           |
|
- New York Vegetable Growers Group Selects New Leadership
By Ken Thomas
New York Correspondent
|
| Jeff and Lindy Kubecka direct the New York State Vegetable Growers Association. |
- Jeff and Lindy Kubecka understand teamwork. With two active children and 200 acres of fresh market vegetables to raise, the couple happily joins forces. Recently, they have also agreed to team up to provide direction to the New York State Vegetable Growers Association (NYSVGA).
“Jeff was on the board of directors for six years. His family has farmed this land for years. He has a lot of agricultural knowledge relating to growing many varieties of vegetables,” offered Lindy. “ We want to contribute using our different strengths.”
- “Lindy’s the communicator. She was an English major at Cornell and teaches school,” replied Jeff.
A solid foundation in growing and marketing vegetables in New York combined with highly-honed organizational and communication skills make for an effective leadership team.
Working land that once was Jeff’s grandfather’s dairy farm, the Kubeckas plant 75 acres of sweet corn with several varieties chosen to extend the harvest. Potatoes were first planted in the 1940s as a major crop. Today, they still grow 20 acres of potatoes on the more diversified farm. Fifteen acres each of cucumbers and squashes, and nearly 10 acres of peppers, sweet and hot, are planted. Five acres are devoted to cabbage plantings. The rest of the land is used for pumpkins and niche vegetable crops.
Seeds are started in the farm greenhouse, and seedlings nurtured until planting time. Cole crops go into the ground beginning in April in this Zone 4 region, just south of Syracuse.
“The soil here in Kirkwood is quite sandy. Even after a hard thunderstorm, the puddles will quickly perk through. It’s a good feature in terms of being able to get on the fields, however we do have to pay close attention to the watering needs of our crops,” Jeff shared.
Plantings are ridged, or planted in raised beds. Trickle irrigation lines run to the high value crops. Jeff does most of the fieldwork, however, 12 part- time seasonal employees are used throughout the season, especially at harvest time.
Kubecka’s fresh market vegetables can be purchased at a roadside stand. However, the bulk of the produce is trucked to several area Wegman’s supermarkets and other local grocery stores. Three trucks make daily deliveries during the peak season.
“We like the size of our operation,” Jeff remarked. “We can handle a lot of the work ourselves.” They are involved with their county Cooperative Extension and make use of the Cornell expertise. They use an IPM program.
“Learning and getting better at our business is our goal,” he said. Learning and getting better at the business of growing vegetables in New York state is also the reason the Kubeckas agreed to the invitation given by the NYSVGA. Lindy completed an informative brochure that explains the purpose and programming for the organization.
“The organization provides educational opportunities and resources for our members regarding production, management, and marketing; increases public awareness of the importance and value of New York State’s produce industry; and promotes the state’s producers and their product…” proclaims the comprehensive pamphlet.
It also touts the grower facts of the 2001 national acreage plantings. New York state ranked first in fresh market cabbage and pumpkins; second in fresh market sweet corn, and second in processing beets, cabbage, and snap beans; and third in fresh market snap beans and cauliflower. New York state ranks fifth in the United States overall in vegetable production.
Lindy added that a major undertaking of the organization is the New York State Vegetable Conference. It is co-sponsored with the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Empire State Potato Growers Association. The conference is generally held the second week of February in Syracuse. It highlights the latest research in seminars and grower roundtables. Sessions focus on growing, processing, and marketing of fresh market and storage vegetables. A full industry trade show complements the event. Proceedings are published and available to members.
The association includes 600 members from Long Island to western New York with a few in Pennsylvania and Canada. Member benefits include an informative monthly newsletter, support for fresh market vegetable research and participation in a comprehensive business insurance program.
New York state growers interested in joining the association can contact the Kubeckas at PO Box 70, Kirkville, NY 13082-0070, or e-mail to nysvga@twcny.rr.
|
|
