Binghamton is Finalist in Search for Capital of the Pierogy Pocket

Chance to be Awarded $10,000 for Local Charity


The primaries are over and it's time to find out which city made their case best and has the most pierogy passion. Five finalists are vying to be crowned Capital of the Pierogy Pocket for 2009, and the competition is tough. To convince you they are most deserving of your vote, the final five cities have submitted petitions, mayor proclamations and films showing pierogy tosses, pierogy-eating contests, hundreds of pierogy-making volunteers and even a search for the mythic "Pierogi Man."

The cities vying for the title of Capital of the Pierogy Pocket are Binghamton, N.Y.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Elmira Heights, N.Y.; Forest City, Pa.; and Whiting, Ind.

Evidence of Binghamton's - and the four other cities' - pierogy pride is posted at www.pierogypocket.com, where individuals across the country can now vote for the locale they'd like to see crowned Capital of the Pierogy Pocket. Voting will be open October 6, 2008 and will run through October 24, 2008.

This year marks Mrs. T's Pierogies third annual search for the Capital of the Pierogy Pocket. Cities, towns and non-profit organizations throughout the region were invited to provide a demonstration of their citizens' "pierogy pride" and to challenge Binghamton, N.Y. - last year's winner - for the coveted title. The winning city or organization will be officially declared the Capital of the Pierogy Pocket in November and will be awarded $10,000 for a community endeavor of their choice.

As the reigning capital, Binghamton solidified its reputation as a town rich in pierogy pride by submitting a petition signed by over 1,500 citizens and video footage of their 44th annual Pirohi Festival, where over 15,000 dozen pierogies were sold to raise money for Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (C.H.O.W.), which annually distributes 2 million pounds of food to district pantries. C.H.O.W. will also be the recipient of the $10,000 prize, should Binghamton be re-crowned in November.

"Over the last two years, we have seen incredible examples of pierogy passion and community pride in cities and towns across America," said Gary Lauerman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Mrs. T's Pierogies. "And Mrs. T's is excited to continue the celebration of culinary heritage and tradition with this year's search for the Capital of the Pierogy Pocket of America."

The five finalists competing for the title of Capital of the Pierogy Pocket will be judged on the materials submitted to demonstrate their "pierogy pride," as well as the number of online votes received.

The Pierogy Pocket is an area of the country in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest where pierogy consumption is higher than anywhere else in the nation. It spans cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and includes parts of New York, southern New England and the Mid-Atlantic region.

For more information or to vote for Binghamton to be crowned Capital of the Pierogy Pocket, visit www.pierogypocket.com.