Katie Sheehan-Lopez

Farm to School Coordinator, Upper Hudson Valley

phone 845-340-3990 x334
email Katie

Katie Sheehan-Lopez is the Regional Farm to School Coordinator for the Upper Hudson Valley. She works with all the stakeholders on the farm to school supply chain, including farmers, distributors, processors, and school districts, to increase the amount of local New York State foods being served in our schools. Prior to working in farm to school, she held several positions that promoted healthy food and physical activity for residents of the Hudson Valley and NYC, including the SNAP-Ed nutrition education program, and Local Produce Link, a farm-to-food pantry program connecting Hudson Valley farms with NYC food pantries. Katie has a BS in Dietetics from the University of Rhode Island and a Masters in Public Health Nutrition from UC Berkeley. She lives in Beacon and in her free time enjoys planting her vegetable and pollinator gardens, cooking with her kids, and exploring the Hudson Valley.

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Community Gardens Soil Testing Program Accepting Applications

Soil testing supports the growth and expansion of community gardens by protecting the health and safety of the food produced in these gardens. CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible, food-producing gardens in New York State the opportunity to send soil samples for testing without charge.

The soil test will analyze samples for heavy metals and nutrient levels. Test results help gardeners make appropriate plans to produce high quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Technical support and education for participating growers will be provided by the CCE Harvest New York team. Learn more about the 2025 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.

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.