Skip Navigation LinksHudson Valley Fruit Team

The Hudson Valley Regional Fruit Program is an educational program serving the commercial fruit industries of the lower Hudson Valley region of New York, including Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Rensselaer and Ulster Counties.

Local county extension associations work in partnership with Cornell University and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station to serve the educational needs of the local grower community.

Program Goals
  • To develop and provide an effective educational program to serve the needs of the Hudson Valley commercial fruit industries.
  • To support the adoption of new and/or proven practices that will improve the economic viability of the Hudson Valley commercial fruit industries. 
  • To develop additional intellectual and financial resources to better serve the Hudson Valley commercial fruit industries.

    What We Offer

  • Educational meetings and commodity-specific schools. Pesticide recertification credits are usually available. 
  • Field meetings, pruning demonstrations, tours and workshops. 
  • Demonstration plantings for new varieties, rootstocks and planting systems.
  • Membership benefits 
  • Newsletters, recorded and e-mail grower alert messages relating to commercial fruit production.
  • Personal consultation via telephone, office and farm visits (by appointment).

Tree Fruit Program (apples, pears, and stone fruit)
This program is coordinated by Michael Fargione. Educational efforts focus on integrating fruit production and management. Topics covered include:

  • Insect, disease and weed management
  • Application of crop protectants 
  • Planting systems 
  • Tree pruning and training 
  • Plant nutrition and soil management 
  • Tree growth and crop load management 
  • Variety selection Apple and pear maturity evaluations 
  • Harvest and storage recommendations 
  • Wildlife damage mitigation

    • Contact

     Michael J. Fargione
    Fruit Extension Educator
    Hudson Valley Lab
    P.O. Box 727
    Highland, NY 12528
    Phone: (845) 691-7117
    Fax: (845) 691-2719
    Email: mjf22@cornell.edu

    Small Fruit and Grapes Program
    This program is coordinated by Steven McKay. He maintains a web site about small fruit and grapes at http://www.cce.cornell.edu/columbia/SteveMcKay/hvfruitteam.html.

    Topics covered include:
    • Insect, disease and weed management
    • Application of crop protectants 
    • Planting systems 
    • Pruning and training 
    • Plant nutrition and soil management 
    • Growth and crop load management 
    • Variety selection 
    • Irrigation systems 
    • Marketing education 
    • Labor management
    Contact

    Steven A. McKay
    Fruit Extension Educator
    CCE Columbia County
    479 Route 66
    Hudson, NY 12534
    Phone: (518) 828-3346
    Fax: (518) 828-3069
    Email: sam44@cornell.edu
    Hudson Valley Regional Fruit Program