February 28 will Feature Attorney Joshua Viau of Fisher & Phillips LLP
In 2019, the NY legislature passed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act which, among other things, gave farmworkers the right to organize and join unions. Apple growers in the Hudson Valley are being targeted by the United Farm Workers of America, which is the farmworker union from California. They have filed five petitions that we know of and are soliciting signatures from workers here and in the workers' home countries. Under New York's law, there is no secret ballot election in most cases. All the union has to do is get more than half of your workers to sign union cards. Then they file a petition with the state and unless you can show that the cards are invalid or that the union does not actually have a majority, you will be required to negotiate for a contract with the union representatives. Because of this, it is very important to get out ahead of this BEFORE you get a petition. Once the union files a petition, you will be fighting an extremely difficult battle. Please join attorney Joshua Viau of Fisher Phillips to discuss preventative strategies for dealing with this issue.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Dyson Agricultural Food
January 12, 2026
Ithaca, NY
The Past, the Present, and the Future of PACMAN Webinar
January 12, 2026
Join nationally recognized scientists and extension specialists for a nationwide PACMAN webinar presenting five years of research findings and outlining emerging directions and collaborative opportunities for the next phase of the project.
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