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October 26, 2012
"Entrepreneurial Government" at Work...
Wine & Grape Foundation Applauds Governor Andrew Cuomo for Beverage Summit
On Wednesday, October 24, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo convened a Wine, Beer & Spirits Summit in Albany to get information and ideas from producers of those beverages and to begin a formal partnership between the public and private sectors.
Highlights of the Summit, which also included cider, involved several immediate changes in regulatory policy to enhance the business environment, the annnouncement of new funding for the promotion of these agriculturally-based beverages, and the Governor's commitment to host a major tasting of New York beverages and foods in Manhattan next spring. It was the latest example of what Governor Cuomo calls "entrepreneurial government", which even he said at the Summit seems like an oxymoron.
"We enthusiastically applaud and sincerely thank Governor Cuomo for this bold and visionary initiative," said Jim Trezise, President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, who participated in the roundtable discussion of industry issues and aspirations. "Frankly, with all due respect to the Governor, I had been a skeptic about the idea of entrepreneurial government, but this summit converted me into a believer. It is truly inspiring and uplifting to witness government actually working, and I am especially excited that he accepted my invitation to host a major event in New York City."
The Governor and several of his Cabinet members sat at a head table flanked by about 30 representatives of the wine, beer, spirits and cider industries, as well as New York Farm Bureau and the New York State Restaurant Association, with hundreds of other industry members and media representatives in the audience. After the Governor's opening remarks, several industry leaders were asked to share their thoughts on how the State of New York could help the private sector by either getting out of the way or becoming more involved in certain areas like promotion. After further discussion involving other industry members, the Summit recessed for a lunch break.
When the Summit resumed, Governor Cuomo announced that based on the input he had received in the morning, his Administration is immediately changing several regulatons and devoting new funding to promote the products represented at the Summit.
"It was stunning," said Trezise. "In the morning the Governor listened. In the afternoon, he acted. I've never seen that in government before."
As part of his opening remarks in the morning session, Trezise recalled that nearly 30 years ago another New York Governor took bold and decisive action to rescue the then-struggling grape and wine industry, and turn it around into the fastest growing industry in the agriculture and tourism sectors of New York's economy. That Governor was Mario Cuomo.
"In the wine business we're always talking about climate--was the winter too cold, the summer too hot, the fall too rainy--because you have to have a good climate to grow good grapes that make great wine. But to grow an industry, you need a good business climate, and that it what these types of initiatives create."
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation was created by unanimous vote of the New York State legislature in 1985 as the sole private sector organization to represent the grape and wine industry statewide. Since then, the number of wineries has multiplied to over 320 in 53 different New York counties, tourist visits have mushroomed from 340,000 to over 5 million each year, and the industry generates more than $3.76 billion annually in economic benefits to the State, including $230 million in State and local taxes.
The Foundation has also incorporated the other beverages, as well as New York foods, into many of its programs. Its annual New York Wine & Food Classic wine competition incorporated a separate spirits category several years ago and a new cider category this year. New York Farm Day in Washington, organized by the Foundation, includes wine, beer, spirits and cider--and even wine ice cream--along with New York seafood, meats, milk, yogurt, cheese, apples, maple syrup, honey, and much else. The Foundation is one of four major partners in the New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua, an initiative of Constellation Brands, which also includes all the beverages along with New York foods.
"We're delighted that our friends and colleagues in the beer, spirits and cider segments were part of this Summit, and we look forward to working even more closely with them in the future," Trezise said. "We have a lot in common as New York businesses creating New York jobs using New York farm products to create New York beverages for New York consumers. Our joint promotions will create synergies with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, especially when it comes to the gala event that Governor Cuomo will host."
A recurrent theme from industry representatives during the morning discussions was how much the attitude of New York's government agencies has changed since Andrew Cuomo became Governor. While the Department of Agriculture & Markets has long been a cooperative partner with industry and remains so under the leadership of Commissioner Darrel Aubertine, the New York State Liquor Authority has historically been very unresponsive, arrogant, and autocratic. SLA Chairman Dennis Rosen received praise from every beverage category represented for bringing an entirely new attitude and spirit of cooperation to the agency. This is also beneficial to the State itself, since the sooner new wineries get licensed the sooner they begin to pay State excise and sales taxes.
Governor Cuomo emphasized that this Summit was just the beginning of an on-going partnership between the public and private sectors to enhance New York's business climate and economy. At the end of the Summit, he hosted all the attendees at the Governor's Mansion for a tasting of New York wines, beers, spirits and ciders accompanied by foods created by Executive Chef Noah Sheetz of the Mansion.
Media Contact: Jim Trezise, 585-394-3620, jimtrezise@nywgf.org |
