Are you interested in helping New York food and beverage entrepreneurs grow their businesses and bring new products to market? Cornell Food Connections, a partnership among Cornell AgriTech, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Taste NY and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, is a series of two-day workshops that will equip educators with the expertise they need to guide local producers developing products for retail and institutional sale.
Food scientists Bruno Xavier, associate director of the Cornell Food Venture Center, and Cynthia James, Extension Support Specialist with the Institute for Food Safety @ Cornell University and Cornell Food Venture Center, will lead the workshops.
This program is designed to train current food educators, such as Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and other food development partners.
The $100 program fee includes supplies and meals for both days of the workshop. Accepted applicants will be required to complete Cornell Food Venture Center’s Food Safety and FSMA Regulations for Small Food Processors online training course prior to the start of the workshop. Registration for this course, a $150 value, will be provided at no additional charge. Optional registration for the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) Part 117 Internet Course is available to course participants for a discounted rate of $150.
Want to learn more? Join us for virtual office hours on Tuesday, May 6, from 1 - 2 p.m. for an overview of the program, followed by a Q&A session. Register for office hours
Scheduled workshops:
May 22 - 23: Saratoga County
- Saratoga County 4-H Training Center, 556 Middle Line Road, Ballston Spa
July 10 - 11: North Country
- Cornell Cooperative Extension St. Lawrence County Harvest Kitchen, 2043 State Route 68, Canton
October 6 - 7: New York City/Long Island
- Stony Brook University
Date & Time
October 6, 2025 - October 7, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location

More information about this event.
Contact Information
Vicki Giarrantano, Assistant Director, Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Critical Issue Lead, Community and Economic Vitality Programs, Cornell Cooperative Extension.
- vlg4 [at] cornell.edu
Speaker
Bruno Xavier, Associate Director, Cornell Food Venture Center
- bmx2 [at] cornell.edu
Cynthia James, Extension Support Specialist, Institute for Food Safety @ Cornell University and Cornell Food Venture Center
- csj55 [at] cornell.edu
Departments
Cornell AgriTech
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
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