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
Pruning & Fruit Tree Health 101 (Flushing, NY)
February 22, 2026
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Flushing, NY
Join us at Ridgewood Community Garden for a free, hands-on workshop with CCE Harvest NY Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman. Participants will learn about basic tree maintenance and pruning techniques. Proper winter care helps trees conserve energy, prevent damage from cold weather, and prepare for growth in the spring. NOTE: This event was postponed from January 25 to February 22 due to the weather.
Urban Ag Food Safety Webinar
March 11, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Urban and small-scale producers are encouraged to join us for the Urban Ag Food Safety webinar, featuring speakers from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell IPM. We will explore the 'why' behind food safety, providing a basic overview and diving into specific urban ag considerations including water, pest, rodent, and soil health challenges. We will touch on the regulation and marketing landscape, and share resources for learning more. Bring your questions!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