Western NY Fruit Conference - "State of the Industry" - Sponsorship Opportunities

February 27 - February 28, 2023

Apologies, but we are at capacity for the program on Tuesday, Feb 28. There are only Monday (half day) registrations available. If you want to register one or more from your organization for the half day program on Monday, Feb 27, please contact Natalie Mrzywka at 585-798-4265, ext. 122 or nlm53@cornell.edu ASAP.

Closed - Thank you please check back for more opportunities.

CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a multi-day fruit conference in WNY! This is replacing our Winter Fruit Schools, and our participation in the Empire Producer's Expo. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel. The overarching theme is the "State of the Industry", in which topics targeted include the latest in our (and some growers) technology & adoption, including Precision Apple Crop Load Management (PACMAN) technologies. We are also putting together a session targeting the processing industry. In addition,  presentations will cover marketing, crop estimates, labor, and insurance requirements. Pest management will also be featured, including fire blight updates, weed management, woolly apple aphid, and brown marmorated stink bug. Other topics are soil health and strawberry weed management. The conference will begin with lunch on Feb 27, followed by two afternoon sessions with a break in between, which are included with your registration fee. An optional cocktail hour and banquet dinner (separate pre-registration required) will be among the choices attendees have. Folks can choose to stay in the host hotel or nearby ones, or commute. The RIT Inn & Conference Center is conveniently located away from downtown, so parking and optional dinner on your own choices will be less restrictive. There will be DEC credit-eligible sessions applied for, and all should be eligible for CCA credits. Day 2 will be a full day program that will include 4 educational sessions, along with breakfast, lunch, and 2 breaks, which are all included with your registration fee.

All sponsorships are first come, first served and are limited.

Sponsor levels will be as follows:  

Speaking Spot Sponsor: The exhibitor level is $500, and gets you a 2 minute speaker spot in the beginning of a session. You'll likely be assigned a session that most lines up with your business. The exhibitor sponsorship of this event gets recognition in addition to the "all sponsors" benefits below. Up to two employees from your organization can attend the conference at this level. 

FULL NO TABLES LEFT - Exhibitor Sponsor: The exhibitor level is $1,000, and gets you a 6' display table to network with our growers and other industry throughout the one and a half day conference. In addition, you'll get a 2 minute speaker spot in the beginning of a session. You'll likely be assigned a session that most lines up with your business. The exhibitor sponsorship of this event gets recognition in addition to the "all sponsors" benefits below. Up to three employees from your organization can attend the conference at this level. 

In addition, we're looking for sponsorships to partially offset the costs of an "open bar" cocktail hour on Feb 27, followed by a banquet dinner graciously sponsored by Patrick Coates of Farm Credit East/ACA Crop Growers.

Cocktail Hour Sponsor: The cocktail hour sponsorship is $2,500. Your sponsorship of this event gets acknowledgement in addition to the "all sponsors" benefits below. In addition, you can also choose to be an exhibitor sponsor at this level, and gets you a 6' display table to network with our growers and other industry throughout the one and a half day conference. In addition, you'll get a 2 minute speaker spot in the beginning of a session. You'll likely be assigned a session that most lines up with your business. Up to five employees from your organization can attend the conference at this level.

All sponsors will be acknowledged in at least two each of our newsletters and email blasts, and on our conference website and program.

If you are not able to participate, any donation you would like to make toward expenses for the events will be graciously accepted and acknowledged. You can simply send a check in any amount made out to "Cornell Cooperative Extension" and send to Natalie Mrzywka at 12690 Rt 31, Albion, NY 14411. Or use a credit card to make a donation online and please be sure to type 2023 Winter Conference under "Please tell us why you've chosen to support our work".

Sponsorship at these events allows for great marketing and promotional opportunities. Sponsor fees will be used to partially cover the costs of the facility rental, food, and travel of invited speakers, and to keep attendee registration fees reasonable.

For those preferring to pay by check a please print, fill out, and send the Registration Form pdf below.