The Harvest New York Specialists cover multiple regions within New York State. The Specialists work in close consultation with Cornell faculty members, local and regional Extension staff, and grower groups, bringing new information and resources to areas with growth potential.

Sam Anderson

Urban Agriculture Specialist

Areas of Interest: urban agriculture, IPM, soil management

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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

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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

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Vicki Giarratano

Assistant Director for Food Systems

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Yolanda Gonzalez

Urban Agriculture Specialist

Areas of Interest: urban agriculture, marketing, mushroom production

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Karen Guzman

Urban Gardens Specialist

Areas of Interest: community gardens, IPM, native plants, sustainable growing methods

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Mallory Hohl

Urban Gardens Specialist

Areas of Interest: nutrition, farm to school initiatives, youth engagement, local food systems, WNY urban gardens

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Kwesi Joseph

Urban Gardens Specialist

Areas of Interest: project management, garden design, rock dust, biochar, soil health and plant nutrient density

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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

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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

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Lindsey Pashow

Ag Business Development & Marketing Specialist

Areas of Interest: agritourism, marketing, craft beverage industry, produce auctions

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Sara Jean (SJ) Peterson

Farm to School Coordinator, New York City

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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

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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

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Anya Stansell

WNY Small Fruit Specialist

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Daniela Vergara

Emerging Crops Specialist

Areas of Interest: hemp, hops, new crops to NYS

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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.