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WNY REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVE
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Cheryl Bilinski
​Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County
Agricultural Economic Development Specialist

E-mail Cheryl 

Cheryl Bilinski is an Agricultural Economic Development Specialist and the Program Lead for the NYS Farm to School Regional Coordinator Program, with Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York. Her work aims to increase investment in agricultural and food systems to enhance the viability of farms through expansion, value-added production, diversification, and distribution of locally produced farm goods. Through a coordinated effort, she partners with community organizations, trade associations, government entities, supply chain partners, and higher education to develop programs designed to strengthen the regional food system, both in direct-to-consumer and wholesale markets. Her responsibilities include:
  • Providing statewide farm to institution support through supply chain facilitation, farm production planning, new product development, training, technical assistance, resource development, institutional bid development, and grant writing
  • Implementing nutrition-based incentive programs designed to improve healthy food access, while simultaneously supporting NY agriculture
  • Identifying, developing, and analyzing emerging market opportunities that have the potential to increase jobs and agricultural investments in New York (Notable work conducted in farm-based beverages, value-added local grains, eastern broccoli, food hubs, and farm to institution)
Cheryl earned her Bachelors from Penn State, after which she spent nearly a decade working for the private sector in food industry management in NYC. Following her tenure in the private sector, she went on to earn her Masters of Public Administration from Cornell University, where she concentrated her studies in food and agriculture policy
Copyright @ 2021 NY Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
​A non-profit organization of Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board

For more information about this project and how you can be involved, contact:
​

New York Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Kimberly LaMendola, Food System Projects Manager 
4039 Route 219, Suite 200, Salamanca NY 14779
716-945-5301 ext. 2211
klamendola@southerntierwest.org
fr2021

Western New York Foundation

2495 Main Street, Suite 464, Buffalo NY 14214
716-839-4225


Beth Kinsman Gosch, Executive Director
bgosch@wnyfoundation.org

​
Lauren VanOsten, Program Officer

Lvanosten@wnyfoundation.org
  • Home
  • Food System Map
  • About Us
    • Advisory Council Members
    • Work Groups >
      • Access, Equity And Sovereignty
      • Farmer & Producer
      • Finance for Food & Farming Businesses
      • Infrastructure
      • Markets & Buyers
  • Resources
    • Resources >
      • Food System
      • Access, Equity & Sovereignty
      • Farmer & Producer
      • Infrastructure
      • Financing >
        • Capital And Support
        • Current Offerings
        • Local Investment Tools
        • Primer on Grassroots Investment
      • Markets & Buyers Resources
  • Blog