New York wines and other farm-based craft beverages, farm-fresh food products, sensational seafood, and fine restaurants will soon travel to the nation's Capitol to tastefully remind Congress, the Administration and others that New York is a major agricultural state, and agriculture is a major part of the state's economy.

             On Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will host "New York Farm Day" in the elegant Senate Kennedy Caucus Room at the crest of Capitol Hill.  Attendees will include other Senators, the New York Congressional delegation from the House of Representatives, members of the Committes on Agriculture and the Congressional Wine Caucus, legislative chiefs of staff, agricultural specialists in Congress and the Administration, members of the Washington media, top area restaurants and fine wine shops. 

             "Senator Gillibrand has been a great advocate for New York agriculture, including the grape and wine industry as well as other farm-based craft beverages," said Jim Trezise, President of the statewide New York Wine & Grape Foundation, which organizes the event.  "New York produces some of the world's best wines, beers, spirits and ciders, as well as other farm products and seafood, and is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. We are honored to partner with Senator Gillibrand in tastefully proving that to official Washington."

              Since its inaugural launch in 2002 (then hosted by former Senator Hillary Clinton), New York Farm Day has become the most popular event on Capitol Hill, with attendance normally exceeding 500 guests.  A major part of the attraction is that the people presenting the beverages and foods are the same people who produce them--it's not just another catered event.

             "Farm Day is a unique and important opportunity for us to showcase the best of what New York's farmers and producers have to offer.  Every year we bring New York to Washington, DC, and I am thrilled that this has become such an anticipated event on the Congressional calendar," said Senator Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly four decades.  "New York's farmers and producers are some of the best in the world, and this is a great opportunity to spread the word even further about the quality of our produce.  I know we are all looking forward to sampling some of the incredible wine, beer, spirits, cider, milk, food and produce that will be on display."

              The event is generally organized according to the State's major wine-producing regions--Long Island, Brooklyn and New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Capital District, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara and Erie areas, and North Country.  Each region features a diverse array of foods and beverages, with some including restaurants which feature New York products. 

              Farming is a $38.4 billion industry vital to New York's economy, according to a recent economic impact study commissioned by Farm Credit East, a sponsor of the event.  About 23% of the State's land area, or 7 million acres, are covered by 36,000 family farms.  New York ranks high among the major agricultural states in America--first in the production of yogurt; second in apples and maple syrup; third in grapes, grape juice and wine; and fourth in pears and dairy, which is by far the largest segment of the agricultural sector.  The grape, grape juice and wine industry alone generates more than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually to the State of New York.

              New York Farm Day is made possible by the generosity of its sponsors including CoBank, Constellation Brands, Farm Credit East, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation, New York Apple Association, New York Farm Bureau, and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

               Below is the all-New York "menu" for Farm Day 2015.

Wines of Long Island--A selection of award-winning wines from Bedell Cellars, Bouquet, Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, McCall Wines, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards, One Woman Wines & Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard, and Wolffer Estate Vineyard

K & B Seafood--Fresh Oysters and Clams 

LI-LAC Chocolates--Butter Crunch and French Mint Chocolate, Non-Pareils, Almond Bark, and Caramel Squares 

Jewel--Crescent Farm Duck Breast; Farro Salad; Blackberry-Coffee Coulis; Licorice Greens by Chef Thomas Schaudel

Orwasher's Bakery--Morning Spelt, Levain Locale, Ultimate Whole Wheat, Cabernet Rustica breads made with flour from Farmer Ground and North Country Farms, and starters made with grapes from Channing Daughters Winery                                        

Micosta Enterprises--Hudson Valley syrups and juices; black & red currants; blackberries; salad and vegetables featuring Micosta Green Supreme Dressing

New York Wine & Culinary Center--Charcuterie Board of Local Meats, Cheeses, and Accompaniments; Chocolate Bark with Seneca Salt. Ingredients sourced from Bostrom Farms, Ithaca Water Buffalo, First Light Farm & Creamery, Muranda Cheese Co., Old Chatham Sheep Herding Co, Artesian Foods, Jake's Gouda, The Piggery, Lively Run Goat Dairy Farm & Creamery, Oak & Osage Farm, Italy Hill Produce, Shimmering Light Farm, Doan Family Farms, Seneca Salt Co., and Luke's Mill Creek Farm

Wines of the Hudson Valley--A selection of award-winning wines from Benmarl Winery, Brotherhood Winery, Millbrook Vineyards, Robibero Family Vineyards, Stoutridge Vineyard, and Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery

Schenectady County Community College--Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho; Hudson Valley Duck Rillette on a Crostini with Pickled Red Onions; Carrot Cake.  Ingredients sourced from Old World Farm and The Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms

State University of New York at Cobleskill--Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with herbed Chevre and Ricotta Cheese drizzled with a Black Peppercorn Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette; Schoharie County Apple Cranberry Crumb Bars

Wines & Spirits of New York City--A selection of award-winning products from Brooklyn Oenology, Brooklyn Winery, and Kings County Distillery

Food Network*--Chilled Tomato Soup with Corn Relish and Kale, and Goat Cheese Bread.  Ingredients sourced from Kelder's Farm & U-Pick, Flying Pigs Farm, Sycamore Farms, Painted Goat Farm, Hudson Valley Fresh

 Chobani--All natural Greek yogurt

 Wines, Spirits & Ciders of the Finger Lakes--A selection of award-winning products from Anthony Road Winery, Billsboro Winery, Buttonwood Grove Winery, Honeoye Falls Distillery, Hosmer Winery, Knapp Winery, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Owera Vineyards, Penguin Bay Winery, Silver Thread Vineyard, and Wagner Vineyards

Cornell University--Consider Bardwell Rupert Reserve, Nettle Meadow Kunik, and Cornell University's Charter Day Cheddar Cheese

New York State Maple Producers--Soft Maple Sugar Shapes                                           

Seaway Trail Honey--Fresh Light Honeycomb, Three Village Cheese Company Cascadita Goat Cheese Drizzled with Light Honey, Honey Chocolate Cookies, Wixon's Honey Creamed Cinnamon and Creamed Apricot Honey on Baguettes, Catskill Provisions Honey Whiskey

National Grape Cooperative/Welch's--Concord Grape Juice, and Red and White Sparkling Grape Juice 

Wines of Lake Erie and Niagara--A selection of award-winning wines from 21 Brix Winery, Black Willow Winery, Johnson Estate Winery, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Liberty Vineyards & Winery, and Schulze Vineyards & Winery 

Wines & Cider of the Thousand Islands--from Coyote Moon Vineyards, Kaneb Orchards, Thousand Islands Winery, and Tug Hill Vineyards 

North Country Specialties--Maple Mini's, Maple Straws, Tri-berry Jam over Philadelphia Cream Cheese with Crackers, and Sweet Tango Apples  

Mercer's Dairy--Strawberry Sparkling, Spice, Chocolate Cabernet, and Red Raspberry Chardonnay Wine Ice Creams 

Dessert & Ice Wines of New York--A selection of award-winning wines from Dr. Konstantin Frank, Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard, Heron Hill Winery, Hunt Country Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Penguin Bay Winery, Sheldrake Point Winery, Thirsty Owl Wine Company, and Tug Hill Vineyards

New York Apple Association--Fresh New York Apples and Red Jacket Orchards Cider    

Cabot Creamery Cooperative--Cabot New York Vintage, Cabot New York Extra Sharp, and McCadam Empire Pepperjack Cheeses                                     

Empire Brewing Company--Slo' Mo IPA, a new proprietary IPA brewed with a blend of New York State farm grown hops, with a full hoppy flavor and a crisp, dry finish

Wines of the Finger Lakes--from Atwater Estate Vineyards, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Lucas Vineyards, Red Newt Cellars, and Swedish Hill Winery

  "A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."

                                                       --Anthelme Brillat-Savarin