Buffalo, NY - As food trucks become part of Buffalo's culinary landscape, the Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops today announced it will accept applications from local food truck operators for the 2012 event which is set for July 7 and 8 in downtown Buffalo.

"Buffalo and Western New York is home to hundreds of fantastic restaurants and this year we are encouraging food truck owners to also apply as their offerings are quickly becoming a new culinary attraction not only in our community, but nationwide," said Jen Mitri, Taste restaurant chair. "If Buffalo's food trucks meet the application requirements, it will give festival-goers an opportunity to sample the great food that city residents and workers have been talking about for the past year."

Food truck applicants must adhere to the same menu item criteria as established restaurants, which include serving a "Healthy Option" item and "taste-size" item. Click here for the food truck application and additional rules and criteria. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2012.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is the nation's largest two-day food festival, attracting more than 450,000 people to downtown Buffalo. The Taste is July 7 and July 8, 2012 along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo. For further information, please visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com.