2020 Upper Genesee Valley Produce Growers Meeting
Event Details
Date
February 14, 2020
Time
12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Location
Genesee Valley Produce Auction house
8855 Co. Rd 3
Freedom, NY 14065
Cost
FREE!
Host
Cornell Vegetable ProgramElizabeth Buck
585-406-3419
email Elizabeth Buck

A bit of something for everyone! This meeting will feature experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension discussing food safety in auction lots and quality control, how to successfully lengthen the growing season, making the most of a small grain rotational crop, and common disease and pest info. Summer squash, cabbage and pepper production tips will be presented by Mark Zittel, an experienced produce and greenhouse grower for 20+ years. Participants will have the opportunity to join group discussion in breakout sessions of their choosing. And don't forget to stop by the Demo Table to see weeds and soil health exhibits.
AGENDA
12:30 PM Welcome, Housekeeping, Updates, Survey -- CCE Allegany & Cattaraugus Counties, GVPA Board
12:40 PM Food Safety in Auction Lots and Quality Control -- Lynn Bliven, CCE Allegany County
1:00 PM Diversifying Produce Offerings and Regional Marketing Lessons -- Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
1:15 PM Update from Harris Seeds
1:25 PM Demo Table (Weeds, Soil Health)
1:40 PM Lengthening the Growing Season -- Judson Reid, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
2:00 PM Break
2:15 PM Production Nuts & Bolts: Summer Squash, Cabbage, Peppers -- Mark Zittel, produce and greenhouse grower of 20+ years
2:45 PM Making the Most of a Small Grain Rotational Crop -- CCE Southwest NY Dairy, Livestock, Field Crops Team
3:15 PM Breakout Group Discussions
- Season extension, greenhouses & plant nutrition - Judson Reid & Caitlin Vore
- Food safety, marketing, soils - Lynn Bliven
- Vegetable & bedding plant production - Elizabeth Buck & Mark Zittel
- Field Crops, Dairy, Livestock - SW NY Team
3:35 PM Common Disease and Pest Recap -- Caitlin Vore, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
3:55 PM Wrap Up
FREE! Pre-registration requested by February 12. Register online or call Elizabeth Buck at 585-406-3419.

Upcoming Events
Fungi, Forage & Forest
June 12, 2026 : Friday Evening
Buckets, Beds & Totems
Explore mushroom cultivation techniques featuring oyster mushrooms, wine caps, and lion's mane mushrooms.
June 13, 2026 : Saturday Full-Day
Wild Edibles
Learn about edible plants and responsible foraging practices focused on plants only (no wild mushroom foraging).
Agroforestry Talk
Discover how agroforestry systems can support farm diversification and sustainable land management.
Shiitake Inoculation (hands-on workshop at Heartland Organics)
Participate in a hands-on shiitake inoculation workshop and learn the basics of log-grown mushroom production.
2026 Muck Onion Growers Twilight Meeting in Oswego
June 18, 2026
Oswego, NY
Open to all Onion Enthusiasts, the Muck Onion Growers Twilight Meeting will include an onion disease research update from 2025, new fungicide recommendations for 2026, an onion maggot seed treatment update, herbicide demonstration tour, and more. This educational event is immediately followed by a catered dinner; both are FREE thanks to generous sponsors!
2.25 DEC recertification credits available in categories 1a, 10 and 23. CCA credits will be offered too.