COVID-19 Testing of Farm Employees Begins in Wayne County
Position Open, Business Management Specialist
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Now that workers are arriving for the apple harvest, growers in Wayne County are using the state program for free, on-farm COVID-19 testing of farmworkers. Here is a video and collection of photos from on-farm testing at Teeple Farms on September 1st, 2020. In the video, Frank Teeple explains why he chose to get his workers tested early for COVID-19.
Frank Teeple shares his reasons for testing workers early:
Photos from on-farm testing at Teeple Farms on September 1st, 2020:
Finger Lakes Community Health sets up the testing site at the old Empire Farm.
Finger Lakes Community health staff prepare to begin testing.
Workers wait in line to be tested. Approximately seventy employees were tested in about two hours.
Workers get registered and tested.
Frank Teeple gets tested.
Workers get registered and tested.
Duke Mitchell and Frank Teeple converse after getting tested.
Frank Teeple decided to get the workers tested now right after they arrived from Mexico. "If we find that somebody's sick right now, we have time to deal with that, and get them healthy so they're ready to pick in the peak of our season."
Links to register for On-Farm Testing:
- Registration link for the free NYS Covid-19 testing program available to farms in Wayne and Orleans Counties, click here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/78fd67f98e104d1c95f533cb8ac9c200
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course
February 25, 2026 : Week 1 - IPM Fundamentals + Tools
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 4, 2026 : Week 2 - Insects: Part 1
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 11, 2026 : Week 3 - Insects: Part 2
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 18, 2026 : Week 4 - Diseases
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 25, 2026 : Week 5 - Weeds, Wildlife, + Wrap-Up
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
2026 Eastern New York Fruit and Vegetable Conference
February 25 - February 26, 2026
Albany , NY
The Annual Eastern NY Fruit and Vegetable Conference is two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, Greenhouse and a special Food Safety Wash and Pack session! While there you can also visit with more than 50 exhibitors!
Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Apple Color and Sunburn
February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game; Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption