The Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery is looking for certain cones and fruits that will be used to grow trees and shrubs in New York State. The harvesting season for most species beings in late summer and ends in early fall. Harvesters are paid for cones and seeds by the bushel, with each species having a different price. Learn more.
Help Grow the Next Generation of Forests
There are a variety of benefits to using seeds from trees grown in New York State:
- Collecting tree cones and seeds from locations in New York State ensures that seedlings are suited to the growing conditions of our ecoregions they are eventually planted in.
- Sourcing seeds from a variety of locations across the state helps increase the genetic variety within a species, making the forest more resistant to stressors and resilient from impacts including forests pests, disease and climate change.
- As we face a nationwide seed shortage, you can contribute to New York’s ambitious forest regeneration and tree planting goals (including the State’s 25 Million Trees Initiative) by collecting New York State-grown seeds for the Saratoga Tree Nursery.
To ensure the most needed species are being collected, please contact the Tree Nursery in advance with the species and amount you plan on harvesting.
How to Collect Cones and Fruits
- Contact the Tree Nursery: Please contact the Tree Nursery prior to collecting to discuss the species and amount you plan on harvesting. Contact the nursery.
- Get Landowner Permission: Before harvesting, always make sure that you have permission from the landowner to collect seeds. Foraging laws are enforced on State Lands and Forest Preserve. Keep an accurate record of where and when the cones and fruit were collected. Contact your local DEC Regional Office to learn more about state lands in your area.
- Check that seeds are ripe: Examine each cone and fruit before harvesting to ensure that it is ready to be picked. Immature seeds will not be accepted. If you are unsure if the seeds are ready to be harvested, please contact the Tree Nursery for assistance.
- Cone Collection timeframe: Cones should be collected from live or freshly cut trees, starting from the date of maturity (noted in the conifer table, above) until they begin to open.
- Seed Storage: Fruit and cones should be put in grain/burlap bags, or cardboard boxes and stored in a cool dry area, such as a garage or shed. Ensure that there is good ventilation to prevent overheating. Do not stack tightly or overfill containers. The Tree Nursery may reject cones and fruit that are contaminated with debris, deteriorated due to improper storage/handling, or for any other reason that may reduce seed viability.
- Coordinate Drop Off: Once you have harvested the cones and fruits, contact the Tree Nursery to arrange a time for the seeds to be dropped off at a designated facility so that someone will be available to accept the delivery. Collectors can deliver cone and fruit to their Regional Forestry Office or the Saratoga Tree Nursery. Under special circumstances, the Nursery may be able to pick up collected fruit and cone from the collector.
- Delivering Your Collection: All cones should be received at the nursery by November 15, unless other arrangements have been made.
- Payment: Payment will be made via a State Voucher that takes about 6 weeks to process. Note that only private individuals can be paid for harvesting seeds. State employees cannot be paid; however, they can donate seeds they collect.
Collecting After Active Forest Harvests
Tree Nursery staff coordinate with Consulting Foresters who have active harvest operations to collect cone and fruit during the ripening dates. Please reach out to the Tree Nursery to discuss details of accessing the job site to collect seeds by emailing [email protected] or calling (518) 581-1439.
