Griffo To Bring Upstate Flavors to Great New York State Fair

SYRACUSE -  State Senator Joseph A. Griffo will be cooking up some tasty treats Thursday at the New York State Fair – and featuring maple syrup, apples and corn from upstate New York.

Griffo is bringing three recipes to make in the Wegmans Taste New York demonstration kitchen: spicy maple nuts, apple nachos and oven roasted corn on the cob with flavored butter. The cooking will begin at 2 p.m. in the Art & Home Center at the fairgrounds.

“Upstate New York produces some of the county’s best tasting food – and I’m pleased to share it with fairgoers again this year,” said Griffo, R-Rome. “The state fair provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the home-grown goodness of New York state, and teach visitors about the positive impact that maple producers, apple growers, corn collectors and other farmers have on our economy.”

Agriculture is a huge part of New York state’s economy, producing more than $5.7 billion in value directly and employing more than 45,000 people. Taking into consideration all the businesses that farmers indirectly support – food manufacturers, chemical suppliers, equipment sales, and the like – that value balloons to more than $34 billion.

This is Griffo’s 17^th year participating in the demonstration kitchen at the fair. The senator has also agreed to judge the 19^th Annual Media Grill-off, also known as “Branding Iron Chef II,” which begins at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 26 in the Chevy Court pavilion. That event is sponsored by the New York State Beef Council.

The Great New York State Fair begins Thursday and runs through Sept. 1. The state fairgrounds in Syracuse are adjacent to Route 690 West.