That means an end to vendors selling $1 bottles of water, even on Dollar Day, the last day of the fair, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner said today.
At the same time, the fair is adding more water stations throughout the fairgrounds, so fairgoers can more easily fill up reusable bottles for free, he said.
In past years, state fair vendors bought bottled water from various sources.
Under this year’s system, all fair vendors must buy cases of 20-ounce bottles of Aquafina water for $7.50 each.
The fair will get back about $1 for every case, Waffner said.
The vendors, in turn, must sell the bottled water at a minimum of $2.
Jim Hasbrouck, who runs the Fried Specialties stands at the fair, says the $2 price is cheaper than what he sees at other state fairs.
He said he saw water selling for $5 a bottle at the Florida State Fair.
This year, the fair is spending about $2.1 million on free acts at Chevy Court and another $500,000 on entertainment at the Exposition Center, Waffner said.
Waffner said contract to sell the Aquafina water is for one year.