In celebration of New York Agriculture, NY Ag in the Classroom is coordinating the 19th Annual NY Agriculture Literacy Week, taking place March 20-24, 2023.
This program is open to Elementary School Administrators, Educators, and those running community programs for groups of 1st-3rd graders.
The selected book is Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi.

How Does Agriculture Literacy Week Work?
Educators / Volunteers throughout the state will read the selected book to elementary age students and engage the youth in a paired hands-on activity related to the book. This year AITC will be providing a hard copy of the book, as well as a planting kit for each child! The book will be donated to the school or classroom library. One planting kit provides enough supplies for 30 students.
Start to finish, the reading and activity in the classroom takes approximately 45 minutes.
When you register for this program, you will have the following options:
- Requesting a reader to come to your classroom (in-person or virtually) to read the book and conduct the activity (the reader will fill out the reporting form)
- Picking up a paper copy of the book and the planting activity kit. If you choose to pick up the book and kit, you must pick them up from the Farm & Home Center in Millbrook, NY on one of the dates below with the completed reporting form in hand: March 14th (4-7pm) or 18th (10am-12pm)
Ag Literacy Week Reporting Form 2023.docx
We hope that your school or educational program will participate in this opportunity. Please reach out by email if you have any questions or concerns to elj57@cornell.edu