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Urban Agriculture in New York State

Yolanda Gonzalez, Urban Agriculture Specialist
Harvest New York

December 14, 2023
Urban Agriculture in New York State

The Urban Agriculture in New York State: A Study of New York's Urban Agriculture Landscape and Recommendations for Administrative and Legislative Action, 2022 report examines urban agriculture across New York to create a snapshot of the industry and to provide policy recommendations to maximize the benefits of urban agriculture. In partnership with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), the Harvest NY Urban Ag team identified the major forms of urban agriculture currently practiced in urban centers across the state and the impacts that urban agricultural practices and markets have on access to locally grown food, job creation, education opportunities, and the environment.

To illustrate urban agriculture as it is practiced in New York, select case studies highlight the diversity of operations:

  • Radix Ecological Sustainability Center in Albany, NY
  • Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) in Buffalo, NY
  • Oko Farms in New York, NY
  • Aerial Springs Community Garden in Rochester, NY
  • Brady Farm in Syracuse, NY

The study concludes with recommendations for legislative and administrative action from urban agriculture practitioners to further advance urban agriculture as it is practiced across the state.



Urban Agriculture in New York State (pdf; 5801KB)


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Upcoming Events

Intercropping with Mushrooms

October 14, 2025
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on learning at Pershing Community Farm, led by Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez.

2025 Agroforestry Field Day Series -- Agroforestry Implementation and Management

October 23, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Highland, NY

Interested in incorporating agroforestry practices into your farm? Join us for a series of workshops co-hosted by CCE Ulster, Orange, and Harvest NY with Mastwood Farms, Black Creek Farm and Nursery and Scenic Hudson. 

On October 23, we'll return to Erik Schellenberg's farm, Black Creek Farm and Nursery, for a Fall tour of their agroforestry plantings. Erik will talk about harvesting and managing plantings while we see some seasonal crops and installations of different ages and types. There will be time for questions and discussion as we wrap up the series. covered.

Soil Health 101 for Community Gardens -- A Bilingual Workshop

October 24, 2025
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Staten Island, NY

Join Urban Agriculture Specialists, Karen Guzman and Yolanda Gonzalez, as they discuss the importance of soil health and testing your soil as you prepare for the incoming growing season. They will go into strategies for best practices when it comes to soil health management and highlight the current soil testing program through NYSDAM and CCE. This workshop will be in both Spanish and English.

Announcements

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.