More Than a Market: Business Development Services Through Taste NY

Taste NY at the North Country Welcome Center is much more than a retail marketplace. It is part of a statewide initiative dedicated to promoting New York's food and beverage producers while helping local businesses through economic impact. Beyond showcasing products to thousands of visitors each year at the North Country Welcome Center, the program serves as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs looking to launch, grow, and sustain successful food-based businesses.

Many people recognize Taste NY as a whole for its retail and marketing opportunities, but few people are aware of the business development services available through Taste NY at the North Country Welcome Center. These services are tailored to meet businesses where they are, providing individualized support based on their stage of development and needs. Whether a food processor is refining a recipe, seeking guidance on food labeling and regulatory compliance, starting a new food business, or navigating New York State regulations, the Taste NY team can provide practical assistance throughout this process.

The North Country Welcome Center Taste NY team has partnered with numerous food and beverage businesses to help bring new products to market and strengthen existing operations. Building on this commitment, the team recently completed the Cornell Food Connections training program, developed by Cornell Agri-Tech to educate food entrepreneurs, producers, and food educators. One of the program's goals is to establish satellite support locations that expand access to the resources of the Cornell Food Venture Center. As a result of this training, the North Country Welcome Center is better positioned to provide preliminary product evaluations for producers before they begin the formal process review through the Food Venture Center. This expanded capacity represents a significant step forward in helping local producers successfully develop new food products.

During the training, the Taste NY team learned how to conduct basic food product evaluations, including measuring pH levels, testing water activity, and assessing product shelf stability. These services provide producers with valuable information about what is needed for a product to achieve shelf stability and meet industry food safety standards. The testing also serves as an important first step in preparing businesses for more advanced product analysis and process review through the Cornell Food Venture Center.

Through its commitment to education, technical assistance, and market access, Taste NY at the North Country Welcome Center plays an important role in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship across the North Country region. It is more than a place to find locally made products; it is a trusted partner helping food businesses succeed from the initial ideation to bringing a complete product to market. For current or prospective businesses interested in our free business services, contact the Taste NY Program for more information. You can reach us by phone at 315-788-8450 or through email at mm384 [at] cornell.edu (mm384[at]cornell[dot]edu).