Craig Kahlke
Team Leader, Fruit Quality ManagementCCE Niagara County
4487 Lake Ave.
Lockport, NY 14094
phone 716-433-8839
cell 585-735-5448
fax 716-438-0275
email Craig
Areas of Interest
Fruit Quality and factors that affect fruit quality before, during, and after storage,
CropsBlueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums
Craig Kahlke has been an Area Extension Specialist for the CCE-Lake Ontario Fruit Program for the past six years. He specializes in Fruit Quality Management, which expands his interests to include applied research in the myriad of factors that can affect final fruit quality. Craig's primary responsibilities include harvest maturity testing of apples, postharvest storage and technology of tree fruit/berries, along with marketing of fresh produce. Food safety has been a major emphasis of his programming for the past 3 1/2 years. Craig has an M.S. in Plant & Soil Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Geneseo. Craig has worked in agriculture-related positions in research and extension for most of the past 18 years.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
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
2026 Winter Fruit Schools
February 4, 2026 : 2026 Winter Fruit School - Niagara County
Lockport, NY
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a return to LOF's Winter Fruit Schools, in which there will be two nearly identical programs on consecutive days in two locations in LOF's territory. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel. Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Registration Now!
February 5, 2026 : 2026 Winter Fruit School - Wayne County
Williamson, NY
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a return to LOF's Winter Fruit Schools, in which there will be two nearly identical programs on consecutive days in two locations in LOF's territory. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel. Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Registration Now!
2026 Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training
March 9, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 13, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.