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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.
CIFT News
Eight Months in Business, Chocolatier in Four-Star Hotels
From the beginnings of a humble EasyBake Oven© back in the 1960's, Julie Lachowyn, owner and founder of Pomona Chocolates, has expanded her business online where her luxury chocolates can now be shipped across the globe.
Her website, www.pomonachocolates.com, is now live to better fulfill the numerous requests for her growing business. The Indiana native started her business just last year, but already her unique chocolates can be found in elegant four-star hotels.
Lachowyn enjoyed the chance to promote her website at a candy showcase held in Elmore, Ohio, on April 30th. The Sweet Life in Northwest Ohio, an exclusive, invitation-only event, featured numerous specialty candy makers and coffee roasters located in northwest Ohio.
"The event was a nice chance to promote my new website and my overall line of chocolates to several buyers," Lachowyn said. "It was rather amazing to see so many excellent candy makers based right here in Ohio."
Pomona Chocolates started because of Lachowyn's love for baking, instilled by her mother and grandmother at a very young age. She eventually decided to specifically focus on gourmet chocolates as this gave her an outlet to expand her limitless creativity.
"My goal was to create chocolates that taste as exquisite as they look," Lachowyn said. "Pomona Chocolates is named for the classical Roman harvest goddess Pomona, and by way of this inspiration we use only the finest, most beautiful ingredients that nature has to offer."
The colors and flavors used by Pomona Chocolates are inspired by the change of seasons. High-end chocolates come from countries like Belgium, Switzerland and France, and spices and herbs incorporated in the chocolate's center come from all over the world. Following her detailed production process, she fills orders for the likes of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and the Intercontinental Hotel – often used for guests on various VIP levels of their hotels.
Not only is the look of her chocolates unique, but Lachowyn has even received requests from clients to create a specific flavor. Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland recently sought her talents to devise some rather distinctive chocolates – using special ales, stouts and porters as actual ingredients.
Although Pomona Chocolates "busy time of the year" somewhat winds down following Mother's Day, Christmas remains a hectic holiday as well. Throughout the year, Lachowyn typically produces 400-500 chocolates every week at two locations in Ohio, the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan and the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) – a collaboration between the Center for Innovative Food Technology and the Agricultural Incubator Foundation.
The NOCK, a nonprofit commercial facility that educates and advises new and growing businesses, provides access to a commercially-licensed kitchen, networking opportunities with other similar entities, and technical assistance.
Due to the large cost needed to start a small-scale food manufacturing operation, the services and resources offered at the NOCK help bridge the gap between an idea and reality. Entrepreneurs can avoid the initial expenditure needed at the start by utilizing the commercial kitchen until the business is viable and ready to graduate to its own manufacturing facility.
Since 2001, the NOCK has helped more than 150 businesses in various capacities – including Lachowyn's, as she hopes to expand her products to chocolate/caramel sauces and even drinking chocolates.
"I could not have had this rapid success without the assistance of the NOCK," Lachowyn said. "They were extremely informative and helpful in guiding me through the requirements to produce my product."
For more information on Pomona Chocolates, contact 419-433-3670 or visit www.pomonachocolates.com. Entrepreneurs interested in making their food-based product a reality, contact the NOCK at 419-823-3099 or visit the Agricultural Incubator Foundation web site. The NOCK is located at 13737 Middleton Pike (St. Rt. 582) in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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