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Three of six specialty crop programs to receive grants from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) contract with OFBF for their management services – the Ohio Apple Marketing Program (OAMP), the Ohio Vegetable and Small Fruit Research and Development Program (OVSFRDP) and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA).

The grants are part of $650,000 in federal funding that ODA will give to 13 programs to promote Ohio specialty crops.

To date, the Ohio Controlling Board has approved six of 13 projects for funding. The remaining seven projects will be considered by the Controlling Board later this year. In all, the department received 37 project proposals requesting a total of more than $2.7 million.

Last year, the Ohio Department of Agriculture received $800,000 as part of a congressional appropriation to promote Ohio specialty crops. About $150,000 stayed within ODA to conduct industry-wide marketing activities. The remaining $650,000 will be distributed to agricultural nonprofit organizations, associations, specialty crop commodity groups and agricultural cooperatives. Following are the six approved grant recipients and brief description of the projects being funded:

OAMP will receive two grants. One for $45,000 will be used for display and educational materials to promote Ohio apples, including materials to educate consumers about Ohio apple varieties; apple recipes and nutritional information; and the printing and distribution of educational materials for teachers and farm marketers. The other grant, for $20,000, will be used for teacher training workshops to promote Ohio apples.

OVSFRDP will receive $27,500 to investigate control of fungal diseases on tomatoes through the use of biopesticide products that activate a plant’s natural defense mechanism.

“This is a great opportunity to leverage federal funds with check-off dollars and private industry funds,” according to Tom Sachs, OAMP executive director and coordinator of OVSFRDP. “These funds will give us a chance to jumpstart some great projects and will give consumers and growers continued benefits down the road.”

OCTA will receive $25,000 for the Ohio Christmas Tree Enhancement Program (OCTEP) to provide technical assistance and grower support in areas of quality tree production, business management, communication and promotion.

“Christmas trees are a relatively small specialty crop in Ohio,” said Dale Arnold, OCTA executive director. “This grant will help continue to ensure that top-quality product consumers find on the state’s Christmas tree farms. And that helps make the entire industry more successful.” Innovative Farmers of Ohio will receive $41,605 for field market research with current and potential retail and restaurant markets for locally-produced vegetables and fruit in four urban areas.

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association will receive $58,342 to conduct a study on retractable roof houses to show how retractable roof production allows for greater growing environment manipulation in the spring and summer.

The Toledo Area Flower and Vegetable Growers Association will receive $67,300 to develop a strong Ohio Hydroponic Produce/OHIO PROUD brand and professional advertising campaign to promote Ohio grown hydroponic produce.