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

Earth Day Garden Workshop

April 20, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Farmingdale, NY

Celebrate Earth Day and welcome the growing season by learning how to make the most of your space as spring wakes up the garden. Join Cornell Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman for an interactive, hands-on session focused on building strong foundations for a productive year. This workshop will cover the state-wide soil testing program and why soil health is essential for long-term success, along with strategic crop planning techniques that help increase productivity and maximize the space in your garden. 

Air-Pruned Raised Bed Workshop Series

April 23, 2026
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Brooklyn, NY

Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and the team at The Opportunity Hub for a hands-on, train-the-trainer workshop introducing Air-Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. Designed to equip forestry practitioners, educators, and community leaders with the skills to replicate this model. This session will cover APRB design, recommended urban tree species, installation techniques, and basic troubleshooting. Participants will not only learn the fundamentals of APRBs as a tool for growing a diverse range of urban tree species but will also gain the knowledge and confidence to teach others how to build and manage them. 

Air-Pruned Raised Beds 101

April 24, 2026
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Upper Manhattan, NY

Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and NYRP's Parks & Urban Agriculture teams for an introduction to Air-Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. APRBs have been shown as an excellent method for growing a suite of urban tree species and hold great promise as a tool for forestry practitioners in NYC. This workshop will explore the in's and outs, including design, appropriate tree species, and basic troubleshooting (i.e. weeding). Participants will also get to help build and plant out two APRBs at NYRP's field facility.

Community Garden Leadership Program - Application Open Now!

The Cornell Community Garden Leadership Program is a year-long online program that prepares individuals to enhance their leadership skills to strengthen community gardens throughout New York State. The program equips community gardeners with management best practices and operational skills to improve garden sustainability. The program also connects gardeners to regional resources, professional development opportunities, and a statewide community garden leadership network.

Register for a virtual information session to learn more about the program and discover if this program is the right fit for you. Each information session is typically 45min-1hr.

Session Dates: 

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.