Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Opportunities Info Session

January 19, 2024


This event hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, Empire State Development and the NYC MWBE program will include overviews on both the NYS and NYC Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) programs, as well as a panel discussion that will give an overview the untapped potential for MWBEs to participate and benefit from the program.

This event is meant to provide invaluable insights, strategies, and resources for farm and food MWBEs seeking to navigate state contracting. This meeting will provide a networking opportunity for MWBE businesses, government agencies, advocacy groups, producers, distributors, and stakeholders in the food procurement industry in New York State.

A light lunch and morning refreshments will be provided. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required to ensure adequate numbers of handouts for attendees. Any questions can be directed to Precious Tshabalala.

AGENDA
Welcome remarks - Introduction
-- Overview of the purpose and goals for the meeting.
-- Importance of M/WBE participation in food procurement.

Current state of food procurement in NYS
-- Current procurement landscape.
-- Highlight opportunities for MWBEs.

Overview of the program in NYS/Legal and regulatory considerations
-- Overview of the MWBE certification process.
-- Compliance requirements for procurement.

Best practices and success stories
-- Strategies for building successful M/WBE partnerships.
-- Key initiatives and success stories.

MWBE capacity building
-- Resources for MWBEs: Training, support, and financing.
-- Information on technical assistance programs.

Q&A

Closing remarks and acknowledgements

Snacks and networking

El Camino del Micelio: Cultivo de Hongos en Otoño

September 20, 2025
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Bronx, NY

Aprende a cultivar hongos de forma sencilla en tu huerto comunitario este otoño con los equipos de Cornell Co-op Extension y GreenThumb. En este taller para principiantes y para cualquier persona interesada, Yolanda Gonzalez y Karen Guzman explorarán cómo los hongos pueden apoyar la salud del suelo, cerrar ciclos de nutrientes y ofrecer alimentos nutritivos para tu comunidad. Practicaremos dos técnicas para cultivar setas en bolsas o camas de cultivo con materiales accesibles, y conversaremos sobre cómo integrar el cultivo de hongos en proyectos de huertos comunitarios.

Maximizing Your Garden -- Fall Prep

September 21, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Woodside, NY

In this hands-on session, Urban Garden Specialist, Karen Guzman, will discuss how to make the most of your garden space by understanding the growing seasons and selecting crops that thrive in each one. You'll learn practical strategies to extend the life of your favorite crops and plan ahead for future seasons.

Cultivating Climate Resilience of Urban Agriculture in New York City

September 24, 2025
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
New York, NY

A Panel Presentation and Hands-on Soil Health Demo!

Join the New York Climate Exchange and Cornell Cooperative Extension's Ag Climate Resiliency Program, New York Soil Health, and Harvest NY for a Soil Health Field Day in Governor's Island. This event focuses on best practices for building climate resilience on urban farms and is part of the 2025 Soil Health and Climate Resilience Field Days. It will offer a farm tour, as well as valuable insights and hands-on demonstrations to enhance soil health through biochar applications.

Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just getting started, this event is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the basics of climate resilience, adaptation planning, and soil health-- hearing directly from urban farmers in New York City. 

New Produce Auctions in NYS!

With the opening of the new Augusta Produce Auction on August 19th, New York State now has 11 produce auctions! See the new map of produce auction locations across the state and contact information.

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.