SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Food trucks from all over New York State competed for prizes and honors at the Great New York State Fair’s expanded Taste NY Food Truck Competition, and when the judging and vote counting was done, three food truck companies reigned supreme.
Saturday’s competition saw a first: Tonzi’s Catering Company of Auburn won both the judged competition and the public vote for fairgoers’ favorite item, with its bacon jalapeno macaroni and cheese fritter. Sunday saw a more traditional split vote: Gabriella’s Farm to Fork in Ithaca won the Judge’s Choice, while the public vote went to the Meatball Truck from Rochester. It’s the second consecutive People’s Choice win for the Rochester food truck.
The popular competition expanded to two days this year, with more than 35 food trucks competing. Truck chefs submitted their best, most creative entrée for judging and then made samples of that entrée available to fairgoers for $3. Fairgoers then voted on which entrée they liked best. Truck operators were required to use primarily ingredients grown or made in New York State and provide lists of ingredients and sources.
“The food truck competition is one of the very best things about the Fair. It promotes agriculture, our main mission, and is so much fun for fairgoers. I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition,” said Troy Waffner, Acting Fair Director.
The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 22 to September 3, 2018. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its theme, “FIND YOUR GREAT,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment.
The home of the Great New York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available on the Fair’s website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair on Twitter, on Snapchat at nysfair and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair atstatefairideas@agriculture.ny.
—NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
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