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The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
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The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
Special Programs...
Our City in a GardenOur City in a Garden is an urban, Toledo-based system to produce, prepare, distribute, process, and preserve healthy food products in the community, and to accomplish these ends in a manner that stresses environmental sustainability.
CIFT MembershipSince 1995, CIFT has organized and managed a membership-based consortium of food industry companies, their suppliers, and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to enhance the economic viability of Ohio's food and agricultural sector through technology.
Energy & Environmental ManagementEnergy and environmental management initiatives can improve the bottom line for businesses through cost reduction and alternative revenue pathways, essentially enhancing market competitiveness.
Food SafetyThis page covers food safety issues ranging from safety recalls and safe food handling practices to regulatory guidelines.
Local InitiativesCIFT Local Initiatives include the Farm to School Program, Local Food Manufacturers Program, Agritourism and the Farm to Chef Program.
NOCKThe Agricultural Incubator Foundation's Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) is a nonprofit kitchen facility designed to assist entrepreneurial efforts and expand current food-related businesses by providing access to a commercially licensed kithchen.
Northwest Ohio Energy Crop CenterThe mission of the Northern Ohio Energy Crop Center is the identification and evaluation of opportunities to involve regional growers, processors and other entrepreneurs in biofuel production.
Northwest Ohio Green Products CenterThe Northwest Ohio Green Products Center is a collaborative effort among several partnering organizations to provide the resources, technical assistance and business expertise to regional entrepreneurs or established manufacturers who currently produce, or plan to produce, green or biobased products.
USDA-ARS Technology Transfer ProgramUSDA-ARS technology transfer provides a means for moving promising technologies discovered through federal and university research into the public arena where they are developed into marketable products. USDA-ARS accomplishes this by forming partnerships with universities and private sector businesses.
In the CIFT Spotlight...
CIFT 2008 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2008 programs, projects and activities Hoop HousesA CIFT hoop house feasibility study that will determine what plants are appropriate to plant and when these plants will generate the greatest economic return. Ohio Federal Stimulus Bill WebsiteAn Ohio website where parties interested in federal stimulus dollars can submit ideas. Ohio MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers. USDA Releases Beginning Farmers and Ranchers PublicationUSDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin EIB-53 (32 pp, May 2009) draws on data from annual surveys and the Census of Agriculture to provide policymakers with a better understanding of beginning farmers and ranchers, including how they contribute to U.S. agricultural production. Vertical Hydroponic Growing SystemsA high density vertical growing system designed for non-traditional production locations. The system enables plants to grow in significantly smaller spaces and in varying ground covers from concrete to parking lots.CIFT Resources...
CIFT News ArchiveA repository of past CIFT news stories... CIFT RSS FeedsSubscribe to CIFT RSS feeds... CIFT Video LibraryA collection of CIFT event videos... Contact UsThe CIFT contact page with phone numbers, email addresses and directions... Privacy PolicyThe CIFT website privacy policy...Other Resources...
Current FDA RecallsThe Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over recalls involving food and pet & farm animal feed. This page is a list of the latest FDA food recall notices. Current USDA RecallsThe Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and regulates meat, poultry products and eggs. This page is a list of the latest USDA food recall notices. FoodSafety.govFoodSafety.gov is your source for the latest news and information on food safety issues. Grants.govGrants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal government grants. Quick Reference Guide to Growth FinancingThis MEP guide provides information on general financing options, programs, and techniques available to small and medium-sized enterprises and companies pursuing growth oriented strategies.
Attention Nonprofits...
Crop Analyses
Honey Industry Study (PDF format* - 154 kB)
This study gives a brief overview of the honey industry for the state of Ohio as well as the US as a whole. It also evaluates the market and economic data for the production of honey in managed hives and gives a synopsis of management costs associated with beekeeping.
Market Opportunities for Ohio Grape Production (PDF format* - 310 kB)
The purpose of this report summary is to identify potential new product offerings for Ohio grape production. It is intended to aid producers in their strategic planning efforts by generating product ideas, developing preliminary market data and production information. New products evaluated included: grape seed oil/extract, vinegar, juice, and grappa (distilled spirits).
Popcorn - Snack Research (PDF format* - 147 kB)
This study gives an overview of popcorn as a value-added crop. The study covers the history of popcorn and its place in the snack food market. Information on growing and producing popcorn is included, as well as, a discussion of production economics, sales and marketing.
For additional information on popcorn as a value-added crop, please view CIFT's Alternate Ag Venture Popcorn Fact Sheet listed in the right-hand column of this page.
Teff Study (PDF format* - 282 kB)
The purpose of this study is to provide information on teff, an ancient grain finding a resugence in the modern diet. This report includes nutritional information, demand, growing conditions, agronomy, health benefits, recipes and its traditional use in Ethiopia.
Specialty Crops and Unique Agricultural Commodities
As part of value added agriculture, specialty crops and unique agricultural commodities can produce a superior or unique product that provides greater economic return on investment than traditional, commonplace commodities.
CIFT's rural income enhancement activities include investigating value-added crops and agricultural commodities and publishing the results for Northwest Ohio producers interested in expanding their product lines and increasing profits. CIFT's efforts in this area are two-pronged:
Identify specialty crops and unique agricultural commodities that may be considered by Northwest Ohio agricultural producers.
Provide additional tools and information to help producers analyze the viability and economics of growing such commodities.
CIFT has published Alternative Ag Ventures fact sheets that cover a variety of value-added commodities. Please view them by clicking on the desired links on the right-hand column of this page.
A list of third-party information links and planning tools is presented below. Please click on the desired link.
A source of climatological data for the continental U.S. by NOAA Satellite and Information Service, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS).
A source of Ohio soil studies, projects and county soil surveys by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation
The OSU Extension Small Farm New Farm Internet Resources
A list of Internet-based links to value-added agriculture issues and information from Ohio STate University Extension.
Ohio 2008 (and earlier) Enterprise Budgets for field crops, beef, sheep, dairy and specialty crops by The Ohio State University Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics.
A primer for farmers considering a new enterprise on the farm. - from the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture
The United States National Arboretum USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
The 2003 US National Arboretum web version of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 1475, Issued January 1990. Each map represents an area of plant winter hardiness.
University of Kentucky Farm Planning Tool
An MS Excel spreadsheet that helps producers evaluate new enterprises, changes in enterprise size, fixed costs, and loans – on a whole farm basis - from the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Agricultural Extension Service. The instructions for this tool are listed below.
University of Kentucky Farm Planning Tool Instructions (PDF format* - 43 kB)
Instructions for using the University of Kentucky Farm Planning Tool - from the University of Kentucky, college of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.
*The document requires the Adobe Reader. 
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CIFT, 5555 Airport Highway,
Ste 100, Toledo, Ohio 43615-7320
419.535.6000 877.668.3472 (toll-free) 419.531.8465 (fax) © 1995 - 2009 EISC, Inc. |
Please click on the desired fact sheet.