Cornell Opens Food and Ag Center Office in Saratoga

By Blake Jackson

Food entrepreneurs and agricultural producers in eastern New York now have expanded access to Cornell University’s expertise with the opening of a New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture (CoE) satellite office in Saratoga County.

The office, based at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Saratoga County in Ballston Spa, is staffed by specialists in food science and business development.

It strengthens the CoE’s mission to support and grow the state’s food, beverage, and agriculture industries by connecting businesses with Cornell’s resources.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who serves as chair of the Committee on Small Business, secured $500,000 in state funding to establish and sustain the satellite location. She also sits on the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture.

“The NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture, located at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, has long been a valued resource for food and agriculture industries. However, for entrepreneurs and food producers in the eastern part of the state, accessing it has been quite challenging," Assemblywoman Woerner said.

"I’m pleased to have secured funding for a Center of Excellence satellite office in Saratoga County. Now, food producers and entrepreneurs in eastern New York can easily access the expertise and services Cornell University’s AgriTech campus is known for."

“Many people dream of bringing their products to market, but don’t know where to turn for assistance. Thousands of startups and established food and beverage companies have grown their operations by working with the CoE," said CoE Executive Director Cathy Young.

"We provide business mentoring and connections to Cornell research, innovation, technology and services; business-to-business partnerships, such as co-manufacturers; government economic development incentives; sources of capital; and supply chain assets.”

The Saratoga County office features laboratory space for food safety testing and product development guidance, overseen by Extension Support Specialist Emile Punzalan, Ph.D. Business mentorship is provided by Joseph Ganley, who has extensive experience supporting small producers.

CCE Saratoga Assistant Director Greg Stevens said, “By partnering to provide food product development services to our local farmers and food entrepreneurs, this is just another example of how CCE brings the research-based knowledge of Cornell University to the people we serve.”

Photo Credit: cornell-university