Guide to Cornell faculty and staff with berry expertise.
Regional Fruit Programs:
Lake Ontario Fruit Program – Serving Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, and Wayne counties.
Contacts: Debbie Breth, Alison DeMarree, Craig Kahlke, Mario Miranda Sazo
Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program – Serving Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren, and Washington counties.
Contacts: Laura McDermott and Jim O’Connell.
South Central NY Agriculture Program – Serving Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
Contacts: Michele Kline, Monika Roth
Suffolk County CCE and the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center – Serving Suffolk county.
Contacts: Dan Gilrein, Sandra Menasha, Andrew Senesac and Faruque Zaman
Other Berry Contacts at Cornell:
Kerik Cox
Associate Professor
School of Integrated Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: (315) 787-2401 Fax: (315) 787-2389
E-Mail: kdc33@cornell.edu
Kerik is interested in understanding relationships between life history strategies of fungal plant pathogens of fruit crops and disease management practices. The impacts of management practices on aspects of the pathogen life history such as survival, inoculum production, community structure, and propensity for resistance development, in turn, allow for the evaluation and refinement of existing practices to better manage disease.
Greg Loeb
Professor
Department of Entomology
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: (315) 787-2345 Fax: (315) 787-2326
E-Mail: gme1@cornell.edu
Greg’s work includes understanding factors that influence interactions among plants, herbivores, and natural enemies and using this knowledge to develop biological, cultural, and chemical control programs for arthropod pests. His current research includes: role of leaf morphology in mediating interactions among beneficial and pest organisms on the leaf surface; mechanisms of resistance in strawberries against tarnished plant bug; impact and management of arthropod pests of grape and small fruit crops.
Marvin Pritts
Professor and Chair
School of Integrated Plant Science, Horticulture Section
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Telephone: (607) 255-1778 Fax: (607) 255-9998
E-Mail: mpp3@cornell.edu
Marvin’s research interests include plant nutrition, ecological approaches to weed control and pest management, methods of season extension, crop response to environmental stress, and genotype-environment interactions. His extension efforts are directed to commercial berry growers. He also teaches 3-credit course on small fruit production.
Chris Watkins
Professor, Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension
School of Integrated Plant Science, Horticulture Section
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Telephone: (607) 255-1784 Fax: (607) 255-9998
E-Mail: cbw3@cornell.edu
Chris’ interests include biochemical and molecular responses of fruit to storage conditions such as temperature, low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentration development of physiological disorders of fruit which develop during storage; effects of maturity, handling practices and storage modifications on fruit quality; effects of preharvest factors on postharvest storage quality.
Courtney Weber
Associate Professor
School of Integrated Plant Science, Horticulture Section
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: (315) 787-2395 Fax: (315) 787-2216
Email: caw34@cornell.edu
Courtney works with small fruits breeding, molecular biology and genetics emphasizing disease resistance and flavonoid biosynthesis.
Additional Cornell Cooperative Extension
Faculty & Statewide Specialists:
James Bartsch
Associate Professor
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Telephone: (607) 255-2800 Fax: (607) 255-4080
E-Mail: jab35@cornell.edu
James’ expertise is in postharvest systems and the storage of agricultural products. He is interests include developing safe, energy-efficient technology for refrigerated and controlled-atmosphere storage of fruits and vegetables. In a related effort, he studies product properties to learn how the postharvest unit operations affect product quality. Most of our projects are in collaboration with other Cornell engineers and scientists.
Thomas Bjorkman
Associate Professor
School of Integrated Plant Science, Horticulture Section
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: (315) 787-22180 Fax: (315) 787-2216
E-Mail: tnb1@cornell.edu
Thomas is statewide coordinator for vegetable cover crop extension, and contributes to berry cover crop extension as well. He is interested in helping growers improve soil health and reduce pest pressure by putting together rotations that include the right cover crops. His current research includes developing advanced cover crop methods that are appropriate in the region, as well as solving physiological limitations to diversifying high-value vegetable production in New York.
David Gadoury
Senior Research Associate
School of Integrated Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: (315) 787-2614 Fax: (315) 787-2389
E-Mail: dmg4@cornell.edu
David’s research focuses on the improvement of disease management programs through incorporation of new information on pathogen biology and host resistance. Current research deals with powdery and downy mildews of a number of different fruit and vegetable crops, including strawberries and raspberries.
Larry D. Geohring
Senior Extension Associate
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Telephone: (607) 255-2481 Fax: (607) 255-4080
E-Mail: ldg5@cornell.edu
Larry works in the Soil and Water Resources Engineering and Management program. His responsibles include conducting a research and extension program in agricultural water and soil management and on stewardship and utilization of wetland resources.
Olga Padilla-Zakour
Professor and Chair
Department of Food Science
Cornell University, Geneva, NY
Telephone: is 315-787-2259 Fax: 315-787-2284
E-Mail: oip1@cornell.edu
Web:http://necfe.foodscience.cornell.edu/
Olga the is Director of the New York State Food Venture Center. The center is dedicated to: Assisting entrepreneurs to start new food manufacturing businesses. Helping established food companies – technical assistance. Provide training and educational opportunities in food manufacturing issues.
Brad Rickard
Assistant Professor
Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell Univeristy, Ithaca, NY
Telephone: 607-255-7417 Fax: 607-255-9984
E-mail: bjr83@cornell.edu
Web: http://hortmgt.aem.cornell.edu
Brad’s program centers on understanding marketing activities in, and the implications of public policies applied to, horticultural crops. His work has focused on the economic implications of nutrition and health information, food safety measures, and trade liberalization for stakeholders in specialty crop markets.