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

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Events - month view

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August 2024

2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour

Event Offers DEC Credits

August 13, 2024
8:30am - 4:30pm
Starting Location Toussaint Farms Ledge Rock Farm
Medina, NY

We are excited to announce the second annual Western New York Fruit Grower Tour, the premier fruit tour of the northeast brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Lake Ontario Ag Consulting, LLC!  Located in Orleans County, this orchard field day will highlight new and existing products, chemistries, practices, technologies & equipment that shape the orchard industry today. The Western NY Fruit Grower Tour will again combine two past orchard tour events, the LOF Summer Fruit Tour and the Wayne County Fruit Grower Tour, giving industry members the opportunity to conveniently showcase their product offerings to ONE unified group at ONE time and place!

ENYCH Listed Event

ENY Orchard Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting

August 15, 2024 : ENY Orchard Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting
3-5pm
Northern Orchards Walker Farm
Peru, NY

ENY Orchard Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting

Join the members of CCE ENYCHP and the Cornell Soil Health Program for a field meeting on the basics of soil health, the potential benefits of mycorrhizal fungi, and an update on the current project status of our SARE grant on orchard mycorrhizal products.

This meeting is intended for farmworkers, young and beginning orchardists, and experienced orchard managers wanting to learn about the basics of soil health and mycorrhizal fungi within the orchard.

9th Annual Hispanic Summer Tour

August 17, 2024
3PM - 6PM
HH Dobbins Farm
Lyndonville, NY

9th  Annual Hispanic Summer Tour

Join Mario Miranda Sazo, Janet van Zoeren, Sandra Lizarraga, from CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Mary Bess Lewis from Cornell Ag Workforce Development for the annual summer tour of orchard and educational updates on IPM, horticulture, HR, leadership, and labor all presented in Spanish.

ENYCH Listed Event

North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting

Event Offers DEC Credits

August 19, 2024 : North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting
4:00pm - 7:00pm
North Point Community Farm
Plattsburgh, NY

North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting

Monday, August 19th 4-7 pm (rain or shine)

2172 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

$10 per farm

Join us for a tour of North Point Community Farm, a diversified vegetable, berry, and flower operation in the North Country. Farmers Marisa and Mike will give us an overview of their decision-making as they expand their business, increasing their high tunnel production, investing in new tillage equipment, and transforming an old dairy barn into an efficient wash-pack shed with food safety in mind. We'll end the evening with local food refreshments and an opportunity to network with growers from NY and VT.

DEC credits: 1.5 credits in categories 1A, 10, 23

ENYCH Listed Event

Late Summer Orchard Meeting

Event Offers DEC Credits

August 21, 2024
6pm - 8pm
Sand Flats Orchard
Fonda, NY

Join us for our last get together of the summer before we're in the thick of harvest. At this meeting, we will tour Sand Flats Orchard with manager Mitch Hoffman, and we will then discuss late season pest management tasks with our experts from the HVRL and Cornell AgriTech. 

DEC Credits: 1.5 credits in categories 1A, 10, and 22. 

In Person Only - WNY Bilingual Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting

August 22, 2024 : English Language Registration
3pm - 6pm
CCE Orleans County
Albion, NY

Join the members of CCE LOFP, CCE ENYCP, and Cornell Soil Health Program for a bilingual training on the basics of soil health, the potential benefits of mycorrhizal fungi, and an update on the current project status of our SARE grant on orchard mycorrhizal products.

In Person Only - WNY Bilingual Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting

August 22, 2024 : Spanish Language Registration
3pm - 6pm
CCE Orleans County
Albion, NY

La tarde del 18 de junio, miembros de CCE LOFP, CCE ENYCP y el Programa de Salud del Suelo de Cornell ofrecerán una educacion bilingüe sobre los fundamentos dela salud del suelo, los beneficios potenciales de los hongos micorrícicos y una actualización sobre el estado actuaul del proyecto financiado por SARE sobre productos micorrícicos para huertos.


September 2024

ENYCH Listed Event

Drinkwine Produce Twilight Meeting

Event Offers DEC Credits

September 16, 2024 : Drinkwine Produce Twilight Meeting
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Drinkwine Produce
Ticonderoga, NY

Drinkwine Produce Twilight Meeting

Monday, September 16th 4-6 pm (rain or shine)

1512 Street Rd, Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Join us for discussions on high tunnel tomato production and sweet corn and pumpkin IPM at Drinkwine Produce in Ticonderoga. Henry Drinkwine will provide an overview of his practices for maintaining high yields of tomatoes, including pollination and soil fertility management. In the second half of the meeting, CCE specialist Chuck Bornt will review integrated pest management for sweet corn and pumpkins, with hands-on scouting and identification of key pests and diseases.

DEC Credits: 1.5 credits in categories 1A, 10, 23

ENYCH Listed Event

Korona Produce Field Meeting

Event Offers DEC Credits

September 24, 2024 : Korona Produce Field Meeting
4:00-6:00pm
Korona Farm and Produce
Amsterdam, NY

Korona Produce Field Meeting

September 24, 2024, 4-6pm
Korona Farm and Produce
1953 Co Rd 107, Amsterdam, NY 12010
(pull in by the cow pasture)

Join CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Vegetable Specialists Crystal Stewart-Courtens and Chuck Bornt for a field meeting to look at tarping for weed and pest control and cover crop termination in vegetable rotations, a pumpkin variety trial walk looking at new varieties, and cucurbit IPM practices.

This meeting is free and open to the public.
2 DEC credits available in categories 1A and 23

Questions? Reach out to Crystal Stewart-Courtens at cls263@cornell.edu or 518-775-0018

October 2024

TIPS and FOE Communication Guidance Webinar

October 2, 2024
12 - 1pm
Free Webinar - Registration Required

Join Lake Ontario Fruit Program's Business Specialist Dr. Bonnie Nelsen for this free webinar to review legal and effective ways that farm employers can talk about unions and unionizing.  

ENYCH Listed Event

Fall Vegetable Farm Soil Health and Cover Crop Meeting

October 4, 2024 : Fall Vegetable Farm Soil Health and Cover Crop Meeting
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Fox Creek Farm
Schoharie, NY

Fall Vegetable Farm Soil Health and Cover Crop Meeting

Come learn about soil health and cover cropping at Fox Creek Farm in Schoharie on Friday 10/4/24. Owners, Sara and Raymond Luhrman will share their simple cover cropping program that has maintained productive soils over almost 20 years of intensive vegetable production. Walk the fields, see their fall cover crops growing, ask your questions and get your answers. This program will be geared towards beginning vegetable farmers.

ENYCH Listed Event

Agritourism Webinar Series

October 8, 2024 : Creating Value-Added Items/Experiences
12-1
webinar

Creating Value-Added Items/Experiences

Farm & Food Workers Relief Program Application Assistance for $600 COVID Funds

October 22 - October 23, 2024
Tue 10am-4pm; Wed 9am-4pm
Wallington FD

Farm & Food Workers Relief Program Application Assistance for $600 COVID Funds for all Frontline Farmworkers & Meatpackers

Apply in person or online

ENYCH Listed Event

PASA Farmworker COVID Funds In-Person Registration

October 25, 2024 : Farm and Food Workers Relief Program Registration - Washington County
9-4
Washington County Fairgrounds
Greenwich, NY

The Agricultural Workforce Development Council of New York State is collaborating with PASA (Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Association) to offer three in-person events in New York State at the end of October where workers can sign up for the program in person. 

ENYCH Listed Event

PASA Farmworker COVID Funds In-Person Registration

October 26, 2024 : Farm and Food Workers Relief Program Registration - Ulster County
9-4
CCE Ulster County
Kingston, NY

The Agricultural Workforce Development Council of New York State is collaborating with PASA (Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Association) to offer three in-person events in New York State at the end of October where workers can sign up for the program in person. 

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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

Strawberries

Unusual Fruit

Unusual Fruit

more crops

Upcoming Events

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.

Cornell Fruit Field Day

July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY

Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Dr. Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.

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 - Recording Available

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.




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.

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


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/

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


Cornell Statewide Pink Meeting Recording - https://youtu.be/cnQtklNa1i4


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:




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 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/


NEWA weather stations moving to a new dashboard!

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



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.