York campuses.

One way NYSAVA has gotten onboard is by producing an eye-catching Taste NY-branded wrap for machines dedicated to products produced or processed in New York. It's currently available to operators for Automated Merchandising Systems, Crane Co. and U-Select-It machines, on a case-by-case basis through NYSAVA's licensing agreements with Ag and Markets and the state blind commission.

Greenwald recently presented to Ag and Markets on behalf of NYSAVA, another way for operators to help expand Taste NY through their existing vending machines. Rather than dedicating entire machines to Taste NY products, operators will advertise them in the form of static clings and shelf markers on their existing equipment.

"We intend to get the program out to as many operators in the state as we can, and plan for a tremendous push over the next year to do that," Greenwald told VT. "That includes the commission for the blind operators, NYSAVA members and others."

The inaugural highway vending machines have been in operation since January at the Clifton Park rest area on I-87, north of Albany, and at the Broome Gateway rest stop located between the Pennsylvania state line and Exit 1 on I-81 in Broome County. Taste NY vending machines are also operational at the state Capitol, the Legislative Office Building and the Department of Agriculture and Markets headquarters in Albany. They are all serviced by blind vendors.

The vending machines were first piloted last August at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, as an expansion of the Taste NY program that Cuomo announced in fall 2013. It began with Taste NY-branded retail stores, food carts and displays located in major transportation hubs selling New York-made foods and beverages like wine, maple syrup, dairy products and candy. They're located in New York City's JFK and LaGuardia airports and Grand Central Terminal, along with highway rest stops and other busy venues.

When he unveiled the program, the governor said the marketing program would be funded through a $1 million state grant to be matched by $1 million from the industry.

Vending operators interested in being considered to participate in Taste NY can call the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' agricultural development division at (518) 485-8902.

Finger Lakes Fresh sliced apples (Groton)
Red Jacket Orchard juices (Geneva)
Heluva Good Cheese curds and string cheese (Sodus)
Cheribundi juice refreshers (Geneva)
Frito-Lay Tostitos Rounds (Kirkwood/Binghamton)
Chobani Yogurt (South Edmeston)
Sweet Sam's cookies (Bronx)
Peeled Snacks (Dundee)
Emmy's Organics (Ithaca)
Barkeater Chocolates (North Creek)
Muller Yogurt (Batavia)
Karma Wellness Water (Rochester)
Stone Cold Creamery Shakes (Elma)

Taste New York Vending Machines Make Highway Rest Area Debut