NYS Grown & Certified Partners with Tully’s to Deliver Homegrown Experience and Celebrate Its 10th Anniversary at The Great New York State Fair’s Potato Booth

Tully's Good Times Named New Vendor at The Great New York State Fair Potato Booth

Potato Booth to be a True Celebration of New York Agriculture with Potatoes and Toppings to be Sourced from New York State Grown & Certified Farms and Processors

The same incredible value is now even more homegrown. The Great New York State Fair announced today that its iconic $1 Potato Booth will be operated by Tully's Good Times in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' New York State Grown & Certified program, serving up The Fair's famous baked potatoes, and salt potatoes, now grown in New York, with toppings sourced from New York State Grown & Certified processors, using New York milk. The potatoes will be provided by NY Fresh, LLC, a Central New York farm, while the butter, cheese, and sour cream will also be New York State Grown & Certified products-making this year's Potato Booth a true celebration of New York agriculture, all while maintaining its beloved $1 price. The collaboration comes in time for the 2026 New York State Fair, and as the NYS Grown & Certified Program also celebrates its 10th anniversary.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "The Great New York State Fair is one of the best places to showcase the phenomenal quality of New York agriculture, and this year's Potato Booth is a perfect example. We're proud to highlight our local farmers and food producers across The New York State Fair and having locally grown potatoes and locally made toppings is extra special because we're also celebrating the 10th anniversary of NYS Grown & Certified this year. From the potatoes to the butter and sour cream, each bite supports New York agriculture while giving fairgoers the delicious tradition they've loved for years."

Fair Director Julie LaFave said, "The Potato Booth is one of the Fair's most iconic offerings, and we're excited to make this longtime favorite even more of a New York success story. Thanks to our partnership with Tully's and the Department's New York State Grown & Certified program, fairgoers can enjoy the same incredible value while knowing the main ingredients come from right here in New York State."

For decades, fairgoers have flocked to the Horticulture Building in search of the famous $1 potato. The Fair favorite has drawn thousands of visitors each year, with many waiting more than one hour to enjoy the baked potato loaded with all the fixings. During the 2025 Great New York State Fair, more than 70,000 potatoes were served with upwards of 7,000 customers per day.

This year, when the Fair debuts, the official name of the booth will be the "New York State Fair Potato Booth Operated by Tully's Good Times." The menu will offer fan favorites like the classic baked potato and Syracuse-renowned salt potatoes, in addition to fun features from the Tully's culinary team. The potatoes will be sourced from NY Fresh, LLC, a locally owned vegetable farm operating in Cato and Red Creek, New York.

The Giamartino Family, Owner and Operator of Tully's Good Times, said, "Tully's Good Times is honored to partner with NYS Grown & Certified to operate one of The Fair's most classic traditions. Our team is dedicated to serving the freshest, most delicious baked potatoes to fairgoers this year and offer our own Tully's spin on this iconic item."

Owner and Operator of NY Fresh, LLC, Garrett Williams, said, "We are honored to be chosen to supply the annual State Fair baked potato and look forward to having fairgoers experience the quality and freshness of local potatoes. They were grown with lots of challenges, luck, and hard work. I hope they are enjoyable as they finish their long journey from the farm to right here at the NYS Fair."

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, NYS Grown & Certified has spent the past decade helping New Yorkers identify local food produced to a higher standard. The program assures consumers that the food they are buying is local and produced to a higher standard with participating producers adopting food safety standards and enroll in an environmental management program. Since the program began, NYS Grown & Certified has grown and evolved to include 20 agricultural commodities and processing industries. 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. It is supported by a marketing campaign including on-product labels, promotional materials, and sales materials. Learn more at certified.ny.gov and follow the program on Facebook and Instagram.

About Tully's

Since 1991, Tully's Good Times is a family-owned, locally operated restaurant group known for its "Best Chicken Tenders on Earth®" and a mix of American dining and sports bar atmosphere, with locations across Central, Western, and Southern New York plus parts of Pennsylvania.

About NY Fresh, LLC

Founded in 2022 by Wayne County native and University of Arkansas graduate Garrett Williams, NY Fresh, LLC is a locally owned vegetable farm operating in Cato and Red Creek, New York. Inspired by a lifelong passion for agriculture that began in a backyard garden and neighborhood produce stand, the company grows a variety of fresh vegetables with a focus on quality, sustainability, and connecting consumers with locally produced food. Through its commitment to fresh, New York-grown products, NY Fresh strives to strengthen the relationship between farmers and their communities while encouraging healthy, home-cooked meals made with ingredients grown close to home.

About The Great New York State Fair

The Fair opens on August 26, 2026, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. All concerts are included in the price of admission. Tickets are on sale at The Fair's website, nysfair.ny.gov. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and the Chevrolet Music Series. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25.

The Fair continues to be one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, with admission remaining free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under.

Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state's CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

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