African Eggplant Participatory Breeding Kick-Off
Event Details
Date
March 5, 2026
Time
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Location
via Zoom
Cost
FREE! You must pre-register to receive the Zoom link.
Your registration is not complete until you hit 'Submit Registration' at the bottom of the page.
Host
Cornell Vegetable Program and Harvest NYLori Koenick
585-469-5798
email Lori Koenick
Join us to learn about the
Cornell African Eggplant Research Project and learn how you can
participate! African eggplant, also known as Bitterball, Garden Egg, Kittley
and other names, is an important crop for many members of our community with
heritage from regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Brazil.
Since 2024, the Cornell African Eggplant Research Project has been
collaborating with growers and community partners across New York to develop
high-quality varieties adapted to the Northeast U.S. In this meeting, we will
share information about growing and preparing African eggplant, highlight our
research to date, and invite partners to collaborate with us in our 2026
participatory breeding and variety selection efforts.
COST and REGISTRATION
FREE! Register online to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be in the email confirmation you receive after registering.
QUESTIONS?
Please reach out to one of the organizers. Thanks!
Greg Vogel, Assistant
Professor, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, gmv23@cornell.edu, 607-255-9233
Lori Koenick, Extension
Support Specialist, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, lbk75@cornell.edu, 585-469-5798
Sam Anderson, Urban
Agriculture Specialist, CCE Harvest NY, swa39@cornell.edu,
781-366-5939
Please know that information about race, gender and ethnicity is collected during event registration to help us better understand what demographics are being reached by CCE programming, and if there are gaps in how our programs reach all people throughout the community. While we are required to gather information about our participation reach, response from participants is optional. Please note that demographic responses will be kept confidential.

Upcoming Events
Small Vegetable Workshop
August 13, 2026
Fulton, NY
Identify vegetables that make sense to grow on small acreage, including under high and low tunnel season extension. Bill Ingersoll, owner of Ingersoll Farms, will provide a short tour and discuss other important factors of running a mixed vegetable farm, including a farm stand and selling at farmers' markets.
Chipping Potato and Field Crops Twilight Meeting
August 27, 2026
Dansville, NY
This year, our field meeting is bringing together field crops and chipping potatoes. SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Specialist Katelyn Miller will lead a field crops management discussion. Hear the latest updates in potato disease control and see the Cornell chipping potato variety trial run by Walter De Jong. Dinner follows the educational event.
1.5 DEC credits available in 10, 1a, 21, and 23.
IPM Field Day for Urban Growers
September 10, 2026
Buffalo, NY
Join us for a hands-on field day exploring integrated pest management and season extension tools for urban growing spaces and the opportunity to build community with local growers!
This event will focus on best practices for using row covers and rat mitigation. Check out our CCE demonstration trial using insect exclusion netting to manage swede midge, an invasive fly that causes damage to brassica crops. Explore how to identify rat activity, reduce attractants, and strengthen site management. Hear from local growers on how they manage pests with a focus on organic management and how they extend the season on their farms and gardens.