Urban and Small-Scale Growers Meeting
Event Details
Date
April 5, 2024
Time
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location
Massachusetts Avenue Project Farmhouse
387 Massachusetts Ave
Buffalo, NY 14213
Cost
FREE, includes lunch
Host
Cornell Vegetable Program and Harvest NYLori Koenick
email Lori Koenick

This event is an opportunity for small-scale growers, urban growers, community garden leaders and ag service providers to build community, engage in production-focused workshops, and share resources. Topics include building soil productivity, insect and disease management, growing vegetables, berries, and tree fruits, and more.
AGENDA:
- 8:30AM Doors open, sign-in, visit tables
- Welcome, intros, housekeeping
- Plant Pathology 101 -- Elizabeth Buck, Fresh Market Vegetable Specialist, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
- Selecting Sites & Trees for Success in Small/Urban Orchards -- Anna Wallis, Fruit IPM Coordinator, NYS Integrated Pest Management Program
- Break
- Small Fruit Production Lessons from NYC -- Makela Elvy, Urban Gardens Specialist, CCE Harvest NY
- Grower panel: "Building Soil Productivity and Fertility"
- Lunch
- Choose your own adventure (visit tables and networking, farm tour, hands-on workshop)
- Grower panel: "How We Manage Insects on our Farms"
- Improving Okra Earliness and Yield -- Wil Moss, Moss Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
- 3:00 PM Wrap up and evaluations
COST: FREE, includes snacks and lunch by Lloyd Tacos, but pre-registration is required.
REGISTRATION: Space is limited! We are reserving space for growers first, but will open it up to ag service providers, as space allows.
- Growers -- Register online by March 29 at 9 PM. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED! We met the space limitation for this event.
- Ag Service Providers -- Email Lori Koenick to be added to our waitlist. You will be notified April 1st if we have additional space available for you to attend.
Travel costs a barrier? Please email Lori Koenick or email Mallory Hohl.

Upcoming Events
Urban Ag Food Safety Webinar
March 11, 2026
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!
2026 NYS Processing Vegetable Educational Meeting
March 16, 2026
Batavia, NY
Processing vegetable industry members who grow, manage, or support crop production for Farm Fresh First/Nortera Foods, Seneca Foods and/or Love Beets, are encouraged to sign-up for the 2026 NYS Processing Vegetable Industry Meeting! You will:
- Network at this in-person meeting.
- Learn the results of industry-funded research.
- Have a voice in Cornell research and Extension.
DEC recertification credits available: 2.0 in categories 1a, 10, and 23.
2.0 Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits available.
Virtual Asparagus School
March 17, 2026
Join us to dive deep on growing asparagus! Bringing together experts from the Cornell Vegetable Program, Michigan State University, OMAFA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness), and industry, featuring a panel of growers.