Cheryl Bilinski

Cheryl’s work aims to increase investment in agricultural and food systems to enhance the viability of farms through expansion, value-added production, diversification, and distribution of locally produced farm goods. Through a coordinated effort, she partners with community organizations, trade associations, government entities, supply chain partners, and higher education to develop programs designed to strengthen the regional food system, both in direct-to-consumer and wholesale markets. Her responsibilities include:

• Providing statewide farm to institution support through supply chain facilitation, farm production planning, new product development, training, technical assistance, resource development, institutional bid development, and grant writing
• Implementing nutrition-based incentive programs designed to improve healthy food access, while simultaneously supporting NY agriculture
• Identifying, developing, and analyzing emerging market opportunities that have the potential to increase jobs and agricultural investments in New York (Notable work conducted in farm-based beverages, value-added local grains, eastern broccoli, food hubs, and farm to institution)
• Serving on the American Farmland Trust Farm-to-Institution NYS (FINYS) Leadership Team & the New York School Nutrition Association Farm to School Committee, Co-Chair the Cornell Farm to School Program Work Team

Cheryl earned her Bachelors from Penn State, after which she spent nearly a decade working for the private sector in food industry management in NYC. Following her tenure in the private sector, she went on to earn her Masters of Public Administration from Cornell University, where she concentrated her studies in food and agriculture policy.