Local Foods and Beverages

Local Foods and BeveragesThe trend in local food consumption has been steadily increasing over the past decade. There has been a significant amount of growth in both direct-to-consumer marketing outlets, such as farmers' markets and community supported agriculture, as well as wholesale procurement. Harvest NY Specialists foster this continued growth through innovative programming and targeted business development consultations. With education and outreach on market readiness, good agricultural practices (GAPs) and operation develop, Harvest NY provides support to farmers to understand and implement changes to mitigate the barriers that often stymie the ability of small farms from participating in larger and more diversified markets.

The Harvest NY Farm to Institution Program offers an e-newsletter, Harvest NY Farm to School Newsletter. This publication provides updates, resources, and insights for school Food Service Directors, Farm to School Coordinators, farmers and producers, and others working to support Farm to School efforts across New York State.






School Lunch Close to Home

Amy Bly, Farm to School Coordinator, Long Island
Harvest New York

Last Modified: November 8, 2022
School Lunch Close to Home

Regional Farm to School Coordinator Program

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: November 3, 2022
Regional Farm to School Coordinator Program

The Harvest NY Regional Farm to School Coordinator Program includes 7 coordinators and a program lead.


The NY Food Hub Collaborative

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: November 3, 2022

Cornell Cooperative Extension has received a USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Planning and Development grant for the NY Food Hub Collaborative.


Farm to School at the Hudson Valley Food Show

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: April 25, 2022
Farm to School at the Hudson Valley Food Show

Harvest NY Regional Farm to School Coordinators collaborated with the Hudson Valley Food Service Directors Coalition to bring local foods and vendors to a food show for area food service directors.


Selling NY Produce to NY Schools

Last Modified: January 18, 2022
Selling NY Produce to NY Schools

This two-page fact sheet explains how NY produce farmers and distributors can sell their goods to school food authorities. 


30% NY Initiative: Opportunities, Barriers, and Pathways to Success

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: January 10, 2022
30% NY Initiative: Opportunities, Barriers, and Pathways to Success

The 30% NY Initiative: Opportunities, Barriers, and Pathways to Success report is a product of Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY and Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County. The report analyzes procurement data from 53 of the 57 school food authorities (SFAs) that qualified for the 30% NY Initiative during the 2019-20 school year. In addition to analyzing procurement data, we surveyed successful SFAs to understand how they altered their diversions and use of entitlement funds in preparation for the 2019-20 school year and barriers to purchasing local food, by commodity group. A combined analysis of the 30% procurement data and the survey results shed light on procurement trends, varying pathways, best practices, and strategic approaches to successfully achieving the 30% NY Initiative.


FAQs Regarding 30% NY Initiative Reimbursement

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: October 4, 2021
FAQs Regarding 30% NY Initiative Reimbursement

A provision of the No Student Goes Hungry legislation provides School Food Authorities (SFAs) an additional $.19 per lunch served in State reimbursement provided 30% of lunch purchases are NY Food Products. It is known colloquially as the "30% NY Initiative". The additional reimbursement is tied to the SFA, which varies by district. Through the 30% NY Initiative, students gain access to healthy local food, SFAs receive needed additional State reimbursement, and local businesses are supported. To learn more about the opportunity, which entity receives the additional reimbursement, tentative reimbursement rates, and benefits of the program, please refer to the FAQs Regarding 30% NY Initiative Reimbursement factsheet linked below. 


Farm to School Program Spotlight: CCE Niagara

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: February 12, 2021
Farm to School Program Spotlight: CCE Niagara

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County adapted educational programming to meet the needs of schools and families during COVID-19.


30% NY Documentation Requirement Guides and Recorded Webinars

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: October 13, 2020
30% NY Documentation Requirement Guides and Recorded Webinars

Harvest NY, with input from the NY State Department of Education, developed the 30% NY Documentation Requirement Guide and accompanying recorded webinars to prepare School Food Authorities for success in their 30% NY Initiative audits.


Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: October 13, 2020
Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

Harvest of the Month posters, newsletters, and infographics were created to help highlight and promote the consumption of locally-grown, raised, and produced foods foods. You can download, edit, and adapt the Harvest of the Month materials for your district or program's use.


Buffalo Public Schools Launches New Farm to School to You Food Truck

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: October 8, 2020
Buffalo Public Schools Launches New Farm to School to You Food Truck

On October 7th, Buffalo Public Schools introduced the newest addition to their nationally-recognized Farm to School program: The Farm to School to You food truck.


NY 30% Initiative Eligible Product Database

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: June 18, 2020
NY 30% Initiative Eligible Product Database

The Harvest NY Local Foods Team is excited to announce the launch of the long-awaited NY 30% Initiative Eligible Product Database. This database lists all known eligible products as part of the New York 30% Initiative.


Harvest NY Farm to School Newsletter

Last Modified: June 9, 2020
Harvest NY Farm to School Newsletter

The Harvest NY Farm to School Newsletter provides updates, resources, and insights for school Food Service Directors, Farm to School Coordinators, farmers and producers, and others working to support Farm to School efforts across New York State.


Planning Your Commodity Order Wisely Can Help You Reach the 30% NY Threshold

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: June 3, 2020
Planning Your Commodity Order Wisely Can Help You Reach the 30% NY Threshold

Article by Rosemarie Hanson, Trumansburg Central School District Food Service Director, and Gail Brisson, Trumansburg Middle School Librarian; originally submitted to FOCUS Magazine.

If you are trying to increase your purchases of local and NY State foods to achieve the 30%, the first place you should look is your commodity ordering. Read on to learn about how you can balance commodity foods with local foods to reach your NY purchasing goals.


Food-Service Friendly Recipes

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

Last Modified: May 5, 2020
Food-Service Friendly Recipes

To supplement the Harvest of the Month program, Harvest NY has curated a list of popular recipes from school districts. Expand your school lunch menu with one of these yummy recipes!


NYS Produce Auctions Locations and Contact Information

Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist, Team Leader
Harvest New York

Last Modified: September 3, 2019
NYS Produce Auctions Locations and Contact Information

Produce auctions in New York State have been formed so that produce growers have a way of marketing their product to quality minded buyers through open competitive bidding. A map of produce auction locations across the state is provided along with contact information. Auction days and times vary by location and by year. Contact the auction directly for the schedule.


Insuring Malting Barley in New York Factsheet (2019)

Last Modified: May 21, 2019
Insuring Malting Barley in New York Factsheet (2019)

Are you a malting barley grower considering crop insurance? This factsheet provides on the crop insurance policies, where in New York you can insure malting barley, and important deadlines to keep in mind.


Malting Barley: Keys to Successful Production in New York State

Last Modified: May 24, 2018
Malting Barley: Keys to Successful Production in New York State

This comprehensive guide, developed by College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University faculty and Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialists, provides 10 essential malting barley production recommendations for growers in New York State.


Hard Cider Supply Chain Analysis

Lindsey Pashow, Ag Business Development & Marketing Specialist
Harvest New York

Last Modified: March 23, 2018
Hard Cider Supply Chain Analysis

Hard cider is a fast-growing craft beverage industry in New York, in part due to the passage of the Farm Cider Law in 2013, which affords licensees certain benefits, but requires the use of New York-grown agricultural products. With increasing market demand for hard cider variety apples, there may be challenges with sourcing specialty cider apples, such as bittersharps, bittersweets and heirloom dual purpose (dessert/cider).  


Guide on How To Purchase at New York State Produce Auctions

Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist, Team Leader
Harvest New York

Last Modified: March 9, 2018
Guide on How To Purchase at New York State Produce Auctions

A produce auction is a wholesale market for regionally grown produce. Currently there are eight produce auctions in New York State offering a wide variety of produce at competitive prices. This guide will provide basic instruction on the terminology of the auction, as well as how to purchase produce at these unique markets!


NYS Brewery Supply Chain Analysis, v2

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: February 8, 2018
NYS Brewery Supply Chain Analysis, v2

The NYS craft beer industry has experienced significant growth in the past few years due, in part, to the passage of the Farm Brewery Law, which grants breweries that choose to operate under this license certain benefits, but also requires the purchase of an increasing percentage of NYS grown ingredients between 2013 and 2024. In response to this emerging market opportunity, New York State Empire State Development, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Hartwick Center for Craft Food and Beverage, and the NYS Brewers Association have been busy working with growers, malt house operators and breweries on a number of different research, technical assistance and programmatic efforts to ensure the continued growth and viability of this nascent, yet potentially significant economic driver for NYS.

To support this industry, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY administrated round one of market surveys in 2015 and administered a second round of surveys to growers, malt house operators and breweries in the spring of 2017. The information contained within this report includes an analysis of the survey data received in the second round of survey administration.


Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Considerations and Costs

Lindsey Pashow, Ag Business Development & Marketing Specialist
Harvest New York

Last Modified: December 19, 2017
Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Considerations and Costs

Are you interested in starting a winery in Northern New York? CCE Harvest New York has put together a report and interactive Excel spreadsheets on Starting a Winery in Northern New York: Winery Establishment Considerations and Costs.


Economics of Malting Barley Production

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: March 31, 2017
Economics of Malting Barley Production

John Hanchar of CCE Northwest NY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops team worked with specialists, producers and others in the malting barley industry to develop enterprise budgets under various conditions -- spring vs. winter varieties, varying tillage practices, standard vs. intensive management, and others. Enterprise budgets comprise: value of production, income; costs of production (variable and fixed inputs); and returns, for example, return above variable costs, and return above total costs.


Malting Barley Alternative Markets

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: March 27, 2017
Malting Barley Alternative Markets

What will you do if the malting barley you've grown does not meet the specs of your maltster? Plan ahead for an alternative market for rejected barley. This can help minimize economic losses if the crop is rejected based on grain quality. Using barley as an animal feed as a portion of finishing rations for beef cattle is a good option as well as including it in a dairy cow ration -- barley is a comparable substitute for corn.

This flyer will provide information about market opportunities for rejected barley and potential buyers.


Buffalo Farm-to-School Project

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: July 7, 2016
Buffalo Farm-to-School Project

As part of the Harvest New York Buffalo Farm-to-School (F2S) initiative, 50 or so fourth and fifth grade students from Hillery Park Elementary School visited Burley Berries and East Hill Farms in Warsaw, New York to learn about where their food comes from.


Quality Testing Available through Hartwick College

Last Modified: June 28, 2016
Quality Testing Available through Hartwick College

Hartwick College Center for Craft Food and Beverage now provides quality testing services in New York. The testing lab provides convenient, reliable and affordable barley quality, beer quality, hop quality, and malt quality testing.


Cornell Malting Barley Resources -- Breeding Program, Variety Trials, Research

Last Modified: April 4, 2016
Cornell Malting Barley Resources -- Breeding Program, Variety Trials, Research

Cornell University has started a malting barley breeding program, is conducting variety trials across the state, and is engaged in research to reduce disease and mycotoxin contamination.  


Double Up Food Bucks Western NY Report, 2014-2015

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: April 4, 2016
Double Up Food Bucks Western NY Report, 2014-2015

Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) uses existing infrastructure -- farmers markets and EBT - the mechanism SNAP recipients use to receive their benefits -- to improve access to and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income individuals and families and grow the local food economy by supporting purchases from local farmers.

In our 2014 pilot season DUFB was administered at 7 area farmers markets, spanning 3 counties. In 2015, the DUFB program expanded to 15 farmers markets, including a mobile market, spanning five counties.


NYS Brewery Supply Chain Analysis, v1, 2016

Last Modified: February 19, 2016
NYS Brewery Supply Chain Analysis, v1, 2016

Following the passage of New York's Farm Brewery Law in 2013, new markets developed for malting barley farmers, malt house operations and farm brewers. As these new markets developed, grain quality, quantity and price projections for the industry were made based on the best available information at the time. However, it was clear that a more comprehensive market analysis was needed in order to best support this growing industry. This report summarizes the data gathered through that analysis.  


Double Up Food Bucks 2014 Year End Report

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: June 19, 2015
Double Up Food Bucks 2014 Year End Report

Piloted in 2014, the Double Up Food Bucks program is viewed as a tremendous success in meeting program goals. Read a brief overview of the program successes realized at participating markets in 2014.


Western NY Food Hub seeks new produce growers to work with!

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: June 17, 2015
Western NY Food Hub seeks new produce growers to work with!

Eden Valley Growers (EVG) is opening their doors to new produce growers interested in selling through wholesale market channels! Dubbed the Western NY Food Hub, this business diversification will provide qualified growers with immediate access to wholesale markets. Based in Erie County, EVG is a vegetable growing farm cooperative that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Recognizing the increasing demand for locally grown food and the considerable assets the cooperative has, both in terms of infrastructure, sales and marketing, they are eager to provide Western NY farmers with a viable market for their produce.

Video: New York State Produce Auctions

Last Modified: May 8, 2015
Video: New York State Produce Auctions

The number of produce auctions in New York State continues to increase. These auctions are aggregation points that allow local farmers to sell their produce in wholesale lots to buyers from across the region. To document the economic impact of produce auctions on agriculture, local businesses, family farms, and produce buyers, the Cornell Vegetable Program worked with Harvest NY to survey top sellers and buyers.

A new Cornell Vegetable Program video shares general information about produce auctions, how buyers and sellers use the auctions to expand their businesses, and how local communities benefit from them.


What is the Double Up Food Bucks Program in WNY

Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York

Last Modified: June 19, 2014
What is the Double Up Food Bucks Program in WNY

In partnership with lead agency, Field and Fork Network, Harvest NY has forged a national partnership with Fair Food Network to pilot their highly successful program, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), in Western NY farmers markets. Using philanthropic funds, DUFB matches SNAP purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets up to $20 per visit, to be used on fresh fruit and vegetables grown in NYS.



Upcoming Events

Log Inoculation Party

April 28, 2024
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
New York, NY

Join us for a log inoculation party and Community Mushroom Educator (CME) reunion at the Randall's Island Urban Farm with past and prospective CMEs. We will be inoculating local tree species with shiitake and oyster spawn as part of a larger research project with the Randall's Island Park Alliance Urban Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension. 

Announcements

2023 Year in Review Released

2023 was an impactful year for CCE Harvest NY! Our major partners include NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYC Department of Education, NYS Office of Cannabis Management, NYS Berry Growers Association, Scenic Hudson, and many more. We thank the gardeners, farmers, processors, and school food authorities that we serve. Please reach out with questions on any of our success stories highlighted in our 2023 Year in Review.
  • A Study of Urban Agriculture in New York State Released
  • Insect Identification for NYC Farmers and Gardeners
  • Harvest NY Offers Education, Fresh Produce, and Job Readiness Training to the Rochester Community
  • A New Community Garden in Nassau County
  • Collaboration Leads to New Garden Opening and Educational Opportunities for Families in Transitional Housing
  • Buffalo Urban Farm Day Showcases City's Flourishing Urban Growing Community
  • Urban Agriculture Curriculum Design Influenced by Stakeholder Feedback
  • Five Years of 30% NY Initiative Success
  • Local Foods for Schools
  • Buffalo Farm to School is a Net Positive
  • Supporting Minority and Women-Owned Businesses in New York State
  • CCE and Cornell Educators Connect at Climate Symposium
  • Development of a Statewide Agritourism Program
  • A Big Year for Cannabis sativa in New York
  • Berry Research in NY to Inform Effective Fungicide Strategies


Field Guide: Arthropod Pests of NYC Vegetables

Arthropod Pests of NYC Vegetables aims to help urban farmers and gardeners find, identify, and understand the most common and important insects and other arthropod pests found in New York City farms and gardens. Some of these pests are rarely mentioned in other guides but are common in NYC. The guide emphasizes scouting tips, including how to identify pests by the damage they leave behind, even when you can't find the insect itself.

This guide was created as a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension's Harvest New York team and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program.