Kristy Apostolides

Farm to School Coordinator, Lower Hudson Valley

phone 845-429-7085 x106
email Kristy

Kristy Apostolides has twenty years international experience in local food systems and sustainable agriculture, with skills ranging from organic vegetable production and field research to program development and volunteer management. As a consultant, she advocates for local farms and regional food systems by organizing educational meetings between farmers and public officials, event planning, curriculum development, grant-writing, academic and project-based research, has taught workshops and given presentations in both professionally and academically oriented conferences and symposia in Europe and the US. She has grown and supported farmers' markets, CSAs, and small- to mid-sized farms through strategic planning, branding, and promotion and is excited to expand her experience beyond the retail market to working with schools in the lower Hudson Valley. She has a BSc in Plant Sciences from Cornell University and a MSc in Sustainable Agriculture from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh).

Rochester Soil Health Day

September 1, 2026
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Rochester, NY

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, New York State Soil Health, and Foodlink for interactive activities focused on soil health and an opportunity to get your garden soil screened for lead (reservation required).

IPM Field Day for Urban Growers

September 10, 2026
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Buffalo, NY

Join us for a hands-on field day exploring integrated pest management and season extension tools for urban growing spaces and the opportunity to build community with local growers!

This event will focus on best practices for using row covers and rat mitigation. Check out our CCE demonstration trial using insect exclusion netting to manage swede midge, an invasive fly that causes damage to brassica crops. Explore how to identify rat activity, reduce attractants, and strengthen site management. Hear from local growers on how they manage pests with a focus on organic management and how they extend the season on their farms and gardens.

Resilient Gardens Conference

September 18 - September 19, 2026
Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sat: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY

The third Resilient Gardens Conference will focus on culturally relevant gardening skills and community garden management for the unique resource needs of urban gardeners. This two-day event will feature education and practical skills on day one; we'll hear from leaders of diverse stakeholder groups on strategies to overcome these issues in cities and rural communities and connecting resources between Cornell Cooperative Extension and leading community gardens. The second day is optional and will include tours of local gardening projects across Poughkeepsie and Kingston NY. 

This event is primarily open to Seed to Supper Garden Educators, CCE Educators, Master Gardener Volunteers and Upstate Seed to Supper Program Participants, as well as partner Community Gardens involved with Harvest NY.