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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Events - month view

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May 2015

CANCELED: Northeastern NY Vineyard Workshop 2 - Vineyard Pest Management, Champlain Valley

May 6, 2015
Willsboro, NY

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED
This workshop will cover essential vineyard pest management practices. We will cover major vineyard pests, IPM strategies, and resources available to help guide you. Andrew Landers, pesticide application technology specialist from Cornell, will provide information about effective pesticide application, including sprayer calibration. Bring your sprayer if you'd like to learn how to calibrate your own equipment.

Northeastern NY Vineyard Workshop 2 - Vineyard Pest Management, Upper Hudson Valley

May 7, 2015
4:30 - 7:00 PM
Schaghticoke, NY

This workshop will cover essential vineyard pest management practices. We will cover major vineyard pests, IPM strategies, and resources available to help guide you. Andrew Landers, pesticide application technology specialist from Cornell, will provide information about effective pesticide application, including sprayer calibration. Bring your sprayer if you'd like to learn how to calibrate your own equipment.

RESCHEDULED: Vineyard Pest Management, Champlain Valley - WEBINAR

May 13, 2015
Plattsburgh, NY

THIS EVENT IS RESCHEDULED (original date: Wednesday 5/6)
This webinar will cover essential vineyard pest management practices. Wayne Wilcox will cover major vineyard pests, IPM strategies, and resources available to help guide you. Andrew Landers will provide information about effective pesticide application, including sprayer calibration. 

The webinar will also be available remotely! 

CANCELED - Northeastern NY Vineyard Workshop 3 - Site Evaluation and Establishment, Champlain Valley

May 16, 2015
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Essex, NY

THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELED

This workshop will cover the basic considerations for selecting a site for your future vineyard and how to establish a new planting. Jay White of Essex, NY and Mike Spiak of The Fossil Stone Vineyard will describe their experiences selecting property, preparing land, and planning their vineyards. The Champlain Valley location will include a hands-on planting workshop.

Northeastern NY Vineyard Workshop 4 - Business Management, Upper Hudson Valley

May 20, 2015
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saratoga County, NY

This workshop will cover the basics of business management for vineyards and wineries. Bob Weybright, CCE business and marketing specialist, will provide business planning guidance for establishing a vineyard. He will also discuss considerations for obtaining a winery license and marketing your wine. Sarah Johnston will provide information on risk management, and how to obtain insurance for your valuable investment.

Produce Wash Station Set up **CANCELLED**

May 27, 2015
10:30 am-1 pm
Palatine Bridge, NY, NY

**THIS PROGRAM IS BEING RESCHEDULED. A NEW DATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED.**Join the Cornell Vegetable Program's Robert Hadad to learn how to design, build, and operate a small-scale, DIY post-harvest handling system! This great workshop will focus on the trifecta of good washing and handling—food safety, maintaining high quality and efficiency, and affordability for new and small growers. The session starts with a discussion and hands-on demonstration of how to design and set-up your wash line, tables, and packing shed, with a focus on safe and efficient product flow to separate 'dirty' field harvested produce from the washed and “clean” final product. Next, we'll look at setting up standard operating practices covering a range of methods of washing produce, including dunking, spraying, and aerating, as well as the why and how of using organic sanitizers. This session finishes with an examination of clean-up procedures and post-harvest handling considerations, including re-cooling, packing, and storage. If you want to build or upgrade your wash lines and post-harvest handling techniques and produce a safer, longer storing product, this workshop is for you!

Northeastern NY Vineyard Workshop 4 - Business Management, Champlain Valley

May 27, 2015
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Plattsburgh, NY

This workshop will cover the basics of business management for vineyards and wineries. Bob Weybright, CCE business and marketing specialist, will provide business planning guidance for establishing a vineyard. He will also discuss considerations for obtaining a winery license and marketing your wine. Sarah Johnston will provide information on risk management, and how to obtain insurance for your valuable investment.

June 2015

LOF Summer Fruit Tour -Wednesday, June 17 Featuring the Wayne County Fruit Industry

June 17, 2015
8:00 AM registration, program runs from 8:30 AM - 4 PM

Online Registration is now CLOSED - To pre-register, call Kim Hazel at 585-798-4265, ex 26.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension - Lake Ontario Summer Fruit Tour in Western NY will be held significantly earlier than usual this year due to Dr. Terence Robinson's upcoming sabbatical. It will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. We will feature tree fruit production technology and grower innovations in Wayne County. The CCE-LOF team is making plans now with Cornell University faculty, and the growers in the region for this show-and-tell day of networking with the fruit industry. At the regional tours we typically reach 250 growers from across the state.

Now accepting sponsorships for this event. Click on "Sponsorship" on the bottom of this page, then click on "View Upcoming Events for Potential Sponsorship", and then on “View Sponsorship Details” on the event. You'll have the option to pay online or via check with a mail-in registration form.

2015 Champlain Summer Orchard Tour

June 30, 2015
9:30am - 4:00pm

Cornell Cooperative Extension and the UVM Apple Program invites area growers to join us on a tour of orchards in the southern Champlain Valley of Vermont and New York. Pack a lunch and join the caravan as we share ideas with our hosts and each other.

July 2015

Grapevine Canopy Management Workshop

Event Offers DEC Credits

July 7, 2015
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Wallkill, NY

Come join Jim O'Connell berry and grape educator for Cornell Cooperative Eastern New York Commerical Horticulture Program and Ulster County, with guest speaker Hans Walter-Peterson of the Finger Lakes Grape Program for a twilight meeting at Magnanini Far Winery in Wallkill. Hans will discuss the basics of vine canopy management and its importance in pest management and fruit load.

Hard Cider Producer and Apple Grower Networking Meeting

July 8, 2015
2:00PM - 5:00PM
Interlaken, NY

Join us for the first state-wide CCE Hard Cider Producer and Apple Grower Networking Meeting.

CANCELLED 2-Day GAPs Training in Peru

July 20 - July 21, 2015
Monday 8:30AM - 5:00PM, Tuesday 8:30AM - 3:00PM
Peru, NY

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

This two-day training will walk growers through the basics of food safety during day one and will help them write a food safety plan during day two. 

This training course will result in receiving the certificate which satisfies the training requirement for the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

Blueberry Variety Review Field Day

July 21, 2015
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Schuylerville, NY

Blueberry Variety Review Field Day
Byron Winney has one of the largest plantings of blueberries in the state. Look at and taste more than a dozen different varieties and learn about winter hardiness, plant form, fruiting characteristics, plant longevity and pest tolerance first hand. There is no charge for this workshop, but please help us plan and register by calling Marcie at 518-272-4210. If you have questions, give Laura a call at 518-791-5038. The workshop is a rain or shine event.

Attention Apple Growers - Your Participation is Needed in a Climate Change Online Survey

July 23 - August 31, 2015

The Department of Geography and Planning at Buffalo State is conducting a study concerning changing weather patterns and their impact on apple growers in Western and Central New York. With the help of Craig Kahlke from the CCE, key areas of interest have been identified and with your first hand observations, changes in these key areas will be able to be identified and assessed for their impact on the local apple industry. We are asking any apple grower in the region, no matter the size of your orchard, to help us collect this data by taking a short survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/orchard_survey
Your participation in this survey is voluntary and you can opt out at any time. If you have any questions regarding the research contact Mike Borrelli at borrelm01@mail.buffalostate.edu. If you have any questions regarding your rights as a participant please contact Gina Game at gameg@buffalostate.edu. Thank you for your participation, your time, effort, and experience are greatly appreciated.

The First Annual Eastern NY Equipment Demonstration Day

July 25, 2015
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Rain or Shine)
Hurley, NY

Come and see some of the most innovative cultivation tools being produced by the world's leading manufacturers in action on a variety of vegetables and field crops!
This is a great opportunity to see new cultivating technologies at work and learn
more about the tools these companies offer. Find out if these tools are right for your
operation before you purchase them. Not only will we be looking at these units for
vegetables, but also field corn and soybeans- so there is something for everyone.

Wash Station and Food Safety Workshop

July 27, 2015
10am - 2:00pm
Palatine Bridge, NY

Wash Station and Food Safety Workshop

Please come join the Eastern New York Commercial Vegetable Program and Robert Hadad from the Cornell Vegetable Program to learn about the process of designing, building, and operating a small-scale, post-harvest handling system.


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
view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

Cornell Statewide Pink Meeting

April 21, 2026

Join us for a statewide pink zoom meeting covering key topics including crop load, frost risk, disease, and insect management, followed by Q&A; the session will be recorded and shared on both programs' YouTube channels.

2026 Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings

Event Offers DEC Credits

April 30, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 1
Webster, NY

The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.

Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda.  This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!

Event Offers DEC Credits

May 28, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 2
Oswego, NY

The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.

Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda.  This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!

Event Offers DEC Credits

June 25, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 3
Medina, NY

The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.

Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda.  This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!

2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series

February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned

The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 -  The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST).  The webinar will last 90 minutes.  The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America.  The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format.  Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists.  The program is free of charge.

June 11, 2026 : Session 2

Details to follow.

June 18, 2026

Details to follow.

June 25, 2026 : Session 4

Details to follow.

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

2026 Events:

for more details click on event title

21 Apr - Cornell Statewide Pink Meeting - Online, 1-2:30pm, No Registration Required

30 Apr - Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 1 - 6pm Refreshments & DEC Credit Sign In, Webster, Free!

28 May - Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 2 - 6pm Refreshments & DEC Credit Sign In, Oswego, Free!

26 Jun - Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 3 - 6pm Refreshments & DEC Credit Sign In, Medina, Free!

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




2026 NY Apple Pathology Season: Apple Scab Updates

Apple Scab 2026 Updates Text for news letters and videos:
https://blogs.cornell.edu/coxlab/


Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines

Cornell Integrated Pest Management has announced a pause in Crop and Pest Management Guideline production for 2026 to allow time to restructure and modernize the program for the future.

The 2025 editions will remain available through the Cornell Store (print while supplies last; online versions available until 2027). https://www.cornellstore.com/books/cornell-cooperative-ext-pmep-guidelines?page=1

An exception is the 2026-2027 New York/New England Greenhouse/Herbaceous Ornamentals Guidelines, which will be published as planned.

Updates will be shared as progress continues.

2026 Respirator Fit Testing!

2026 Respirator Fit Testing Opportunities:

To help ensure a comfortable and well-coordinated clinic for all participants, event time and location details will be provided at the time of registration.

April 2026 - Wayne County - is full for additional testing opportunities contact URMC or NYCAMH

May 2026 - Orleans County - Registration Open Now - https://www.nycamh.org/services/training/respirator-fit-testing/



Clean Sweep NY

The Spring 2026 collection will take place from May 5-8, 2026, in Western, New York. For more information about CleanSweepNY or to request a registration form for the Spring 2026 collection, please email (cleansweep@dec.ny.gov) or call 518-225-8146.

Tuesday, May 5 - Depew (Erie County)
Wednesday, May 6 - Lockport (Niagara County)
Thursday, May 7 - Spencerport (Monroe County)
Friday, May 8 - Waterloo (Seneca County)

More information about CleanSweepNY can be found at https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/pesticides/special-initiatives


2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program

2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program
$1.7 Million Available for New York Beginning Farmers
New York Farm Viability Institute is pleased to announce that the 2026 NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program (BFCG) is now open as of March 16. The BFCG is a competitive funding opportunity administered in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program will provide 1.7 million to support beginning farmers in building financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprises throughout New York State. RFP closes on June 14, 2026.
Additional details on the project including applicant eligibility, supported project activities, and upcoming informational webinars can be found here: 2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program - NYFVI.ORG https://nyfvi.org/grant-programs/producer-grants/beginning-farmer/2026-bf/


SPARC Orchard Roundup Podcast

Check out the first SPARC Orchard Roundup episode. In less than 15 minutes you'll get a sense for what we are seeing across regions in terms of bud stage, flower bud phenology, return bloom, and bud survival. You'll also hear about how phenology varies north to south within each state, and some tips on what weather patterns this winter (past for some, still occurring for others) and spring contributed to what we are seeing.

Find and follow the SPARC Orchard Roundup podcast on your preferred platform. We are on Spotify, Apple, Podcast Index, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Listen Notes, and Player FM.

For links to more ways to listen and the full article visit https://treefruit.wsu.edu/article/whats-budding-across-the-country/

Now Hiring!

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program -- a full-time, hybrid role supporting commercial fruit growers through education, applied research, and industry collaboration in western New York. See more details to determine if this role is right for you.

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

2026 Recordings & Materials


2025 Recordings & Materials




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:




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

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.