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7-7-05 |
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WEST VIRGINIA AGRIBUSINESSES INVADE NEW YORK FOR FOOD SHOW Seven West Virginia companies are unveiling new products at the New York Summer Fancy Foods Show this weekend at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City . They will be joined by representatives of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), the West Virginia Development Office (WVDO) and Tamarack, who are cooperating to sponsor a West Virginia booth at the event, one of the largest of its kind in the world. "We have seen tremendous growth from the companies that have participated in these types of shows in the past," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. "Introducing new products during the New York show will draw even more attention to our state and the agribusinesses that call it home." "We're excited about partnering with the other agencies that help develop agribusinesses in West Virginia ," said Jean Smith, WVDA Director of Marketing and Development. "This state is among the nation's leaders in promoting its specialty foods producers and that is in large measure because of the support given to them by the West Virginia Development Office and Tamarack." Smith added that funding provided by the state will dramatically lower the fee businesses will have to pay for their booth space. "This is an inexpensive way to help West Virginia-owned businesses grow, hire more employees and increase the state's tax base," said Commissioner Douglass. "These companies are also goodwill ambassadors for the Mountain State - showing the rest of the world that West Virginia is full of smart, friendly and talented people." This year is the 51 st anniversary of the Summer Fancy Food Show, North America 's largest specialty food event. Other Fancy Foods shows are held in the spring and the winter and typically attract 1,000 exhibitors and 20,000-30,000 buyers from food stores, restaurants, mail-order catalogs and other related businesses. Companies that will be making the trip are Tasty Blend Foods, DeFluri's Fine Chocolates, Thistledew Farm, Rus-Lyn Confections, Smokey's on the Gorge and Uncle Bunk's. Vita Specialty Foods of Martinsburg will also attend the show, but will have a booth separate from the West Virginia pavilion. West Virginia is home to a thriving agribusiness community that has grown out of a time-honored history of backyard gardens and home canning. Even today, many of West Virginia 's food producers bear much more of a resemblance to grandma's kitchen than to modern "food factories." Most are home- or community-based and the owners also serve as the primary source of labor. The products are of the highest quality and carry a "personal touch" that makes them perfect for the gourmet food arena. Some of these companies are represented at this year's Fancy Foods Show are: Poochie's Choice (RusLyn Confections) Only one of three companies featuring pet-related products, Poochies Choice creates their all-natural holiday specialty dog cookies by hand and decorates them with seasonal candy coatings, such as Valentine hugs and kisses, peanut butter bunny biscuits, Halloween pumpkins and ghosts, and yogurt flag suckers on rawhide sticks. Call 304-292-4101 or email ruslync@aol.com. Defluri's Fine Chocolates DeFluri's is unveiling two new product lines: Miss Pitty Pat's Gourmet Brittle and Chocolate Popcorn and Truffles Genevieve, a line of all-natural, organic, soymilk truffles "with all the health-benefits of chocolate." The truffles come in mint, coffee, raspberry and chocolate/chocolate flavors. Call 304-264-3698 or visit www.defluris.com for more information. Uncle Bunk's Specializing in traditional Appalachian condiments, Uncle Bunk's features products made from "old-time mountain recipes" that were used as a way to preserve the last of the produce to come out of the family vegetable garden. Their products have won the prestigious "Scovie" award, and they will introduce their own version of an Appalachian favorite - pepper jelly. Call 304-652-2789 for more information. Smokey's on the Gorge Long famed as the restaurant that refilled patrons (including Vice President Dan Quayle) of Class VI River Runners, Smokey's is now putting its great tastes into jars. Smokey's will debut an entire line of products, including a variety of fruit preserves, a dry rub, a vinaigrette featuring ramps (a type of wild, mountain onion), and a hot sauce named "Pure Screaming Hell" after a rapid on the world famous Gauley River. Look for company owner Dave Arnold in a business suit and Teva river sandals. Call 1-800-252-7784 or visit www.class-vi.com for more information. Thistledew Farm In 1974, Thistledew Farm owners Steve and Ellie Conlon left suburban Philadelphia with one son, two dogs and two bee hives. They now have four sons, a variety of animals, 700 hives, a wide variety of bee-related products and are the biggest honey retailers in West Virginia . They are introducing "Sunny Honey," pure West Virginia honey in an attractive, sun-shaped bottle that will appeal to the gourmet and gift markets. Call 1-800-854-6639 or visit www.thistledewfarm.com for more information. Tasty Blend Foods Tasty Blend Foods started small, but has become one of West Virginia 's largest agribusinesses. Their easy-to-make dry mixes are perpetual favorites at samplings throughout the Mountain State and are sold in grocery stores across the country. They are introducing a line of kitchen products such as cooking pans and rolling pins perfect for gift-giving. Call 304-757-6686 or visit www.tastyblend.com for more information.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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