Testimonials
Dairy Food Processing
"I commend CCE's effort to aid and assist the rapidly growing dairy products production in our area. The continued rapid growth in our business, along with continued growth of established dairy businesses, and the opening of new yogurt operations has severely drained the pool of prospective, qualified plant workers. Without CCE's efforts, in conjunction with Genesee Community College, we would have little hope of filling the void. The jobs created by growth in this area require specialized training which previously was not available locally. Through the efforts of the Harvest New York staff, we have begun building a skilled pool of prospective employees from which many local companies can draw, fueling continued growth. The HNY Dairy Processing Specialist also helped us connect with the right resources to solve some of the more difficult problems involved in making our cheeses."
-- Brian Bailey, Vice President of Operations, Yancey's Fancy, Inc., Corfu, NY
Local Foods Distribution
"Quite frankly, we wouldn't be where we are today without the help of the Harvest New York Local Foods Distribution Specialist. She was invaluable in helping us to identify funding sources and write grant proposals, resulting in a $175,000 award to conduct a feasibility study and full business plan for a food hub in Western New York. Food hubs are designed to serve a community's greatest needs and can take many forms. This is a planning project that will be based on deep analysis of what growers and buyers need. We would not have gotten the amount of funding we did in such a short time without the help of the HNY specialist, who is a fantastic partner and gave us the "oomph" to get things moving. We have long needed a resource and sounding board like this in our area. Also, the regional nature of the position provides growers in the area with a broader perspective on supply and demand."
-- Lisa Tucker, Executive Director, Field and Fork Network, Williamsville, NY
Farm Strategic Management
"Nice work [on farmstead planning information provided to a Dairy Farm Advisory Committee in the Southern Tier]. Glad you're on the [farm advisory] team. I think your work has prevented us from making a big mistake on facility placement."
--Bruce Dehm, Dehm Associates, LLC, Geneseo, NY
"I commend CCE's effort to aid and assist the rapidly growing dairy products production in our area. The continued rapid growth in our business, along with continued growth of established dairy businesses, and the opening of new yogurt operations has severely drained the pool of prospective, qualified plant workers. Without CCE's efforts, in conjunction with Genesee Community College, we would have little hope of filling the void. The jobs created by growth in this area require specialized training which previously was not available locally. Through the efforts of the Harvest New York staff, we have begun building a skilled pool of prospective employees from which many local companies can draw, fueling continued growth. The HNY Dairy Processing Specialist also helped us connect with the right resources to solve some of the more difficult problems involved in making our cheeses."
-- Brian Bailey, Vice President of Operations, Yancey's Fancy, Inc., Corfu, NY
Local Foods Distribution
"Quite frankly, we wouldn't be where we are today without the help of the Harvest New York Local Foods Distribution Specialist. She was invaluable in helping us to identify funding sources and write grant proposals, resulting in a $175,000 award to conduct a feasibility study and full business plan for a food hub in Western New York. Food hubs are designed to serve a community's greatest needs and can take many forms. This is a planning project that will be based on deep analysis of what growers and buyers need. We would not have gotten the amount of funding we did in such a short time without the help of the HNY specialist, who is a fantastic partner and gave us the "oomph" to get things moving. We have long needed a resource and sounding board like this in our area. Also, the regional nature of the position provides growers in the area with a broader perspective on supply and demand."
-- Lisa Tucker, Executive Director, Field and Fork Network, Williamsville, NY
Farm Strategic Management
"Nice work [on farmstead planning information provided to a Dairy Farm Advisory Committee in the Southern Tier]. Glad you're on the [farm advisory] team. I think your work has prevented us from making a big mistake on facility placement."
--Bruce Dehm, Dehm Associates, LLC, Geneseo, NY
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Biochar Applications on Urban Farms
June 10, 2026
12:00 noon - 1:00 PM
Hear from Deborah Aller, Cornell, about biochar applications on urban farms and its ability to act as a tool for soil health and climate mitigation. We will also be discussing the mission behind New York Center for Organics Recycling and Education (NYCORE).Urban Agroforestry Summit
July 17, 2026
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
New York, NY
Learn and network with urban agroforestry practitioners, service providers and city government partners on ways to scale agroforestry in NYCJoin the Cornell Small Farms Program and Harvest New York for the first annual NYC Urban Agroforestry Summit. Begin the day by learning from invited speakers who will explore the evolution, current landscape, and future potential of agroforestry within New York City's food systems and urban forestry initiatives.
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.