LERGP Coffee Pot Meetings to be Held Virtually

PORTLAND, NEW YORK (April 30, 2020) -- The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is pleased to announce that they are able to offer Coffee Pot meetings virtually. Coffee Pot meetings were started by Tim Weigle years ago in an effort to connect with local growers where they can address their needs during the growing season. These meetings are typically hosted by grape growers in the region that are willing to invite the group into their barn/garage. LERGP brings coffee, doughnuts, the latest research information, and recertification credits.

This year, due to the restrictions in place from COVID-19, the group is unable to conduct business as usual. The list of hosts had been completed, and LERGP is extremely thankful to those individuals that place value on these meetings and were willing to offer their space that we are unable to use at this time. In an effort to continue the sharing of important research as well as maintaining the collaboration of ideas from the growers, the LERGP team has been able to set up Virtual Coffee Pot meetings.

In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) have both approved offering pesticide recertification credits at these meetings! For each meeting one credit will be available to both New York and Pennsylvania licensed pesticide applicators. That will be 13 opportunities to receive pesticide recertification credits in 2020!

There will be discussions on timely viticulture, business management, and integrated pest management. In addition, special guest speakers in viticulture and enology from all over the country have been invited to attend since traveling isn’t an issue with the virtual platforms. The LERGP is excited to be able to continue to offer recertification credits for growers, but regret that it will not be in person, or with coffee and doughnuts. Unfortunately, you must provide your own this year.

Please join the team and fellow growers on Wednesday mornings, May through July 2020 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. You must register in advance for this meeting at https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpdeyoqD8uE9LvZWrt3eNpaoI4r7BSFRUx. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and the requirements in order to receive the credit.

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is a cooperative effort between Cornell and Penn State Universities; the participating Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Cattaraugus Counties in New York and Erie County in Pennsylvania; and participating industry partners National Grape Cooperative (Welch’s), Constellation Brands and Walkers Fruit Basket. The LERGP extension team provides research-based educational programming for commercial grape growers throughout the year at venues across the Lake Erie grape belt. For more information on LERGP, call 716-792-2800 or visit our website at http://lergp.cce.cornell.edu/

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated April 30, 2020