From the sands at Gilgo Beach to the sounds of Billy Joel, Long Island is a veritable feast for the senses. But if you’re anything like us — and since this is Edible Long Island you’re reading, I’m guessing you are — taste is probably the sense you care about most! Suffolk County’s got your back.
On Sunday, September 13, Suffolk County will be hosting the first ever Suffolk County Marathon and Half Marathon to Support Our Veterans at Heckscher State Park in East Islip. More than 2,000 people have already signed up to run, and the event is expected to draw upwards of 10,000 visitors. But the main event — the tasty one — will be waiting on the other side of the finish line.
The inaugural Taste of Long Island Festival will highlight and celebrate all our region has to offer in food and agriculture. The goal? To show the world all the exciting (and delicious) food and drink options available across Suffolk County. Of course, to do that, the county’s going to need your help.
To celebrate the entire breadth of Suffolk County’s tastiest options, officials are looking for vendors to host tastings and sell fresh local produce, baked goods and value-added products, roasted corn, cheeses and ice creams, fresh seafood and shellfish, fruit juices, ciders, wines, craft beers, spirits, etc. The goal is to lend the festival a “farmers market” vibe, and who’s better suited to provide it than our region’s best and brightest producers?
We all know our region is home to award-winning wines and the best, freshest produce; the Long Island Farm Bureau and Wine Council — both festival sponsors — know it, too. So, if you’re a producer looking to reach new customers and build a little buzz, Taste of Long Island is for you. To participate, contact August Ruckdeschel at (631) 853-4714, or by e-mailing him here.
