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

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  • Helpful Diagnostic Tool:
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2014 Events - year view

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January 2014

2014 Empire State Producers Expo

Event Offers DEC Credits

January 20 - January 23, 2014
Morning, Mid-day, and Afternoon Sessions
Syracuse, NY

2014 Empire State Producers Expo
The Empire State Producers Expo includes a one-day Becker Forum (Jan. 20), a three-day trade show, and three days of concurrent educational sessions (Jan 21-23).  The full meeting agenda and information can be found on the NYS Vegetable Growers Association website.  You can register on-line at EXPO ON-line Registration.


February 2014

Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 3, 2014
8:00 am 4:00 pm
Lockport, NY

Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School

The LOF Winter School is the time to catch up on all the most recent research results, new products, horticultural practices, business and labor topics to help growers continue to compete and produce high quality fruit.  The focus is tree fruit production.  This is an opportunity to network with your neighbors and earn DEC credits.  There are several guest speakers from Cornell faculty, out-of state specialists, and the team.   This is a duplicate school held in Wayne County on Feb. 4, 2014.  Lunch is included in the cost of registration. 


February 20 - Winter Pruning Tour in Wayne County

February 20, 2014
8:30am-3:30pm

February 20 - Winter Pruning Tour in Wayne County
We are organizing a winter pruning tour to be held at 3 farms in Wayne County from 8:30am until 3:30pm on Thursday February 20, 2014.

Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs (Steuben County) - Co Hosted by NOFA-NY

February 27 - February 28, 2014
registration & refreshments at 8:30 AM, program runs 9 AM- 4 PM, both days
Bath, NY

In recent years, several food borne illness outbreaks in produce have made national news. Both the produce industry and the federal government have stepped up demands for fruit and vegetable farms to meet food safety practice standards. These standards are known as GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices).

In recent years, several food borne illness outbreaks in produce have made national news. Both the produce industry and the federal government have stepped up demands for fruit and vegetable farms to meet food safety practice standards. These standards are known as GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices).

Click here to register online: http://cvp.cce.cornell.edu/event.php?id=165



March 2014

Last of the season! Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs (Ontario County - Geneva) March 6-7

March 6 - March 7, 2014
Registration & Refreshments at 8:30 AM, program runs 9 AM- 4 PM, both days

In recent years, several food borne illness outbreaks in produce have made national news. Both the produce industry and the federal government have stepped up demands for fruit and vegetable farms to meet food safety practice standards. These standards are known as GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices).

To register, click here: http://cvp.cce.cornell.edu/event.php?id=161

Using the Berry Farm Business Summary (BFBS) to Improve Your Bottom Line

March 19, 2014
8:45 am - 12:00 pm
Rochester, NY

Are you confident your commercial berry business is maximizing your return on investment? Is it thriving, or merely surviving? Are berries an asset on your ledger or really a liability?

If you'd like help answering these questions, plan to attend the last of 5 regional berry crop economics workshops using the information and resources generated from Stage 1 of the project, "Building a Better Bottom Line for NYS Berry Growers," funded by New York Farm Viability Institute's Ag Innovation Center.

Pruning Demo with Motorized Platforms at Wafler Farms

March 24, 2014
2pm-4pm
Wolcott, NY

Pruning Demo with Motorized Platforms at Wafler Farms
Pruning on self-propelled harvest platforms to be showcased in Tall Spindle apple orchards in Wayne County, NY.

An In-Depth School for Fruit Growers "The Application of Physiological Principles to Fruit Crops"

March 25, 2014
7am-9pm
Geneva, NY

An In-Depth School for Fruit Growers "The Application of Physiological Principles to Fruit Crops"
The Cornell Fruit Team is pleased to announce an in-depth school for tree fruit growers, extension educators and crop consultants on March 25, 2014, at the Ramada Inn in Geneva, NY.


April 2014

Postharvest Water Sanitation Workshop

April 1, 2014
9am-4pm, Registration & Refreshments at 8:30am
Geneva, NY

See attached flyer for full program and registration options

DEC Special Permit Training

April 8, 2014
Newark, NY

DEC Special Permit allows non-certified workers to apply and handle federally restricted use pesticides. The Special Permit does not relieve the responsibility of the certified applicator that supervises these employees, but it does relieve the requirement of "on-site, within voice contact"supervision while federally restricted pesticides are being applied. Several of the pyrethroid, organophosphate, and carbamate insecticides such as Warrior, Capture, Diazinon, Lorsban and Lannate, and herbicides such as Gramoxone are federally restricted-use materials.

At Special Permit trainings, non-certified applicators review Worker Protection Safety (WPS) handler training. They also learn about the potential hazards to non-target species and the environment, for each federally restricted-use pesticide.  They also learn steps required on pesticide labels to prevent the risk of exposure to the applicators and non-target locations. Trainees receive a packet with summaries of this information.

A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.

Please pre-register your non-certified applicators for this training by April 3 using the registration form. 


DEC Special Permit Training

April 9, 2014
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Albion, NY

DEC Special Permit allows non-certified workers to apply and handle federally restricted use pesticides. The Special Permit does not relieve the responsibility of the certified applicator that supervises these employees, but it does relieve the requirement of "on-site, within voice contact" supervision while federally restricted pesticides are being applied. Several of the pyrethroid, organophosphate, and carbamate insecticides such as Warrior, Capture, Diazinon, Lorsban and Lannate, and herbicides such as Gramoxone are federally restricted-use materials.

At Special Permit trainings, non-certified applicators review Worker Protection Safety (WPS) handler training. They also learn about the potential hazards to non-target species and the environment, for each federally restricted-use pesticide. They also learn steps required on pesticide labels to prevent the risk of exposure to the applicators and non-target locations. Trainees receive a packet with summaries of this information.

A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.

Please pre-register your non-certified applicators for this training by April 3 using the registration form.




May 2014

Precision Crop Load Management Training for NY Fruit Industry

May 6, 2014
2:45pm-4:45pm

Precision Crop Load Management Training for NY Fruit Industry
The CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Dr. Robinson will be organizing the second Precision Thinning Workshop for NY growers and consultants in Geneva (A137 Barton Lab, Barton Hall, the only tall building at the Geneva Campus, park behind the library at Jordan Hall) between 2:45-4:45pm on Tuesday May 6.

It will also be offered via Polycom at the CCE Orleans (Albion),

Petal Fall Thinning Meetings

May 29, 2014
9 AM-11 AM
Sodus, NY

Come and hear updates on insect and disease status. Did we have good pollination conditions, good fruit set conditions, and how aggressively should we thin this year? Terence Robinson and Mario will have updated results from the carbohydrate model, and we will have some information on crop situation around the country. Cornell faculty and the LOF team members will be there to answer questions.

Free- no registration required- just come on out!

Follow the Cornell Fruit Event signs!

Petal Fall Thinning Meetings

May 29, 2014
2:30-4:30 PM
Albion, NY

Come and hear updates on insect and disease status. Did we have good pollination conditions, good fruit set conditions, and how aggressively should we thin this year? Terence Robinson and Mario will have updated results from the carbohydrate model, and we will have some information on crop situation around the country. Cornell faculty and the LOF team members will be there to answer questions.

Free- no registration required- just come on out!

Follow the Cornell Fruit Event signs!



June 2014

No Events Scheduled at this Time



July 2014

Lake Ontario Summer Fruit Tour

July 24, 2014
Registration at 8:00 -8:30 AM; 1st stop at 8:30; 5 stops; will end 4:15 PM
Albion, 1.34 mi south of Rt 104, NY

Lake Ontario Summer Fruit Tour

The Cornell Cooperative Extension - Lake Ontario Summer Fruit Tour in western NY will be held Thursday, July 24, 2014. We will feature tree fruit production technology and grower innovations in Orleans and Niagara County. The CCE-LOF team, with Cornell University faculty, and the growers in the region will present a day of show-and-tell and networking with the fruit industry. At the regional tours we typically reach 250 growers from across the state.

Please pre-register by July 18 so we have a count for lunches and handouts.

We have filled the 15 3-minute time slots for sponsorship for the tour but if you would like to be a donor, you can contribute at this link.   https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/sponsor_event.php?event_id=228

Retirement Celebration Registration

July 24, 2014
5 PM - 8:00 PM
Medina, NY

Retirement celebration for Stephen A. Hoying & Alison DeMarree following the summer tour.  Please join us following the CCE-LOF Summer Tour around 5 PM at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery for the retirement celebration of 2 of our colleagues, Stephen A. Hoying, and Alison DeMarree who have each dedicated more than 30 years to the NY fruit industry. Both Alison and Steve helped to lead the industry into planting more profitable plantings with impact across NY state, U.S., and internationally. We hope you will come and celebrate their careers and recognize them for their contributions to the fruit industry and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Bring your stories to tell. We will have a projector if you have pictures to show.
Please click "view details" below for more information and pre-registration form.

Future Fruit Growers Meeting

July 31, 2014
6PM-8PM
Barker, NY

Come see Donovan Orchards/Blackbird Cider Works. Scott Donovan has worked on value added production and direct marketing of his apples. He has a NOFA certified organic orchard and the cider works has been open since 2011.


August 2014

No Events Scheduled at this Time



September 2014

No Events Scheduled at this Time



October 2014

No Events Scheduled at this Time



November 2014

No Events Scheduled at this Time



December 2014

Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference

December 9, 2014
Ithaca, NY

This year's conference takes place Tuesday, December 9th at Cornell University in Warren Hall.
For details, visit dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/ag_outlook_conference.php.
Registration information is forthcoming.



Spotted Wing Drosophila Winter Regional Workshops

Event Offers DEC Credits

December 17, 2014
8:30AM - 4:00PM

Spotted Wing Drosophila Winter Regional Workshops
Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), threatens the viability of every blueberry and fall raspberry grower in the state. Growers of fall raspberries, mid-late season blueberries, and day-neutral strawberries can learn how to manage SWD at three regional workshops offered by the NYS Berry Growers Association.  5.5 DEC Credits available in categories 1A, 10, 22, 23 & 24.

Regional dates (all workshops 8:30AM-4:00 PM) and locations:
December 17, 2014 Ramada Inn, 1305 Buckley Rd., Syracuse, NY Register by Dec. 10
January 14, 2015 CCE Albany Co., 24 Martin Rd., Voorheesville, NY Register by Jan. 7
March 4, 2015 Clarion Hotel, 8250 Park Rd., Batavia, NY Register by Feb. 25

For more Details and Registration click here.




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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

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Unusual Fruit

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Upcoming Events

2026 Dyson Agricultural Food

January 12, 2026
Ithaca, NY

The Past, the Present, and the Future of PACMAN Webinar

January 12, 2026

Join nationally recognized scientists and extension specialists for a nationwide PACMAN webinar presenting five years of research findings and outlining emerging directions and collaborative opportunities for the next phase of the project.

2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars

January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield

Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield


January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops

Week 2:  Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data.


February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates

Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies


February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?

Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance? 


March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi

Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi


March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast

Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast

Announcements

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

2025 Events:

for more details click on event title

16 Dec - H-2A Playbooks in the New AEWR Era: Wage Strategies and Labor Planning in 2026 Webinar - 1pm, Register Now!

17 Dec - Part 1: How to Obtain a Pesticide Applicator License - 1-2pm, Online, Free, Register Now!

1-22 Dec - Labor Roadshow IX - registration now open, 2 webinars & 4 in-person meetings 

2026:

12 Jan - The Past, the Present, and the Future of PACMAN - 11am - 3pm EST, Webinar, Free, Register Now! 


13 & 14 Jan - Part 2: Pesticide Applicator Exam Prep - 8:30am-12:30pm, Online, $40, Register Now!

22 Jan - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now! 


4 Feb - LOF Winter Fruit Schools - All day, Niagara Co., more details soon.

5 Feb - LOF Winter Fruit Schools - All day, Wayne Co., more details soon.

12 Feb - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Fire Blight Management Updates - 11am - 1pm, Online, Register Now!

19 Feb - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance? - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!

23-25 Feb - NY Farm to School Summit - Saratoga Springs, Register Now!

27 Feb - 2026 International Virtual Orchard Meetup and SPARC - 1:30-3pm, Webinar, Details to follow!

11 Mar - 2026 USDA-SCRI SPARC Heat School - all day, Wenatchee, WA, Details to follow!

12 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!

19 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!

30 July - 2026  Cornell Fruit Field Day, Geneva.  Stay tuned for updates.


In Memory of Robert Brown II

With Deep Sadness, We Honor the Memory of Robert Brown II: A Cherished Friend, an Influential Leader in the Western NY Apple Industry, and a Remarkable Contributor to the Core Mission of CCE (May 23, 1955 -- November 23, 2025) see details https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=976&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38

NEWA weather stations moving to a new dashboard!

NEWA weather stations purchased through Rainwise (now owned by KestrelMet) are moving to a new dashboard!



NYCAMH Fit Testing Requirements

Considering NYCAMH for your respirator fit testing?

Here are some key facts and helpful tips about medical clearance:

Medical Clearance ? Fit Testing (They are not the same!)

Before you can wear a respirator or be fit tested, OSHA requires a medical evaluation under the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). This evaluation must be conducted by a licensed healthcare provider to determine if you are physically able to use a respirator safely.

read details

2025 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Recordings

Recordings now available on the NYIPM YouTube Channel 2025 Cornell Winter Webinar playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ccj8IT-8eI&list=PLoNb8lODb49u16HwAqx7Y_TS5S3vdkrON

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


Recording of Precision Apple Cropload MANagement PACMAN technologies at the 2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour. https://youtu.be/yE6thvf4z0E

2024 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series - Water Wisdom: 






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


PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:




Business Updates



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


NYS Tree Decline Survey

Your answers could help find the solution to tree decline in the orchard.

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


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.