Cornell Vegetable Variety Showcase and Pathology Twilight Meeting

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 5 – 8:30 p.m.

Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm
133 Fall Creek Rd.
Freeville, NY 13068

• Questions? Email Greg Vogel: gmv23 [at] cornell.edu (gmv23[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Tentative Agenda

Subject to change

5:00 – 5:10 PM    
Check-in for NYS attendees seeking recertification credits - Greg Vogel
Participants interested in obtaining NYSDEC credits for pesticide applicator recertification will need to sign-in by presenting their pesticide applicator ID at the sign-in table.

5:15 – 5:35 PM    
Disease management in cucurbits - Sarah Pethybridge, Olga Khmelnitsky, and Kaitlin Diggins     
Recent updates on disease control in cucurbit crops will be shared, including organic management strategies in muskmelon and anthracnose control in watermleon.

5:40 – 6:00 PM    
Pepper, squash, and cucumber variety showcase - Michael Mazourek, Gregor Inzinna    
On display will be an array of novel winter squash, summer squash, and pepper varieties in development from our breeding program. Downy mildew resistant cucumbers developed at Cornell will also be showcased.

6:05 – 6:25 PM    
Potato variety showcase - Walter DeJong    
Potato breeding plots on display include yield trials of both chipping and fresh market potatoes developed at Cornell, as well as the Northeast Regional trial where advanced potato clones are simultaneously evaluated in 7 other states. Participants will visit the trials and learn about current disease resistance and potato quality breeding objectives, as well as have the opportunity to influence the future direction of our potato crossing and selection.

6:30 – 6:50 PM    
Groundcherry and goldenberry variety showcase - Joyce Van Eck, Savannah Dale, and Elise Tomaszewski
The Physalis species demonstration is a collection of Physalis peruviana (goldenberry) and Physalis grisea (groundcherry) germplasm. It also includes genome edited lines for determinate growth habit (goldenberry) and lack of fruit drop (groundcherry).

6:55 – 7:15 PM    
Tomato variety showcase  - Greg VogeL    
Our 2025 commercial variety trial includes 15 pre-commercial and commercial varieties of “hyloom”, or improved heirloom-type, tomatoes. On view will also be breeding lines from the Cornell tomato breeding program, showcasing our efforts to breed for productivity, quality, and disease resistance for farmers and gardeners in the Northeast. 

7:20 – 8:30 PM    
Vegetable variety tasting and dinner - All participants    
Enjoy preparations of vegetable harvests showcasing interesting flavors and uses in addition to some standard fare from some local establishments.