Tracy Schuhmacher

@RahChaChow

Sports fans, concertgoers and other visitors will be able to partake in New York state beverages at a Taste NY concession stand, now open at the Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial.

The stand features beers, wines and ciders from New York producers, including Three Heads Brewing, Casa Larga Vineyards, Swedish Hill Winery, Knapp Winery, Rootstock Ciderworks and Rogers Beer Company. It also offers juices and food such as Bostrom Farms snack sticks, Marquart Farms New York Chips and Red Jacket juices, which are all made in the Finger Lakes area. Products will be rotated throughout the season. The stand had its soft opening in January and is now fully operational.

In addition, products from Di Paolo Baking Company, Zweigle’s, Salvatore’s Old Fashion Pizzeria, Bully Hill Vineyards, Southern Tier Brewing Company and Rohrbach Brewing Company will continue to be offered at concessions throughout the arena; they will be highlighted on menus by the Taste NY logo.

Taste NY has stands at various sports venues including Times Union Center in Albany, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and five Minor League Baseball stadiums. A concession stand will also open at the ballfields for the Rochester Red Wings and Batavia Muckdogs.

Taste NY is an initiative launched by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013 to promote New York’s food and beverage industries. It is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and provides opportunities for local producers to showcase and sell their goods at venues throughout the state and at various events. The program is funded through the New York state budget.

TRACYS@Gannett.com