Small Fruit Opportunities for Small Farms
Event Details
Date
July 11, 2023
Time
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location
Cornell Willsboro Research Farm
48 Sayward Ln
Willsboro, NY 12996
Cost
Pre-Register : $10.00
Host
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture$10 per farm
Pre register by Monday, July 10th at 9 am
Join us for a field afternoon at the Cornell Willsboro Research Farm and Juniper Hill Farm in Essex County to learn about growing small fruit crops in northern New York. We'll discuss considerations for site selection, varieties, pruning, integrated pest management, marketing, and more. In addition to strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, we'll cover novelty small fruits and nuts for specialty markets and hear from local producers who grow them.
1.75 DEC credits approved in categories 1A, 10, and 22
Rain date: This event will be held at the same time on Thursday, July 13th if thunderstorms and/or significant rain are predicted on the 11th
Agenda:
12:50 pm: Arrive early if signing in for DEC credits
1 pm: Welcome & Introductions, refreshments (Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP)
1:10 pm: Strawberry systems overview and overwintering material evaluation (Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP)
1:30 pm: Growing hazelnuts in northern New York (Mike Davis, Cornell Willsboro Research Farm)
1:45 pm: Managing spotted wing drosophila in berry crops: trap options and research results, checking fruit for larvae, IPM overview (Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP)
2:05 pm: Juneberries, honeyberries, and Aronia variety evaluation (Mike Davis, Cornell Willsboro Research Farm)
2:35 pm: Specialty fruit grower panel discussion (Jenna Mulbury, Northern Orchard and Duane Smith, Seaway Coldhardy Grapes, others TBD)
3:00 pm: Climate change mitigation opportunities with perennial crops, funding opportunities (Jenna Walczak, CCE Harvest NY)
3:30 pm: Services available to commercial fruit growers from Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District (Alice Halloran, Essex Co SWCD)
3:40 pm: Depart for Juniper Hill Farm (drive on your own or carpool, meet at blueberry field on Stowersville Rd, Lewis at 44°17'52.9"N 73°30'09.1"W)
4:10 pm: Organic blueberry establishment at Juniper Hill Farm
5 pm: Adjourn, collect DEC credit certificates

Upcoming Events
2026 Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
Session 1: Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
Session 2: Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
Session 3: Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
Session 4: The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
Session 5: USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
Session 6: Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
Managing the Invasive Swede Midge Webinar
March 6, 2026 : Managing the Invasive Swede Midge Webinar
Swede midge is an invasive fly that causes serious economic losses to brassica crops. Due to its small size and hidden feeding habits, swede midge is often called an "invisible pest" and damage may be misdiagnosed. In this webinar, we will review the swede midge life cycle and crop damage symptoms, current management recommendations, new research findings, and highlights from on-farm case studies with a focus on organic management.
New Farm Manager Skills Day - Get the Tools You Need to Grow Your People (Hudson Valley)
March 10, 2026 : New Farm Manager Skills Day - Get the Tools You Need to Grow Your People
Millbrook, NY
Are you moving into a supervisory farm management role this season and want to get off to a good start? Are you an experienced manager who wants to connect with other "people" managers and work on your skills? This one-day workshop is for you!
