Harvest New York

09/24/2026

At Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park, owner Andrea Parent-Tibbetts gets people in the door with alpaca and llama hikes. Once they’re there, she shows them what goes into running a farm, from raising animals to producing fiber.

As agritourism continues to grow across New York state, Cornell Cooperative Extension is helping farmers build sustainable visitor experiences by offering business guidance, classes, networking and events around the to help them welcome visitors in a way that lasts.

For Parent-Tibbetts, that help made a big difference. What started as a small fiber farm now draws thousands of visitors every year.

Read more:

Cornell Cooperative Extension has boosted its support for New York state agritourism as the industry has grown, with the number of participating farms nearly doubling and revenue tripling since 2007.

09/17/2026

For National Pawpaw Day, we’re digging into one of New York state's most unusual native fruits.

Pawpaws are sweet, tropical-tasting and often described as a cross between mango and banana. But there's a lot more to them than flavor.

CCE small fruits specialist Anya Stansell joins Extension Out Loud to talk about the pawpaw’s ecological and Indigenous history, what makes the fruit so unique, and its potential for growers in New York.

Learn more and listen to the episode:

There's a fruit native to New York that many have never tasted, yet it holds a lot of promise for market growth. In this episode of ‘Extension Out Loud,’ host Paul Treadwell sits down with Anya Stansell, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s (CCE) western New York small fruits extension specialist, ...

07/15/2026

Small-scale growers: This event will explore integrated pest management tools and provide an opportunity to build community with fellow local growers!

04/27/2026

The Community Gardens Soil Testing Program allows community gardeners anywhere in the state to have their soil tested for nutrient levels and heavy metals. The program is offered by CCE Harvest New York in partnership with New York state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Cornell Soil Health Laboratory.

The results help gardeners make plans to amend their gardens, and CCE Harvest New York staff can advise gardeners with technical support and education on how take the right next steps.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York runs the Community Gardens Soil Testing Program, which offers free test results and advice to home gardeners anywhere in the state.

04/01/2026

Kwesi Joseph, an urban garden specialist with CCE’s Harvest New York team, started on his path to Extension by experimenting with compost and learning how soil works from the ground up. Today, that experience shows up in community gardens across New York City, where he helps residents build growing spaces, improve soil health, and make fresh food more accessible in their own neighborhoods.

Learn more about his work at https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2026/03/faces-of-extension-kwesi-joseph.

Kwesi Joseph, urban garden specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s (CCE) Harvest New York program, turned his passion for gardening, composting, and the transformative power of healthy soil into a path to community leadership. Through years of experimentation and learning, he became a mast...

04/01/2026

Community Garden Leadership Program – Application Open Now!

The Cornell Community Garden Leadership Program is a year-long online program that prepares individuals to enhance their leadership skills to strengthen community gardens throughout New York State. The program equips community gardeners with management best practices and operational skills to improve garden sustainability. The program also connects gardeners to regional resources, professional development opportunities, and a statewide community garden leadership network.

Register for a virtual information session to learn more about the program and discover if this program is the right fit for you. Each information session is typically 45min-1hr.

Session Dates:
April 9 at 10am
April 14 at 12pm
April 22 at 5:30pm
May 7 at 12pm
May 11 at 5:30pm

Register for an Information Session at https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=Community_Garden_Info_10510

**Please note: the program application closes on June 15th and will be sent to all who register for an information session.

12/18/2025

The NYS Mushroom Summit was a huge success 🙌🏼. Over 70 participants, including a regional network of mushroom farmers and educators from indoor, outdoor, and community production systems; restaurateurs, food creatives and chefs; and extension, government and industry representatives attended. We discussed grower research and marketing needs, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and community building initiatives in addition to peer-to-peer learning. Thank you too all who attended 🍄🍄‍🟫

11/07/2025

Join us on December 5 for the first annual NYS Mushroom Summit - link in bio to register 🍄 🍄‍🟫

10/27/2025

A beautiful weekend where we partnered with to discuss the benefits and use of biochar! Participants got the experience of learning what it takes to make biochar and how to apply it into their soil. Presenters included Urban Garden Specialist, Karen Guzman, Dr. Rebecca Nelson from Cornell University and Bill Hilgendorf from .

All photos by 📸

10/17/2025

Saratoga Springs, NY – The Cornell Cooperative Extension Agritourism Program Work Team invites farmers, tourism professionals, educators, and community leaders to attend the New York State Agritourism Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. This two-day event on Monday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 11, will offer valuable insights and hands-on learning opportunities for anyone interested in strengthening or starting an agritourism enterprise.

The conference features two educational tracks, more than 18 speakers, and representatives from across New York’s agricultural and tourism sectors, including Farm Credit East, I Love NY, Tourism Promotion Agencies, and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Attendees will also enjoy a regional networking event designed to build partnerships and foster collaboration.

On the second day, participants will select from two immersive experiences: “Hosting Agritourism Workshops” or “Interactive Farm Tours.” These sessions will guide attendees through planning, logistics, pricing, and customer engagement strategies before concluding with interactive, hands-on activities such as a lavender wreath-making class or sample farm tour stations featuring planting, agricultural literacy materials, and crafts.

Registration for the conference is $100, which includes light snacks on both days. To view the full conference schedule and learn more, visit https://ccebroome.my.canva.site/2025-nys-agritourism-conference/