The Lake Ontario Fruit Program Specialists work together with Cornell faculty and extension educators statewide to address the issues that impact the fruit industry. Our Specialists have varying areas of expertise but work as a team to provide educational programs and information to commercial growers, processors and agri-business professionals in our region.

Craig Kahlke

Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management

Areas of Interest: Fruit Quality and factors that affect fruit quality before, during, and after storage,
Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums

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Mario Miranda Sazo

Cultural Practices

Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Apples, Apricots, Asian Pears, Cherries, Currants, Gooseberries, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums

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Tessa Grasswitz

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Areas of Interest: IPM of tree fruit and berry pests, biological control, pollinators, and impact of climate change.
Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Apples, Apricots, Asian Pears, Cherries, Currants, Gooseberries, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums

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Position Open

Productions Economics & Business Managment

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Storage Workshop 2017

August 30, 2017
2-4 PM
Rochester, NY

Come join us to hear Dr. Chris Watkins give updates on NY1 and NY2, Gala and Honeycrisp.

New information will also be presented on DCA technology, Harvista and 1-MCP.

Best Management Practices for High Tunnel Nutrition and Soil Health

September 13, 2017
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Poughkeepsie, NY

Soil tests, foliar tests, foliar feeds, fertigation, managing for yield...long term soil health in a high tunnel isn't a simple process. It can have a lot of components and require a fair amount of analysis. Cornell Cooperative Extension, partnering with NOFA-NY in a New York Farm Viability Institute funded project, have been working to identify long-term soil health and fertility best management practices. We will share what has been learned.

Fall 2017 - NYSDEC Region 8 Clean Sweep NY

Fall 2017 Clean Sweep NY collection dates and locations can be found at http://www.cleansweepny.org/.

Mechanical Blossom Thinning Video

Click link for Details.
Mechanical blossom thinning video and story.
https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=449&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38

Spray Mixing Instructions Considering TRV

Spray Mixing Instructions Considering Tree Row Volume - TRV

Spray Mixing Instructions Considering Tree Row Volume - TRV
Terence Robinson, Poliana Francescatto, Cornell University
Win Cowgill, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University

Click below for full article:

https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/uploads/doc_569.pdf

Precision Chemical Thinning in 2017

Precision Chemical Thinning in 2017 for Gala and Honeycrisp

Poliana Francescatto, Craig Kahlke, Mario Miranda Sazo, Terence Robinson

full article pdf. available here: https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=448&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38

2017 Census of Agriculture

Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture in 2012 still have time to sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted' button through June. NASS defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year (2017).

For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture and to see how census data are used, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.

"Visual Guide" for March Pruning

A Practical "Visual Guide" for March Pruning of Young and Semi-Young High Density Apple Plantings
Mario Miranda Sazo

The document is a practical and colorful visual guide that shows some important pruning cuts to better grow and train the "money makers" Gala, Honeycrisp, and Fuji trees. The pruning cut decisions are easy to follow and their objectives are simple.  More information and the guide can be found here: https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=440&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38

2017 LOF Winter Fruit School Presentations

2017 Winter Fruit School presentations that have been approved by the presenters are now available here https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=425&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38; past LOF Winter Fruit School presentations approved for public distribution can be found under the Apples at the bottom in a list.

Working with a Spanish Speaking Workforce

Please use the link below to watch a YouTube video in which Libby Eiholzer, Bilingual Dairy Specialist of the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team and Mario Sazo, Extension Associate of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program discuss Building Campus County Connections: Working with a Spanish Speaking Workforce.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YkXmboxStE&feature=youtu.be

2016 Apple Crop Survey Results

The 2016 Apple Crop Survey Results are now available.  Click here for results.

Apple System Payback Calculator Now Available!

Apple System Payback Calculator
You can down load this spreadsheet to help you calculate the return on investment for an orchard system you are considering to plant or invest in.

New York Apples and Hard Cider Classifieds

A new on-line classifieds has been launched to help apple growers and hard cider producers "connect" and conduct business. This website allows users to post items for sale and items for purchase. The site is not exclusive to growers and hard cider producers selling and buying to each other. The site can also be used for grower to grower business and hard cider producer to hard cider producer business. Click the following link to start the website: www.nyahcclassifieds.com. Click the following to download basic instructions on navigating the site: NYAHC Classifieds Notice