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.

Elizabeth Buck

Extension Vegetable Specialist

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

cell 585-406-3419
email Elizabeth

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

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

Caitlin Vore

Program Assistant
email Caitlin

Angela Ochterski

Administrative Assistant

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

2018 Processing Snap Bean Advisory Meeting

December 4, 2018
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, complimentary lunch following the meeting
Canandaigua, NY

Discuss the 2018 snap bean growing season and management concerns. Reports and discussion of the 2018 Snap Bean Research Projects funded by the Association. Review priorities and the role of the advisory group in applications for state and federal grants. Give your input on the format of future advisory meetings and future educational programs. 1.75 DEC recertification credits (categories 10, 1a, 23) will be offered.

2018 Processing Vegetable Crops Advisory Meeting

December 12, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:15 - 3:00 PM
Batavia, NY

Sweet corn, pea, beet, and carrot processing growers and industry members are invited to attend. Discuss the 2018 growing season and management concerns. Reports and discussion of the 2018 Projects funded by the New York Vegetable Research Council/Association. Review priorities and the role of the advisory group in applications for state and federal grants. Give your input on the format of future advisory meetings and future educational programs. 

2019 Empire State Producers EXPO

January 15 - January 17, 2019
1.25 hr sessions throughout each day
Syracuse, NY

The 2019 Empire State Producers Expo combines the major fruit, flower and vegetable associations of New York State in order to provide a comprehensive trade show and educational conference for New York producers, as well as the surrounding states and Eastern Canada. 

Checklist for Cleaning a Root Barrel Washer

Don't miss those hard-to-reach places in your root barrel washer! Here is a checklist of areas to remember to clean to obtain an acceptable level of cleanliness completed in a reasonable about of time. Critical cleaning points are identified. 

Cleaning Your Conveyor Produce Washing System

As we learn more about reducing microbial risk on the produce farm, more emphasis is being placed on cleaning food contact surfaces. Accessing the hard to reach spaces in wash line equipment is challenging. Most of the equipment was not made to come apart very easily or in an economically efficient manner. 

This step-by-step checklist provides visual guidelines and suggestions for reasonably cleaning your conveyor produce washing system.