Capital Region Vegetable & Small Fruit Program
Serving the Research and Educational Needs of Vegetable and Berry Growers
in Albany, Columbia, Fulton/Montgomery, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady,
Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit
Program provides research based information focused on commercial production and marketing of vegetable and small fruit crops for farmers in the greater Capital District.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Capital District Vegetable
and Small Fruit Program (CDVSF) provides:
A weekly seasonal newsletter (May-Oct)
A monthly newsletter (Nov-Apr) high-lighting local, state and national
vegetable and small fruit information.
Educational opportunities including field meetings, winter conferences
and web based programs.
On-farm research trials pertaining to vegetable and small fruit
production.
Annual Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo programs and bi-annual
New England Fruit and Vegetable Conference programs mailed to
enrolled growers.
Access to CDVSF Program educators through email, phone and farm
visits upon request.
The option to receive Cornell University Integrated Pest Management
Guidelines for Vegetable or Berry Crops. Discounted rate for CDVSF Growers Annual Winter Meeting.
And much more! Objectives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension CDVSF Program:
- Maintain and improve the profitability of vegetable and small fruit growers in Eastern NY.
- Provide educational opportunities related to production and marketing of small fruit and vegetable crops.
- Provide local, on-farm research trials and unbiased information.
- Deliver current research information generated by Cornell University and other land grant universities.
Some Current CDVSF program Projects :
- Reduced tillage systems for vegetable and small fruit crops
- Help with navigating Good Agricultural Practice (GAP’s) requirements
- Pest management and nutrient trials for berry crops.
- Season extension through the use of high tunnels
- Farm business and market analysis
- Vegetable variety trials for market acceptance
- Seed treatments for the control of striped cucumber beetle
- Sweet corn herbicide trials
- Field testing tomato varieties for resistant to early blight, late blight and Septoria leaf spot
- Managing nitrogen use in sweet corn with Adapt-N
- Support for beginning and transitioning farmers
- Web-based lectures for berry growers
- Up-to-date pest scouting and management information
Chuck Bornt has worked with commercial vegetable growers in the Capital District since 2002. His office is in the Rensselaer County Cooperative Extension building:
Mailing Address: Agriculture & Life Sciences Bldg. 61 State Street Troy NY 12180
Office Phone: 518-272-4210
Cell Phone: 518-859-6213
Email: cdb13@cornell.edu
Laura McDermott has supported commercial berry growers in eastern NY since 2007. Contact Laura at Washington County Cornell Cooperative Extension:
Mailing Address: 415 Lower Main Street Hudson Falls, NY 12839
Office Phone: 518-746-2560
Cell Phone: 518-791-5038
Email: lgm4@cornell.edu
Crystal Stewart has helped growers in the Mohawk Valley with production and marketing questions for several years.
Mailing Address: 55 E. Main Street Johnstown, NY 12095
Office Phone: 518-762-3909 Ext. 109
Cell Phone: 518-775-0018
Email: cls263@cornell.edu
If you are producing vegetables and/or small fruit crops in one of the participating 11 counties, and sell these crops at roadside stands, farmers markets, CSA’s or wholesale accounts then you are eligible to become enrolled with the CDVSF program.
Contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension and ask to sign-up for the Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program:
Albany 765-3500
Columbia 828-3346
Greene 622-9820
Fulton/Montgomery 762-3909
Rensselaer 272-4210
Saratoga 885-8995
Schenectady 372-1622
Schoharie 234-4303
Warren 668-4881
Washington 746-2560