My name is Michael Borrelli and I am a Masters of Arts candidate at Buffalo State College in the Great Lakes Ecosystem Science Program and I am conducting research on how climate change is impacting the apple industry in Western and Central New York. Having grown up on a family farm near Rochester, I have always had an interest in how changes in the environment and climate impact the natural and agricultural world.

In order to identify these impacts I need to reach out to apple growers, like yourselves, who are experiencing these impacts and challenges first hand. Your observations, stories and experiences are essential to this project. Working with Craig Kahlke from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, I have identified key questions for analysis that I would like your help in answering in the form of a 10 to 15 minute web survey located at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/orchard_survey.

If you would prefer to do the survey on paper, face to face, or over the phone; my contact information is at the end of this email and we can set up a time. The data collected from the survey will be kept confidential and be used to complete my graduate thesis. Any results will be shared with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The goal of this research will be to identify what climate impacts apple growers have experienced in their orchards over time. Another secondary goal will be to identify what measures orchardists are taking to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate going forward and how apple growers view its impact on their businesses and lively hood.

I would like to thank you for your interest in my research and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at borrelm01@mail.buffalostate.edu or my cell phone at 585-503-7546. I look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Michael Borrelli

Eden Valley Growers (EVG), a farmer-owned cooperative and the owner/operator of the Western NY Food Hub, invites you to attend an information session on how they will provide technical assistance and support for farmers interested in selling to the Western NY Food Hub. Eden Valley Growers, along with their project partners Cornell Cooperative Extension and Field & Fork Network, will host the meeting.The meeting will be in room 112, access through the southeast entrance facing the back parking lot.

This show combines the major fruit, flower, vegetable, and direct marketing associations of New York State in order to provide a comprehensive trade show and educational conference for the fruit and vegetable growers of this state, as well as the surrounding states and Eastern Canada.

The Cornell Vegetable Program Specialists are involved in organizing sessions on Processing Vegetables, Potatoes, Onions, Cabbage/Cole Crops, Soil Health, Weed Management, Climate Change, Beginning Farmers, High Tunnels, and Specialty Vegetables.

Registration is open now on the NYS Vegetable Growers Association website:
http://nysvga.org/expo/information/

February 1, 2016 - CCE of Niagara, Lockport, NY 

Pre-registration closed on website, please call or email Kim Hazel at 585-798-4265 ext 26 to give her your registration info.

February 1, 2016 - CCE of Niagara, Lockport, NY 

Pre-registration closed on website, please call or email Kim Hazel at 585-798-4265 ext 26, krh5@cornell.edu
to give her your registration info.

See flyers, Feb 3 program is at CCE Orleans, 12690 NYS Rte 31, Albion NY 14411

See flyers, Feb 4 program is at CCE Wayne, 1581 NYS Rte 88, Newark, NY 14513

This meeting will provide information and answers to questions on several of the more complicated sections of the new FSMA regulations going into effect for produce growers. There will be a focus on irrigation water and what is required for testing your water sources, record keeping, how to set up a meaningful traceability program, and how to conduct a recall.

February 23, 2016 - Zingler Farms Inc.   Orleans Co.
February 24, 2016 - KC Bailey Orchards Inc.   Wayne Co.
Please pre-register.

This full day event will include talks will introduce workers to basic and applied pomological and pest management concepts and modern apple pruning practices in the Spanish language. Lunch will be included and covered by the $15 pre-registration, due to limited space please pre-register.

click on detail for Agenda & Registration opportunities.