Jeffrey Zarnowski

Dawn and Jeff Zarnowski moved to Cortland back in 1992’ on a hill top overlooking the valley on Rt. 13. The valley views are stunning; however, they realized the hillside fields were returning back to trees, have been abandoned by farmers. Taking natures lead, the hunt was on to find native trees that would provide a sustainable crop for the region. They now have nut trees proven to grow in the region, after 28+ years of growing and breeding trees that builds on the efforts of hybridizers that came 70 years before them. Dawn formed Z’s Nutty Ridge in 2011’ growing CEA hydroponic lettuce. Working with SUNY ESF, the farm has expanded to tissue culturing chestnuts and are working to bring hazelnuts into tissue culture. and currently sells hazelnut and chestnut trees at znutty.com. Dawn owns Z’s Nutty Ridge LLC (NYWBE) and is co-owner/manager of a Farm licensed distillery and beer company. Jeff having grown up working the fields of truck farmers and growing trees for over 28 years, dirt is permanently under his fingernails. Jeff currently is SUNY ESF Chestnut Project greenhouse and field manager