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Cuisine and Beverage Trails Highlighted on Adirondacks Welcome Center Tree

Posted: 12/2/2022 - 3-Minute Read

QUEENSBURY, NY — Each December, Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center takes part in the NYS Grown & Certified tree topper competition along with the other Welcome Centers across New York State. The Adirondacks Welcome Center sources its tree from a local Christmas tree farm and creates a unique decoration theme to represent our region.

The 2022 tree is a nine-foot balsam fir from River Bend Christmas Tree Farm, a NYS Grown & Certified producer located in Lake Luzerne. Decorated in red and white, the color scheme this year is a nod to the iconic I LOVE NY sculpture that sits in front of the Adirondacks Welcome Center building. This year’s decoration theme is cuisine and beverage trails of the region, with a spotlight on the local Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail.

Cuisine and beverage trails, and the many producers that are part of these trails, are a gift to the region. This gift is highlighted on the 2022 tree with handmade ornaments that look like gift wrapped packages, each featuring a tag with the logo of a trail or producer on the front and a QR code on the back, which visitors can scan with their smartphone to view the website for that business. There are also colorful bottle caps, beverage labels, and other memorabilia from producers across the region tucked into the branches of the tree. The trails and producers that are highlighted include:

• Adirondack Coast Wine Trail
• Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail
• Adirondack Lakes Cuisine Trail
• Ausable Valley Cuisine Trail
• Boquet Valley Cuisine Trail
• Capital Craft Beverage Trail
• Champlain Valley Cuisine Trail
• Lewis County Cuisine Trail
• New York’s Ice Cream Trail
• North Country Cuisine Trail
• Upper Hudson Wine Trail

The following producers are highlighted with ornaments on the tree:

• Adirondack Pub & Brewery
• Adirondack Winery
• Battle Hill Brewing Company, LLC
• Bolton Landing Brewing Company
• Common Roots Brewery
• Cooper’s Cave Ale Company, Ltd.
• Lake George Distilling Co.
• Ledge Rock Hill Winery
• Mean Max Brew Works
• Northway Brewing Company
• Paradox Brewery
• Slickfin Brewing Co.
• Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery

 NYS Grown & Certified Tree Topper Competition - VOTE!

Complementing its decoration theme, this year’s tree is topped with a red farm truck filled with products that represent the cuisine and beverage trails of the region. Visitors can imagine that the truck is en route to deliver these local products to area restaurants and retailers. The public can help the Adirondacks Welcome Center win the NYS Grown & Certified Tree Topper Competition again this year by voting on the Welcome Center’s tree topper on Facebook from Monday, December 12 through Friday, December 23. Be sure to visit all of the New York State Welcome Center pages to check their tree toppers as well.

Product Sampling at the Adirondacks Welcome Center

‘Tis the season for holiday grazing boards and sipping coffee around the fireplace with friends and family! Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center has delicious, seasonal products from local producers that will impress your guests this holiday season.

The Taste NY Vending Market at the Adirondacks Welcome Center is located on the I-87 Northway between exits 17 and 18 when traveling north. The Market features over 400 products from approximately 80 New York State producers on a rotating basis throughout the year, plus a fun selection of I LOVE NY merchandise. Visitors to the Welcome Center and Market can enjoy exploring the farmers’ market-style goods available in the vending machines, from fresh milk and cheese to hand crafted chocolates and craft soda. The Market is proudly operated by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce under the direction of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The public is invited to join the Market at several sampling events throughout the month of December to see what local treats they should bring home for the holidays.

Sampling Events

Friday, December 9, 2022 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Caliva Cookie Co. is a small batch baking company operated by Eileen Caliva in Ballston Lake. Eileen creates unique biscotti flavors based on her grandmother’s original recipe. Try her Apple Pie Biscotti and Caramel Chocolate Biscotti, both available for purchase in the

Friday, December 23, 2022 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Kimmy’s Krakkers are made by Triple Green Jade Farm in Willsboro (Essex County). Find out what classes and events are happening at the farm and where to shop for their artisan breads. Try the Five Seeded Maple Gourmet Crackers and Fig & Kalamata Olive Gourmet Crackers, both available for purchase in the Taste NY Vending Market.

Seasonal Products Available in the Taste NY Vending Market:

• Kimmy’s Krakkers from Triple Green Jade Farm (Willsboro, NY)
• Fig & Honey Fromage Frais, Mixed Herbs Chevre, and Honey Lavender Fromage Blanc from Nettle Meadow (Lake Luzerne, NY)
• Sundried Tomato & Chive Cheese Curds, Basil Garlic Cheese Curds, Dill & Chive Cheese Curds, and Java Milk made with farm fresh milk from Ideal Dairy Farm by Argyle Cheese Farmer (Hudson Falls, NY)
• Rhubarb Preserves with Vanilla Bean & Earl Grey and Concord Grape Preserves from Les Collines (Craryville, NY)
• Amaretto Jam, Spicy Red Pepper Jam, and Pineapple Habanero Pepper Jam by Fat Crow Gourmet (Troy, NY)
• Old Fashioned, Wood Smoked Beef Snack Sticks by Adirondack Beef Co. (Croghan, NY)
• 100% Grass Fed Beef Snack Sticks by Acabonac Farms (Yaphank, NY)
• Sleigh Ride Nitro Cold Brew Coffee by Sail Away Coffee (Deer Park, NY)
• Java Jampit Nitro Cold Brew Coffee and Cold Brew Latte made with Battenkill Valley Creamery from Kru Coffee (Saratoga Springs, NY)
• Apple Pie Biscotti and Caramel Chocolate Biscotti by Caliva Cookie Co. (Ballston Lake, NY)
• Chocolate Chip Cookies and Mini Apple Pies by Lake George Baking Company (Lake George, NY)
• Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies by Apt. 3 Bakery (Saratoga Springs, NY)
• Maple Pecan Cookies by My Big Fat Cookie (Calverton, NY)
• Pure Maple Candy by Mapleland Farms (Salem, NY)
• “The Peppermint Pig” by Saratoga Candy Company (Saratoga Springs, NY)
• Peanut Butter Cup Fudge by The Speach Family Candy Shoppe (Jamestown, NY)
• I LOVE NY Knit Hats, Coffee Mugs, and Cappuccino Mugs

About NYS Grown & Certified

The New York State Grown & Certified program makes it easy for consumers to identify local, safely-handled, and environmentally responsible agricultural products. This voluntary program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to meet consumer demand for high-quality food and agricultural products. Visit certified.ny.gov to search for a NYS Grown & Certified tree farm near you this holiday season!

About Taste NY

Taste NY is the official eat-local, drink-local program for New York State. Taste NY highlights the quality, diversity, and economic impact of food and beverages grown, produced, or processed in New York State. Taste NY aims to create new opportunities for producers through events, retail locations, and partnerships The agricultural industry in New York State continues to grow at an exceptional rate. The state boasts more than seven million acres of farmland and 36,000 farms. It is the second largest producer of apples and maple syrup in the country, and the top honey producer in the Northeast. Additionally, the state ranks first in the U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second in craft distillers, third in breweries, and fourth for the total number of wineries. We encourage New Yorkers and visitors alike to experience the delicious homegrown goodness of Taste NY. Visit taste.ny.gov for a full list of Taste NY Markets across the State!

About the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail

The Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail is a program of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB, dedicated to the promotion of craft beverage makers. We hope that you enjoy the trail, the beverage makers on it, and discover our fantastic treasures. Sign up for the Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail digital passport to lift your spirits AND get rewarded with prizes! It’s a wine-win (or beer, spirits, hard seltzer, and hard cider.) This trail doesn’t only include hard drinks — you can also sample locally-produced soft drinks and enjoy a meal or snack at several locations located in friendly communities that offer a variety of attractions, shopping, lodging, and more to make it a robust, full-bodied experience full of flavor. Visit adkcraftbev.com for our Digital Passport!

About the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB, Inc. strives to drive tourism to the Lake George region year-round while fostering a vibrant business community. The Chamber seeks to promote growth and development of its member businesses by offering networking events, educational programs, ribbon cuttings and other opportunities. Founded in 1952, the Chamber is a member-driven, not-for-profit 501 C (6) corporation. The Chamber, with a regional mindset, comprises more than 430 members in various sectors of the business community. The Chamber staffs the Visitor Center on the corner of Beach Road and Canada Street in the village of Lake George and the Adirondacks Welcome Center on the Northway between Exits 17 and 18 and typically serves more than 100,000 visitors annually. The Chamber also publishes an annual Travel Guide with a 75,000 circulation and Community & Business Directory geared toward people and businesses looking to move to the area. The Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau (LGRCVB) is a division of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB and works as an extension of the Warren County Tourism Department. While the Tourism Department markets Warren County to the leisure consumer tourism market, the mission of the LGRCVB is to bring year-round, weather-proof group business to Warren County in the form of meetings, conventions, reunions, sports events, weddings, and more. Learn more at lakegeorgechamber.com . Connect with the Chamber on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. 

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