For New York commercial vegetable production questions ONLY. We will not respond to home gardener questions or inquiries from other states; contact your local Cooperative Extension office.

If you know which specialist or staff member you would like to reach, their contact information is provided below. If, however, you are unsure whom to contact and you are a New York commercial vegetable producer, please use the inquiry form to the right and the appropriate team member will respond to your request.

Julie Kikkert

Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist

CCE Ontario County
480 North Main Street
585-394-3977 x404
Canandaigua, NY 14424-1049

phone 585-394-3977 x404
cell 585-313-8160
fax 585-394-0377
email Julie

Robert Hadad

Extension Vegetable Specialist

CCE Monroe County
2449 St. Paul Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14617

cell 585-739-4065
fax 585-753-2560
email Robert

Christy Hoepting

Extension Vegetable Specialist

CCE Orleans County
12690 Rt. 31
Albion, NY 14411

phone 585-798-4265 x38
cell 585-721-6953
fax 585-798-5191
email Christy

Judson Reid

Extension Vegetable Specialist

CCE Yates County
417 Liberty Street
Penn Yan, NY 14527

phone 315-536-5123
cell 585-313-8912
fax 315-536-5117
email Judson

Darcy Telenko

Extension Vegetable Specialist

CCE Erie County
21 South Grove Street
East Aurora, NY 14052

phone 716-652-5400 x178
cell 716-697-4965
fax 716-652-5073
email Darcy

Amy Celentano

Field Technician

CCE Orleans County
12690 Rt. 31
Albion, NY 14411

phone 585-798-4265
email Amy

John Gibbons

Field Technician

CCE Ontario County
480 North Main Street
Canandaigua, NY 14424-1049

phone 585-394-3977 x405
fax 585-394-0377
email John

Angela Parr

Administrative & Communications Lead

CCE Ontario County
480 North Main Street
Canandaigua, NY 14424-1049

phone 585-394-3977 x426
fax 585-394-0377
email Angela

Steve Reiners

Co-Team Leader, Cornell University
email Steve

FSMA 7-Hour Grower Training Course plus optional 2nd Day Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop

May 2, 2018 : FSMA 7 Hour Grower Training Course

May 3, 2018 : Optional Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop

This program is for fruit and vegetable growers who need Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) certification or GAPs/HGAPs (Good Agricultural Practices/ Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices) training required by buyers (i.e. 3rd-party food safety audits based on a written food safety plan) or if you are just interested in learning about produce safety.

Over the course of the training, certified Produce Safety Alliance trainers will cover content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use 
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water) 
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation 
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

An optional farm food safety plan writing workshop is offered on May 3. Separate registration required.

We're Hiring a TEMPORARY SUMMER TECHNICIAN

Assist the Cornell Vegetable Program this summer! Under the direction of CVP Vegetable Specialists, this position will provide technical and program support in research and outreach supporting the WNY vegetable industry. Travel to research plots on commercial vegetable farms to assist in collection and recording of data. Scout for insects, diseases, weeds, and crop damage. Perform basic data entry and summary. Assist in setup for educational meetings/events throughout the region. Training in Worker Protection Standards will be provided.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week standard work week), six month appointment with possible extension depending on funding and performance. Working overtime, including evenings, is common from June-September. Position is based in Albion, NY.

Learn more about the position and apply online.

Job Available: VEGETABLE CROPS SPECIALIST

Join our team! The CCE Cornell Vegetable Program seeks a highly qualified candidate to provide educational programming and research in fresh market vegetable production. The Extension Educator will work as part of a regional agriculture team that serves commercial vegetable growers throughout a 13-county region. This position is based in far western New York and will be housed at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County in East Aurora, NY.

Successful candidates for this position will have a solid background in fresh market vegetable production through formal education and work experience.

Qualifications:

• MS in Agriculture with a major in Vegetable Crops, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology or closely associated fields. 
• Two years of relevant work experience.
• Solid knowledge in current and emerging issues and production practices related to vegetable crops
• Experience conducting, interpreting, evaluating and communicating the results of applied research 
• Experience writing grant proposals
• Ability to acquire a New York State Certified Pesticide Applicators License 

The links to the posting are:

• Cornell Careers: http://tiny.cc/CropspecialistWDR00014129 
• Academic Jobs Online (AJO): https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/10977

The applicants will submit their application materials via AJO (Academic Jobs Online).

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

2018 NY Produce Auction Locations and Contact Info

Produce auctions in New York State have been formed so that produce growers have a way of marketing their product to quality minded buyers through open competitive bidding. Six of the eight produce auctions in NYS are in WNY! A map of produce auction locations across the state is provided along with auction days, times, and contact information.

Unsure how to purchase at a produce auction? The updated How To guide will give you some quick pointers on the auction terminology and how to make purchases at an auction.

Vegetable Sizing Templates Available

To assist farmers looking to sell into wholesale markets, vegetable sizing templates are now available for bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash. The crop templates are scaled to size (8.5 x 11 paper). They can be printed and used to create sizing templates to be used by workers on the wash and pack lines. Additional grading resources are available too.

Growing for Wholesale Guidelines Available

Grading and packing guidelines are now available for 16 commonly grown specialty crops in NYS: broccoli crowns, Brussels sprouts, corn, green peppers, cucumbers, green cabbage, red cabbage, savory cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, jalapenos, poblanos, Hungarian hot peppers, summer squash, and zucchini.

Acceptable quality standards and common defects that should be sorted out on the grading line are depicted in these resources, both visually and in outline form. Find all of the grading sheets here.

Cornell Commercial Vegetable Guidelines Available

The 2018 Cornell Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Vegetable Production are now available!

Written by Cornell University specialists, this publication is designed to offer producers, seed and chemical dealers, and crop consultants practical information on growing and managing vegetable crops in New York State. Topics include general culture, nutrient management, transplant production, postharvest handling, organic production, and managing common vegetable crop pest concerns. A preview of the Vegetable Guidelines can be seen online.

Highlighted changes in the 2018 Vegetable Guidelines include:

• Updated pesticide options for economically important vegetable crop pests.
• Significantly revised pest management practices.
• New onion and sweet corn IPM scouting report forms.

Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines are available as a print copy ($41), online-only access ($41), or a package combining print and online access ($57.50). Shipping charges will be added to your order. Cornell Guidelines can be obtained through your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office, or from the Cornell Store at Cornell University or call (844) 688-7620.

Empire State Producers EXPO Proceedings

Proceedings from the Empire State Producers EXPO conference from 2011-2018 are available online.