From the Farmer aims to create deeper connections between consumers and their food sources through dynamic partnerships with local farm partners, strategic suppliers, a direct-to-home delivery model, and flexibility not typically afforded in community supported agriculture. Learn more at www.fromthefarmer.com!

The Cornell University Dairy Plant is a University operated, permitted dairy processing plant that provides a practical resource in support of teaching, research and extension, and also produces locally-produced products for sale on the campus. The dairy plant now operates in a recently commissioned, state-of-the-art, manufacturing facility, just minutes from the classroom, as part of a campus farm-to-table production and educational system.Manage a multidisciplinary team responsible for production, sales, distribution, FDA/NYS Agriculture & Markets compliance/quality assurance and maintenance. Oversee all aspects of manufacturing and distribution of a diverse array of dairy and juice products including fluid milk, ice cream, yogurt, juice, and apple cider.Serve as a key Cornell Food Science Dept. representative to the region’s food and dairy industry, particularly in support of New York State economic development activities. Actively engage stakeholders to promote organizational objectives and facilitate new relationships.Provide food manufacturing technical expertise to the private sector on scales ranging from artisan producers to large-scale manufacturers in support of regional economic development.Review financials, build and maintain budgets and build pricing models with department business manager. Led (for Cornell Food Science) the design, commissioning, and construction of the University’s newly opened dairy manufacturing plant (permitted New York State facility), including design review, construction management, site audits, equipment purchasing (~$2.5M), project coordination, deficiency tracking and ongoing troubleshooting.Provided strategic direction for and led plant commissioning phase, including regulatory inspections, product startup and system validation work. Hired and developed a cohesive team to commission and operate the new manufacturing facility.

HP Hood is a major dairy processor in the Northeast Region, primarily focused on the fluid milk market, but also manufacturing cultured products, extended shelf-life milk products and ice cream.Assisted Quality Assurance and Plant Operations teams in troubleshooting milk quality problems, developing and refining testing methodologies and developing new standard operating procedures. Directed and trained plant staff for continuous improvement.

Active in the daily operations of the Milk Quality Improvement Molecular Laboratory, including equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and method development.

Chapel Hill Creamery is a small, but growing, artisan cheese manufacturer producing and aging various semi-hard and soft-ripened cheeses.Assisted head cheese makers with production and aging operations. Provided technical and equipment troubleshooting, both on the farm and in the cheese room.

Assisted research staff in performing product screening testing for an array of newly-developed pest control treatments.

Originally envisioned as a sheep dairy operation, this transitioned 100-breeding-ewe farm produced pastured, young lamb for sale to top restaurants in New York City and Boston, as well as selling dairy sheep breeding stock.Managed all aspects of a small livestock farm, including feed production, intensive grazing management, animal health, equipment maintenance, sales and record-keeping.

Crowley Cheese, a medium-sized manufacturer of wash-curd cheeses and still operating in the original factory building, is the oldest, continuously operating cheese producer in the United States.Managed specialty cheese production for established manufacturer, including production planning, milk procurement, quality assurance and sanitation. Sought continuous improvement through improved cheesemaking procedures, while maintaining the products historic identity. Enhanced and maintained production equipment. Adapted to the diverse needs of a small cheese manufacturing company