About the Program
The Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture is one of the premier regional agricultural Cornell Cooperative Extension programs in New York, serving a large multi-county area in the Champlain Valley, Capital Region and Hudson Valley of the state. The Specialists work together with Cornell faculty and extension educators statewide to address the issues that impact the vegetable, tree fruit, small fruit and grape industries.
Upcoming Events
The Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch is located at the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary overlooking Oneonta, NY. This renowned hawkwatching hot spot draws visitors from near and far to experience the fall raptor migration. Don't miss your...
Specialists
Michael Basedow
Mike is an extension associate and regional tree fruit specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Champlain Valley, Mohawk Valley, and Capital District. He also teaches an online beginning...
Chuck Bornt
Chuck is a senior extension associate and regional vegetable specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Capital District. He joined CCE in 1998 as a vegetable specialist in Western NY, returned...
Daniel Donahue
Dan is an extension associate and regional tree fruit specialist with the EasternNew York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley and Capital District. Dan joined the ENYCHP in 2014. Prior to joining Cornell, Dan...
Ethan Grundberg
Ethan is an extension associate and regional vegetable specialist with the EasternNew York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley and Orange County’s black dirt farms. Prior to joining CCE in 2015, Ethan was a...
Elizabeth Higgins
Liz is an extension associate and regional farm business specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY. She also has an appointment with the Cornell Ag workforce development program, providing training programs and...
Elisabeth A. Hodgdon
Elisabeth is an extension associate and regional vegetable, small fruit and food safety specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Champlain Valley and Adirondack region. She also collaborates...
Heather Kase
Heather is an extension associate and regional small fruit specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving as the lead small fruit specialist for commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY. Prior to joining CCE in 2025, Heather gained experience working with growers...
Teresa Rusinek
Teresa is an extension associate and regional vegetable specialist with the EasternNew York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley. Prior to joining the ENYCH team in 2013, Teresa was the agriculture extension...
Crystal Stewart Courtens
Crystal is an extension associate and regional vegetable specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program serving commercial growers in 17 counties in Eastern NY, with an emphasis on the Mohawk Valley and Capital District. Crystal joined CCE in 2007 as the agriculture educator in...