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Expanding Specialty Mushroom Production on Urban and Rural Farms

Yolanda Gonzalez, Urban Agriculture Specialist
Harvest New York

July 8, 2019
Expanding Specialty Mushroom Production on Urban and Rural Farms

As a response to the growing demand for both mushrooms and technical production knowledge, Yolanda Gonzalez, Urban Agriculture Specialist from Harvest NY, and the Cornell Small Farms Program, along with partners Farm School NYC, Just Food, and Grow NYC, were recently awarded two multi-year grants.  The first grant is the USDA NIFA Grant "Expanding Specialty Mushroom Production on Urban and Rural Small Farms," which will engage growers, service provider organizations, and industry partners to enhance the collective knowledge base and capacity of farmers to grow specialty mushrooms and sell them profitably to local and regional markets within 250 miles of New York City.  The second grant is the Northeast SARE Professional Development Program "Spawning a network of northeast mushroom educators serving urban and rural farmer audiences," increasing the educational capacity through a network of Community Mushroom Educators throughout the region.

For questions about the mushroom projects, please contact Yolanda Gonzalez.

Find more information on mushroom production on Cornell's Specialty Mushroom Cultivation website.



Growing the Specialty Mushroom Industry in the NYC and Regional Foodshed (pdf; 259KB)


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Upcoming Events

2026 Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference

March 21, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Rochester, NY

Join us for our annual Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference, a day of learning and connections featuring interactive workshops, community knowledge sharing, Fruition's Gift of Seed Experience, horticulture tables and displays, and more!

El Camino del Micelio: Cultivo de Hongos en la Primavera

April 4, 2026
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Manhattan, NY

Aprende a cultivar hongos de forma sencilla en tu huerto comunitario esta primavera 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 explorar?¡n 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.

Air Pruned Raised Beds 101

April 24, 2026
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Upper Manhattan, NY

Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and NYRP's Parks & Urban Agriculture teams for an introduction to Air Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. APRBs have been shown as an excellent method for growing a suite of urban tree species and hold great promise as a tool for forestry practitioners in NYC. This workshop will explore the in's and outs, including design, appropriate tree species, and basic troubleshooting (i.e. weeding). Participants will also get to help build and plant out two APRBs at NYRP's field facility.

Announcements

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 available from the CCE Harvest New York team. Learn more about the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.

2025 Year in Review

2025 was another year of growth and accomplishment for CCE Harvest NY! Our 2025 Year in Review highlights our impacts and details our work.
  • Farm to School Local Procurement by the Numbers
  • Biochar in the NYC Urban Agriculture Landscape
  • Harvest New York Supports Farmer-Led Research Advancing Upland Rice Production in New York State
  • Community Garden Soil Testing Program Yields Great Results
  • Regional Roots: Culinary Training to Enhance School Meals with Local Foods
  • Rooted in Learning: Strengthening Farm to School Connections Across New York
  • South Lawn Farm Expands Fresh Food Access and Urban Farming Opportunities
  • NYS Summit Advances the Mushroom Industry
  • Research to Manage Pests in Blueberries with Less Sprays
  • Building a Research and Extension Hub at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  • A Successful Community Garden Leadership Program Pilot
  • Farm to School Events Deliver Education, Culinary Training, and Business to Business Opportunities
  • A Trusted Source of Science-Based Information for the Cannabis sativa Hemp Industry
  • Sustainable Pest Management for New York Urban Farmers
  • Cultivating Resilience: Harvest New York Drives the State's Climate Goals Through Research and Outreach
  • Expanding Agritourism Outreach Across New York State
  • Coordinating City Agencies, Academia, and Community Gardens to Improve Urban Soils
  • USDA Urban Agriculture Training Development Complete