Lake Ontario Fruit Program Enrollment

Program Areas

  • Food Safety
  • Variety Evaluation
  • Market Development
  • Pest Management
  • Cultural Practices

Enrollment Benefits

  • Telephone / Email Consultations
  • Fruit Newsletter?
  • Direct Mailings
  • Educational Meetings & Conferences
  • In-Field Educational Opportunities
  • On-Farm Research Trials

Enrollee Login

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  • Issues of Fruit Newletters
  • Helpful Diagnostic Tool:
      What's wrong with my crop?

Events - month view

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January 2018

2018 Becker Forum: Farm Employment Practices - Planning for the Future

January 15, 2018
8:30 AM registration, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Syracuse, NY

2018 Becker Forum: Farm Employment Practices - Planning for the Future
The 2018 Becker Forum will take place on Monday, January 15, one day prior to the opening of the Empire State Producers Expo. The forum will focus on agricultural workforce issues with three general themes: securing a legal agricultural workforce, labor law compliance and H-2A program topics.

2018 Empire State Producers EXPO

Event Offers DEC Credits

January 16 - January 18, 2018
1.25 hr sessions throughout each day
Syracuse, NY

2018 Empire State Producers EXPO
The 2018 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. 

FSMA Grower Training Courses

January 16 - January 20, 2018

Who Should Attend? Click here for FSMA Produce Safety Rule Timeline. Commercial fruit & vegetable growers who gross more than 500K/yr need to be in compliance for most produce by this January, January 2019 for >250K-500K, and January 2020 for >25K-250K.

Click view details for more info and registration links.

Produce Grower Food Safety Training - FSMA and GAPs/HGAPs

January 30, 2018 : FSMA and GAPs/HGAPs Produce Safety Alliance Training Course

January 31, 2018 : Workshop on Farm Food Safety Plan Writing

FSMA and GAPs/HGAPs Produce Safety Alliance Training Course
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 January 31. Separate registration required.

February 2018

2018 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School Lockport

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 5, 2018
8am - 4:30pm
Lockport, NY

2018 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School Lockport
Regional winter education meetings for commercial tree fruit & small fruit industries in Western NY.

2.75 DEC credits available.
Bring your DEC Applicator ID. If you need DEC credits, please arrive on time to sign the roster and plan to stay all day. DEC will not allow partial credit.

Click details for registration.

2018 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 5, 2018 : Winter Fruit School Lockport

February 6, 2018 : Winter Fruit School Newark

2.75 DEC re-certification credits available the exact number is being determined

Bring your DEC Applicator ID. If you need DEC credits, please arrive on time to sign the roster and plan to stay all day. DEC will not allow partial credit.

Program (speakers & topics confirmed, order of presentations differs by day see agendas below)

  • Protected Culture: Low Tunnels, High Tunnels, Exclusion Netting and How to Control SWD in These Situations - Laura McDermott, CCE-ENYCHP
  • Cherry Fruit Fly - Margaret Kelly, NYS Dept. of Ag & Mkts
  • Launch of the New Precision Smart App - Poliana Francescatto & Jaume Lordan, Cornell
  • IPM update - Tess Grasswitz, CCE-LOF
  • FSMA Update/Requirements - Craig Kahlke, CCE-LOF
  • Building a Fruiting Wall for Future Technology - Mario Miranda Sazo, CCE-LOF
  • Orchard Soil Health - David Granatstein, WSU
  • New York Apple Association—Marketing New York Apples (summary of promotional activities for 2017 crop year and NYAA's strategic work plan) - Cynthia Haskins, NYAA
  • Labor Update - Brett Kast (Niagara County) & Liz Madison (Wayne County)
  • Using Whole-Farm Revenue Protection with Yield Insurance for Fruit Production - Jenny Ifft, Cornell
  • Importance of Bacterial Strains in Cultivar Response to Fire Blight - Awais Khan, Cornell
  • Hail Netting: Is it Right for Your Farm? - Liz Higgins, CCE-ENYCHP
  • Hispanic Worker Training - Kat McCarthy (Niagara County) & Anu Rangarajan (Wayne County), Cornell
  • Orchard Weed Mgmt - Davis Granatstein, WSU
  • Round Table Unanswered questions/discussion any of the day's talks

2018 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School Newark

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 6, 2018
8am - 4:30pm
Newark, NY

Regional winter education meetings for commercial tree fruit & small fruit industries in Western NY.

2.75 DEC credits available.
Bring your DEC Applicator ID. If you need DEC credits, please arrive on time to sign the roster and plan to stay all day. DEC will not allow partial credit.

Check details for registration.

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention

February 21 - February 22, 2018
Niagara Falls, ON

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention is an annual gathering of horticultural crop producers involved in the production of fruits and vegetables.

Postponed - Lake Ontario Fruit Team Communications Focus Group

February 27, 2018
AM - details TBA
Hilton, NY

This event has been postponed - registration will reopen when a new date is set.

Please join us and share your thoughts on how the Lake Ontario Fruit Team should best communicate with you, the stakeholders!  Technology information overload is upon us - the Lake Ontario Fruit Team wants to use the platforms that best serve you best.  We need your feedback and ideas!

Cider Tasting & Sensory Education for Apple Growers

February 27, 2018
Lunch - 12PM; Meeting - 1:00PM - 2:30PM (Communications Focus Group Meeting -AM)
Hilton, NY

This tasting, led by grower-cider makers from the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario, will give an overview of the components of orchard-based cider, and illustrate why older varieties and cider apples are prized in fermentation.
Register by February 9, 2018.


March 2018

Candidate Interviews for CCE-LOF Business Managment Position

March 2, 2018
All day (specific TBA)
Newark, NY

We have 2 strong candidates for this critical position.  Please join us to hear their seminars, ask questions and evaluate the candidates that could be your future Business Management Fruit Specialist.
Pre-register by February 28, 2018.

2018 Pre-Exam Training & Test to Become A Certified Pesticide Applicator

March 13 - March 19, 2018
Classes - March 13 & 15 from 8am - 12:30pm Test - March 19 from 9am - 12pm
Albion, NY

 Pre-Exam Workshop - Pre-register by 26 Feb 2018 with Kim Hazel @ 585-798-4265 ext. 26.
March 13 & 15, 8am-12:30pm
Cost: $50 payable to CCE-Orleans Co.
Certification Exam - to register for exam or if you have questions contact: Justin Schoff @ 607-622-8290.
March 19, 9am-12pm
Cost: $100 payable to DEC

FSMA 7 Hour Grower Training Course - Registration Closed

March 16, 2018
8AM - 5:15PM
Newark, NY

Registration Closed - Course Full

Save the Date: Friday, March 16, 2018
Cost & Registration: $70 per farm, maximum of 2 people/farm.
All of you should be aware of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) signed into federal law by President Obama in 2011. I have been writing about it and offering courses for nearly 2 years. If you are not exempt from the Produce Safety Rule, one of the requirements is to take a 7-hour grower training course.
Click details for more information.

2018 CCE-LOF Spanish Winter Fruit Schools

March 16, 2018 : 2018 CCE - LOF Spanish Fruit School - Wayne

March 17, 2018 : 2018 CCE-LOF Spanish Fruit School - Orleans

March 16, 2018 - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Roman Catholic Church
March 17, 2018 - Orchard Dale Fruit Farm

Pre-register by March 12th

This years Spanish - speaking fruit school program will provide an indepth and current look at orchard horticulture, pests, hard cider, as well as a review of skills for success and management.

2018 Pruning Workshop of Apple Orchards in Oswego

March 21, 2018
1:30-4pm
Mexico, NY

Modern pruning techniques of young and mature high density plantings, how to correct/improve "bushy" canopies.

Apple Crop Insurance Plan for Information Collection Listening Sessions

March 21, 2018 : Monroe County

March 23, 2018 : Ulster County

Apple Crop Insurance Plan Information Collection
Listening Sessions for Growers, Insurance Co. Staff & Agents

Agralytica of Alexandria, Virginia is conducting a review of the apple insurance plan on behalf of the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA). As part of the review, Agralytica staff will hold listening sessions with growers, insurance staff and other interested parties in several states. For New York, the sessions will be on March 21 in Rochester and March 23 in Highland. Participants from New England states are also welcome at the Highland session.
more crops
Apples

Apples

Apricots

Apricots

Asian Pears

Asian Pears

Blueberries

Blueberries

Cherries

Cherries

Currants

Currants

Gooseberries

Gooseberries

Nectarines

Nectarines

Peaches

Peaches

Pears

Pears

Plums

Plums

Raspberries / Blackberries

Raspberries / Blackberries

Strawberries

Strawberries

Unusual Fruit

Unusual Fruit

more crops

Upcoming Events

Outfield Demo at Cornell AgriTech

March 28, 2024
Geneva, NY

Join Outfield's founders Jim and Oli as they demonstrate the system and share the experience of growers using Outfield last year to make more high value fruit, reduce costs, and improve sales with accurate advanced yield forecasts. 

2024 Respirator Fit Testing Clinic

April 3, 2024 : Orleans CCE Fit Testing - afternoon
Albion, NY

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County are pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics for agricultural businesses in your region on April 3rd.


April 4, 2024 : Orleans CCE Fit Testing - morning
Albion, NY

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County are pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics for agricultural businesses in your region on April 4th.

2024 DEC Special Permit Handler Training - Wayne County

April 9, 2024
Newark, NY

Special Permit Training (SPT) for 2024 will be held in person at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office.

Announcements

Scaffolds podcast

Many of you probably read Art Agnello's statewide tree fruit updates and recommendations newsletter, "Scaffolds". Dr. Monique Rivera is bringing it back, but in a new audio version. Episode one was recorded this week, and is now available for free online at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scaffolds


Save the Date! - Scroll down for Upcoming Events

Have you missed a meeting recently? Scroll down for available recordings or pdf links or visits our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

2024 Events:

28 Mar - Outfield Demo at Cornell AgriTech - 1 - 3:30pm, Cornell AgriTech

3 Apr - 2024 Respirator Fit Testing - 1-5pm, CCE Orleans, Schedule Today

4 Apr - 2024 Respirator Fit Testing - 8am - 12pm, CCE Orleans, Schedule Today


10 Apr - DEC Special Permit Handler Training - CCE Orleans 


15 Apr - Virtual Orchard IPM Scout Training - 2-4pm - Zoom

13 Aug - 2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour - Orleans County



Food Safety Virtual Office Hours

Cornell Institute of Food Safety "Virtual Office Hours", Tuesdays Noon to 1pm https://cals.cornell.edu/institute-for-food-safety/resources/virtual-office-hours

Past recorded virtual office hours can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJs5b7KUuvfcquH3ZtQHo5dSmF2m5MdQ


Webinar Recordings & Additional Meeting Materials

Check out the recordings of some recent webinars and/or conference materials from in person events: Recordings and Playlists are available at https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

2024 Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the NYS IPM Program YouTube Channel


PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:




Pollinator Resouces

Now available Pollinator Resource Links


Meeting Recordings Now Available

Did you miss the recent meeting?  Check and see if we recorded it and added it to our website or Lake Ontario Fruit Program YouTube Channel.

Honeycrisp Meetup recordings available here.

Why are my trees growing so poorly? recording available here.

Additional Recorded Webinars listing with recording and resource link are available at



New Publication on Growing Pawpaws

Are you a fan of pawpaws? These custardy fruits can be hard to come across, so this guide provides information on how to grow your own pawpaw from seed, and how to care for grafted seedlings. Pdf on growing now available.​ https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=799&crumb=crops|crops|unusual_fruit|crop*50

New Weed Management Technology Survey

Want to move away from herbicide reliance? Are you using novel technologies to manage weeds? We want to know about it to inform our weed science research. A team of weed scientists from University of California Davis, Oregon State University, and Cornell University are asking berry, tree fruit, tree nut, and vine crop growers to take 5 to 10 minutes and answer this short and anonymous survey. Weed Technology Survey link: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEpfAijoP7puQDP

For more information on this survey please visit http://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2020/12/02/new-weed-management-technology/


Pollinator Webinar Series - Summer 2020

The Pollinator Webinar Series presented by Penn State cover bee health and pollination services.



Bloom Pesticides for Pollinator Health

A reference table created by Janet van Zoeren and Anna Wallis, is now available at https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=711&crumb=pests|pests.