Specialists

Sam Anderson
Urban Agriculture Specialist
Areas of Interest: urban agriculture, IPM, soil management

Kristy Apostolides
Farm to School Coordinator, Lower Hudson Valley
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Cheryl Bilinski
Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Areas of Interest: farm to institution, supply chain development, farm-based beverages

Amy Bly
Farm to School Coordinator, Long Island
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Lizzy Cooper
Farm to School Coordinator, Central NY
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Meghan Dohman
Farm to School Coordinator, North Country
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Makela Elvy
Urban Garden Leadership Curriculum Specialist
Areas of Interest: NYC community garden leadership, soil health, and composting

Yolanda Gonzalez
Urban Agriculture Specialist
Areas of Interest: urban agriculture, marketing, mushroom production

Karen Guzman
Urban Gardens Specialist
Areas of Interest: community gardens, IPM, native plants, sustainable growing methods

Mallory Hohl
Urban Gardens Specialist
Areas of Interest: nutrition, farm to school initiatives, youth engagement, local food systems, WNY urban gardens

Kwesi Joseph
Urban Gardens Specialist
Areas of Interest: NYC urban gardening, cover crops, compost management, IPM

Kyle Karnuta
Urban Ag Curriculum Development Specialist
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Lori Koenick
Extension Support Specialist
Areas of Interest: mushrooms, urban agriculture, fresh market vegetables

Bridget O'Brien Wood
Buffalo Farm Shares Coordinator
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Becky O'Connor
Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
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Kitty O'Neil
Ag Climate Resiliency Specialist
Areas of Interest: soil health

Lindsey Pashow
Ag Business Development & Marketing Specialist
Areas of Interest: agritourism, marketing, craft beverage industry, produce auctions

Kate Preston
Farm to School Education Specialist
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Judson Reid
Extension Vegetable Specialist, Team Leader
Areas of Interest: greenhouse production, small farming operations, produce auctions

Katie Sheehan-Lopez
Farm to School Coordinator, Upper Hudson Valley
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Savanna Shelnutt
Ag Climate Resiliency Specialist
Areas of Interest: integrated grazing systems and soil carbon sequestration

Anya Stansell
WNY Small Fruit Specialist
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Daniela Vergara
Emerging Crops Specialist
Areas of Interest: hemp, hops, new crops to NYS

Sara Jean (SJ) Whelan
Farm to School Coordinator, New York City
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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.