Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

October 13, 2020
Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

The Harvest of the Month posters, newsletters, and infographics were originally created for Buffalo Public Schools Farm to School program by a graphic designer to help highlight and promote the consumption of locally-grown, raised, and produced foods. Buffalo F2S team partner, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, developed content for the newsletters and infographics. Buffalo Public Schools agreed to share the materials with any F2S program that would like to use them, and Harvest New York created generic versions of the materials which are available below for download. The materials can be edited and adapted for your district or program's use.  For questions, more information about editing and printing the materials, or for the Adobe InDesign files, please contact Becky O'Connor, Harvest New York's WNY Farm to Institution Coordinator.  

There are many ways to use the Harvest of the Month Materials to highlight and promote the consumption of local foods. In Buffalo Public Schools, posters are displayed inside cafeterias, or in the hallways leading to lunch rooms. Infographics are placed atop lunch tables, highlighting the Harvest of the Month menu item being served. Newsletters are shared with families and households via email or as printouts. The materials have been made available to teachers, who can use them in their classroom instruction. 

Special thanks to Buffalo Public Schools for sharing these resources; graphic designer Julian Montague for creating the materials; and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County's SNAP-Ed nutrition educators for developing newsletter and infographic content.





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Upcoming Events

Community Garden Leadership Program Information Session - June 4

June 4, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

The Community Garden Leadership Program is an online program that prepares individuals to enhance their leadership skills to strengthen community gardens throughout New York State. You will learn management best practices and operational skills. It is a year-long program requiring participants to meet as a cohort each month and connect with experienced professional, subject matter experts, and faculty to foster a supportive distance learning experience.

To learn more about the program, we are offering virtual informational sessions in June!

Intercropping with Mushrooms

June 8, 2025
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Bronx, NY

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on learning at Morning Glory! This free community workshop, led by Urban Agriculture Specialists Karen Guzman and Yolanda Gonzalez from Cornell Cooperative Extension, is perfect for anyone looking to diversify their garden harvest by interplanting with mushrooms. Learn how to maximize your garden space with small-scale techniques to increase productivity. You'll get guidance on growing three different types of mushrooms, from site selection to harvest. A food demo from a local chef will also explore the versatility of cooking with mushrooms! 

Community Garden Leadership Program Information Session - June 12

June 12, 2025
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

The Community Garden Leadership Program is an online program that prepares individuals to enhance their leadership skills to strengthen community gardens throughout New York State. You will learn management best practices and operational skills. It is a year-long program requiring participants to meet as a cohort each month and connect with experienced professional, subject matter experts, and faculty to foster a supportive distance learning experience.

To learn more about the program, we are offering virtual informational sessions in June!

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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.

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.