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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.
Hoop Houses
Extending Growing Seasons and Increasing Profitability with Hoop Houses
Although traditionally engaged in the processing and end product aspects of the food industry, CIFT also studies enhanced growing practices. One such growing practice is the hoop house. Made of galvanized steel arches covered with polyethylene plastic, hoop houses are typically temporary frames with no permanent foundation. The structures also feature adjustable side vents which provide a cheaper means of temperature control than traditional mechanical means. A hoop house can be constructed in various sizes that are conducive to growing different vegetables.
Hoop houses provide an economical way to increase profits and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, use minimal land area, and use less energy than traditional greenhouse structures.
Hoop houses have been utilized in growing environments in various capacities, but not always to their full economic potential. Initial investigations will summarize hoop house structure, potential applications, equipment required, and operational elements.
Working with Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio, CIFT began a hoop house demonstration project designed to determine the highest economic potential for annual production. The 12-month feasibility study will demonstrate how growing seasons can be extended from beginning to end.
In particular, this study will:
Plan the crop cycle
Maintain records of temperatures and growing conditions
Monitor multi-crop applications and timing
Ensure good agricultural practices for food safety considerations
Develop pricing structures that ensue economic viability
The hoop house environment is monitored for the most appropriate amounts of sunlight, irrigation, temperatures and growing conditions. Crops are selected based on the ability to thrive in the environment during a particular growing season.
Crop cycle optimization is a key study component. Optimal scheduling of one crop's harvest in order to adequately prepare the next crop's growing environment and maximize profits is of particular interest. The results will indicate appropriate times of the year to plant, grow and harvest various vegetables and determine how much earlier a given vegetable will be ready for market compared to more conventionally grown produce.
Early study results indicate that crops can be harvested as much as a month in advance enabling a producer to ask a higher price and generate higher profits. The image above was taken on February 13, 2008 at the Bittersweet Farms hoop house during their first harvest of lettuce, beets and radishes.
For more information on hoop houses, please view the resources in the right-hand column on this page.
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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. |
For more information on hoop houses, please view these resources:
Extending Seasons and Profitability Through a Growing Environment - The CIFT hoop house feasibility study announcement
Fresh Local Produce in February - Hoop House First Harvest - Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio harvests its first hoop house crop in February, 2008.
CIFT Hosts Enhanced Food Production Systems Seminar- A CIFT seminar featuring Adam Montri, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) discussing hoop house design, construction and operation.
Extending the Seasons and Profitability through a Growing Environment* - A CIFT guide on hoop house design, construction and operation
Unheated Hoop Houses for Year-Round Production - The MIFFS hoop house project
Good Agricultural Practices - This page lists a number of food safety practices written by CIFT's Industry Outreach Manager, Dr. Shari L. Plimpton, Ph D.
The Bittersweet Farms Hoop House Construction Process - Please view a slide show of a typical hoop house construction project.
Hoop Houses - Mr. Adam Montri, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) discusses Hoop house design, construction and operation. (38 minutes)
Good Agricultural Practices Video - This page lists a number of good agricultural practices videos that deal with food producer food safety issues and practices.