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Earlier this year, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) granted $650,000 in federal funding to promote specialty crops, with a big chunk of the funds going to organizations that contract with Ohio Farm Bureau for their management.

Three specialty crop programs that received ODA funding were 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 funds came from an $800,000 congressional appropriation for ODA to promote Ohio specialty crops. About $150,000 stayed within ODA to conduct industry-wide marketing activities. The remaining was distributed to agricultural nonprofit organizations, associations, specialty crop commodity groups and agricultural cooperatives.

OAMP received two grants. One for $45,000 is 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, was for teacher training workshops to promote Ohio apples.

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

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