Warning to Growers: Response Time to PERB Shortened
It is happening. Just this past week, another New York State fruit farm received notice from the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) stating that dues authorization cards have been submitted to them by the
UFW union. If PERB receives enough signed cards filed by a union on behalf of the employees of a particular employer, notice is sent to the employer by certified mail. From the date the certified mail notice is signed
for, the employer only has 8 calendar days to respond. If you do not respond in that short time window, all ability to challenge the union is lost. Make sure if certified mail arrives at a farm office or the home of one of the
owners, is opened right away and dealt with. 8 days will go by very fast. You need to immediately get a lawyer. This is not a task for your local real-estate or business lawyer. There are only a few law firms in the country
that have experience in handling this and I would be glad to recommend a few if you do receive a notice from PERB. PLEASE. Re read this notice and share it with all owners, managers and office staff. Everyone needs
to know that a certified mail notice from PERB needs to be handled as soon as it is received.
Jim Bittner
Exective Director
NYS Horticultural Society.
Jim@bittnerfarm
716 778 7330
Apples
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Upcoming Events
2025 Apple Social
July 17, 2025 : Wayne County - Apple Social
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will be a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from attending specialists.
July 24, 2025 : Orleans County - Apple Social
Lyndonville, NY
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will be a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from attending specialists.
2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School Recordings
April 8, 2025
July 31, 2025
: Recording Available for 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School
Access to the 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School recordings are now available for purchase.
3rd Annual Western NY Fruit Growers Tour, Featuring Wayne County
July 31, 2025
Registration open!
We are excited to announce the 3rd annual Western New York Fruit Grower Tour, the premier fruit tour of the northeast brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Lake Ontario Ag Consulting, LLC! Located in Wayne County, this orchard field day will highlight new and existing products, chemistries, practices, technologies & equipment that shape the orchard industry today. The Western NY Fruit Grower Tour will again combine two past orchard tour events, the LOF Summer Fruit Tour and the Wayne County Fruit Grower Tour, giving industry members the opportunity to conveniently showcase their product offerings to ONE unified group at ONE time and place!
* Schedule subject to change.