SYRACUSE, N.Y. — With the Great New York State Fair wrapping up Sunday, vendors are taking stock of a season marked by higher food and inventory costs.
For some businesses, those higher costs have translated into higher prices for customers. Others have chosen to absorb the increase and keep prices steady.
At PZO’s, owner David Pizio said rising labor and food costs forced the business to raise prices this year. Pizio said food costs have increased along with the cost of paying workers, with wages now at about $16 an hour.
Pizio said the higher prices appear to have affected business. He said the vendor has seen fewer customers compared with last year, although weekends have been stronger than expected.
“Prices should be more affordable for people just to get more customers here and allow everyone, no matter your economic standpoint, to be able to enjoy the fair,” one fairgoer said.
Other fairgoers said they expected to spend more at the fair because of inflation.
“I feel like everything could be more affordable,” another fairgoer said.
Tully’s is taking a different approach.
The restaurant brings in fresh chicken each day of the fair, along with other ingredients and supplies. That adds significantly to its inventory costs, but the business has not raised its prices in about two and a half to three years.
Daniel Giamartino of Tully’s said the decision is intentional as customers face higher costs in other parts of their lives.
“All the consumers are feeling the pinch on the grocery store, going to the gas pump, so we’re just trying to do our part and hold everything steady,” Giamartino said.
The contrasting approaches highlight the challenge vendors face at the fair: balancing the rising cost of doing business with what customers are willing and able to pay.
For some fairgoers, that means looking for affordable options or sharing food rather than buying individual meals.
The Great New York State Fair ends on Labor Day.