New York apple growers invite classrooms nationwide to explore the journey of apples from tree to table through a new interactive virtual series titled “Better by the Bushel,” in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and New York Agriculture in the Classroom. The six-part series begins this spring with three live events designed for students in grades K-12, offering an inside look at the people, processes and innovation behind one of New York State’s most iconic crops.
Each 30- to 45-minute Virtual Farm Trip (VFT) provides a live, engaging learning experience hosted via Zoom, with opportunities for student interaction and Q&A. VFTs will also be live-streamed and recorded on YouTube, with all registrants receiving access to recordings even if they are unable to attend live.
The spring lineup of “Better by the Bushel” includes:
- Squeeze the Day: A journey from branch to bottle on May 6 at 10 a.m. Eastern, featuring Red Jacket Orchards in the Finger Lakes and a behind-the-scenes look at cold-pressed apple juice production.
- Building a Better Bushel: The engineering behind an orchard on May 27 at 10 a.m. Eastern, featuring Full Circus Farm in Pine Plains and a live demonstration of apple tree cultivation and grafting.
- Savoring the Season: How New York jars the taste of fall on June 4 at 1 p.m. Eastern, featuring Cahoon Farms in Wolcott and a closer look at how apples are processed into slices and applesauce.
“This series brings the story of New York apples directly into classrooms while highlighting the important partnership between agriculture and education,” said New York State Apple Marketing Order Chairman Randy Pratt. “By connecting students with growers and processors, we are helping them better understand where their food comes from and the many careers involved in agriculture.”
All events will be listed on VirtualFarmTrips.com, where teachers can register in advance through the live trips page. Following each event, recordings will be available on the site’s on demand page and the Virtual Farm Trips® YouTube channel. The series will also be featured on the New York State Department of Agriculture andMarkets partner page on the Virtual Farm Trips site.
Funding for the project comes from assessments paid by New York apple growers through the New York State Apple Marketing Order, which is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.