Cornell Farm to School Program
Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York
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:
- Provide direct support to supply chain partners.
- Provide statewide support via resource development, training, and technical assistance to supply chain partners.
- 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)
Upcoming Events
Medicinal Farm Plants Workshop
August 2, 2026
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Staten Island, NY
Join Snug Harbor for a hands-on workshop with Urban Garden Specialist, Karen Guzman, as we explore medicinal plants growing on the farm! You'll get to see, smell, taste and learn how to grow and use them safely at home. Rochester Soil Health Day
September 1, 2026
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Rochester, NY
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, New York State Soil Health, and Foodlink for interactive activities focused on soil health and an opportunity to get your garden soil screened for lead (reservation required).Resilient Gardens Conference
September 18 - September 19, 2026
Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sat: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY
The third Resilient Gardens Conference will focus on culturally relevant gardening skills and community garden management for the unique resource needs of urban gardeners. This two-day event will feature education and practical skills on day one; we'll hear from leaders of diverse stakeholder groups on strategies to overcome these issues in cities and rural communities and connecting resources between Cornell Cooperative Extension and leading community gardens. The second day is optional and will include tours of local gardening projects across Poughkeepsie and Kingston NY. This event is primarily open to Seed to Supper Garden Educators, CCE Educators, Master Gardener Volunteers and Upstate Seed to Supper Program Participants, as well as partner Community Gardens involved with Harvest NY.