Harris Beach client RealEats America bested an international field of nearly 200 food and beverage companies who competed in the inaugural Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition – taking home the $1 million grand prize. Finalists were chosen from local, national and international applicants. The Grow-NY program is focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage and agriculture innovation business cluster throughout New York State, with focus on Central New York, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier. Finalists pitched ideas to a panel of Grow-NY judges and a live audience on Tuesday and Wednesday. RealEats has 40 employees in Geneva, New York, and will use the prize money to expand its unique farm-to-table ecosystem that drives its healthy food, meal delivery business.
Rochester partner Michael Nozzolio, longtime New York State Senator and co-leader of the Harris Beach Food and Beverage Industry Team, has played a leadership role in the growth and development of Real Eats, as well as in the food and beverage innovation cluster. Former Senator Nozzolio works with Rochester associates Tyler O’Reilly and Buffalo partner Pietra Zaffram in support of RealEats America.
The Rochester Business Journal, WXXI, WHAM 13, WENY and WROC have covered the Grow-NY competition.
L-R: Mike Nozzolio; Aliya LeeKong, RealEats Culinary Director; NYS Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul; Dan Wise, Real Eats founder and CEO; Keith Lydon, RealEats VP of Operations; Eric Mozdy, Grow-NY program mentor; Catharine Young, director of the Cornell AgriTech Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
