ENYCHP Updates:
May 11th Update
Hand Sanitizer and Masks for Farmers
Cornell Cooperative Extension is pleased to partner with New York State Agriculture and Markets to provide New York State Hand Sanitizer and Face Coverings at No Cost to Farmers. Please contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office if you would like information about how to get this material. Most associations, but not all, will be distributing sanitizer the week of May 11.
Signage for COVID market operations is ready!
The package provides a number of signs with positive messaging for markets to help customers understand the market guidelines and processes as we operate through this public health crisis. The signs are available in a number of sizes – 8.5” by 11”, A-Frame, and sized for social media usage. There is no charge to you for using the signs other than printing what you need! Access the full signage kit
Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms
U-Pick is a critical direct marketing approach for many of our farms and provides customers with a unique connection to fresh produce grown close to home. In light of what we understand about the spread of COVID-19, new management practices will be needed to protect your farm team and your customers.
This document provides recommended practices and communication strategies for U-Pick operations for the 2020 season.
Virtual ‘Office Hours’ for Commercial Vegetable Growers
Join us for Zoom meetings on Thursday nights from 7-8pm with any commercial vegetable questions you may have. You can also call in at: 1-646-518-9805, meeting ID: 450 507 028. Also accepting pre-submitted photos and questions at vegofficehours@gmail.com.
Virtual ‘Office Hours’ for Commercial Berry Growers
Join us for Zoom meetings on Thursday afternoon from 12:30 – 1:30pm. Occasional invited speakers, or just questions for specialists.
Click link below to join the Berry Office Hours Join the Zoom meeting or dial by phone: 1-646-518-9805, Meeting ID: 955 1458 6018.
Produce Safety Alliance Remote Grower Training
The PSA is temporarily allowing remote delivery of PSA Grower Training Courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy will be in effect until July 31, 2020, with the potential for extending this date pending updates on the pandemic. More Information
USDA Farmers to Families Food Box
As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program Secretary Perdue announced on April 17 th the USDA is exercising authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to purchase and distribute up to $3 billion of agricultural products to those in need. USDA will partner with regional and local distributors, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase fresh produce, dairy, and meat.
Childcare Funding Available for Children of Essential Workers
NYS announced on 4/24/2020 that child care scholarships will be available for child care expenses for essential workers; which includes food processing and farm employees.
See Full Information and Scholarship Parent Application
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March 20th:
To our valued farmers, colleagues and friends,
We’d like to update you on some changes related to COVID-19 social distancing
mandates, and how it may impact our interactions with you. We remain
committed to you and the agricultural industry and will continue to do our best
to be your agricultural information resource during this extremely challenging
time.
Our primary goal is to not spread the virus, and help achieve the most rapid
and successful end to the current situation.
- Staff will be available to you by phone, email and, if essential and possible, a pre-arranged farm visit. Please understand that depending on the staff and the request we may need to use technology to help us troubleshoot problems. At no time do we want to put you or the educators at risk for spreading or contracting the virus.
- Many of the Cornell Cooperative Extension county offices and the Hudson Valley Research Lab are currently or may soon be closed to the public. Please call before you visit to confirm their status.
- In-person meetings and programs have been cancelled indefinitely. Please visit our website at https://enych.cce.cornell.edu/ for updates on programming or call 518-746-2553 with questions. Many programs and trainings will be offered via remote access using a program called ZOOM which is free for you to download and use. This information will be sent out with the program it is associated with.
- Newsletters and other means of educational programming will continue as scheduled, but most will be electronic versions. At this time we have no access to printers/copiers for large scale mailings.
Podcasts and instructional videos that provide information on
production, marketing and other relevant topics are being developed and
uploaded to our website.
We will continue to send updated information electronically to inform you and
your farm staff about resources that will help navigate the impact of COVID-19
on your farm.
For more information you can visit:
Cornell Food Safety
Extension team website
: https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/resources/coronavirus-covid-19/
This is an unprecedented situation, and none of us are sure how it will
unfold. Please call us with suggestions, comments, or just to
talk. Farmers are some of the most resilient and ingenious people on the
planet, so your feedback is crucial.
Thank you for growing our food, and thanks for your continued support of
Cornell Cooperative Extension. Please be safe!
CCE
ENYCHP Team:
Chuck
Bornt,
Vegetable
cell: 518-859-6213
email:
cdb13@cornell.edu
Ethan Grundberg,
Vegetable cell:
617-455-1893 email:
eg572@cornell.edu
Elisabeth Hodgdon,
Vegetable cell: 518-650-5323
email:
eh528@cornell.edu
Teresa Rusinek,
Vegetable cell:
845-389-3562 email:
tr28@cornell.edu
Crystal Stewart,
Vegetable
cell:
518-775-0018
email:
cls263@cornell.edu
Maire Ullrich,
Vegetable/Hemp cell:
845-742-4342
email:
mru2@cornell.edu
Laura McDermott,
Small Fruit cell:
518-791-5038
email:
lgm4@cornell.edu
Jim Meyers, Viticulture
cell:
845-417-8005 email:
jmm533@cornell.edu
Dan Donahue,
Tree
Fruit
cell: 518-322-7812
email:
djd13@cornell.edu
Mike Basedow,
Tree Fruit
cell:
518-410-6823
email:
mrb254@cornell.edu
Elizabeth Higgins, Business Mgmt
cell:
518-949-3722
email:
emh56@cornell.edu
Twitter: @19_CCE
Facebook: CCE ENYCHP
Instagram: CCEENYCHP
Last updated November 3, 2020