Cornell Farm to School Program

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

Last Modified: November 14, 2024

The Cornell Farm to School Program provides comprehensive support to Farm to School stakeholders, including School Food Authorities, farmers, distributors, manufacturers, processors, and food hubs. The primary goal of the program is to increase the volume and variety of local farm products purchased by SFAs for use in child nutrition programs.

To achieve this goal, Harvest NY developed a plan of work centered on the following three objectives:

  1. Provide direct support to supply chain partners.
  2. Provide statewide support via resource development, training, and technical assistance to supply chain partners.
  3. Strengthen campus-to-community connections by identifying and developing opportunities for applied Farm to School research.

What we do:

  • Find local food and farm partners
  • Work with supply chain partners on logistics, including delivery
  • Develop local food procurement plans
  • Assist with bid development that favors local foods
  • Establish Farm to School promotional campaigns, like NY Thursdays and Harvest NY
  • Assist with securing grants to expand Farm to School programming
  • Support 30% NY Initiative tracking and documentation requirements


The Cornell Farm to School Program includes 7 Regional Procurement Specialists, an Education Specialist, and a Program Lead:


Statewide Program Lead | Cheryl Bilinski: cbt32@cornell.edu | (607) 592-9507

The counties listed under each Regional Coordinator are loose boundaries. If you'd like assistance and fall outside the stated counties, please reach out to Cheryl for assistance. 


Education Specialist | Kate Preston: kep98@cornell.edu | (607) 788-4188

Kate works to strengthen Farm to School collaborations among cafeterias, classrooms, and communities.


Lower Hudson Valley | Putnam, Rockland, Orange, and Westchester Counties

Kristy Apostolides: kda4@cornell.edu | (845) 429-7085, ext. 106

 

Upper Hudson Valley | Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Delaware Counties

Katie Sheehan-Lopez: kms369@cornell.edu | (845) 340-3990, ext. 334


Western NY | Erie, Chautauqua, Allegany, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, and Yates Counties

Becky O'Connor: rao84@cornell.edu | (845) 706-0293

 

Long Island | Suffolk and Nassau Counties

Amy Bly: ab2353@cornell.edu | (631) 827-1015

 

Central NY | Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Cortland, and Tompkins Counties

Lizzy Cooper: ec795@cornell.edu | (315) 630-0405


North Country | Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Lewis, Jefferson, and St Lawrence Counties 

Meghan Dohman: meb377@cornell.edu | (518) 791-1888

 

New York City | SJ Whelan: sw954@cornell.edu | (929) 895-2257



Cornell Farm to School Program Map (jpg; 1839KB)


view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

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. 

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.