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Special Programs...
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 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 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 & CIFT Members Rockwell Automation, Inc. and OSU Featured in Food Engineering ArticleCIFT & CIFT members Rockwell Automation, Inc. and OSU are featured in the September issue of Food Engineering.
Grow A Row: A Success StoryA project of CIFT and the Toledo Seagate Food Bank that connects food producers willing to donate excess production to participating food banks located in their vicinity.
CIFT 2007 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2007 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 MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers.
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.
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. Privacy PolicyThe CIFT website privacy policy...
CIFT News
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur addressing the audience at Bittersweet Farms during the first hoop house harvest.
Who says you can’t buy locally grown produce in Ohio this time of year? In an effort to demonstrate increased profit potential through an extended growing season, the Center for Innovative Food Technology is coordinating a feasibility study and demonstration in a hoop house environment for produce production year around. The collaboration between the Center for Innovative Food Technology and Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio has combined technical resources with the management and production assistance to advance the study successfully.
Lettuce, beets, and radishes awaiting harvest at the Bittersweet Farms hoop house
A hoop house is a structure similar to a greenhouse, but requires almost no energy or heat to operate, thereby, reducing the cost involved with production. A hoop house can vary in size and construction material and typically is cost effective with a short payback period. “The intent of this effort is not to verify that produce can be grown successfully in a hoop house, as that has been proven for a number of years. Rather, what to plant and when to plant resulting in the most economic return to the growers,” stated Rebecca Singer, project coordinator for CIFT.
Harvesting butter crunch lettuce planted last October at the Bittersweet Farms hoop house
Bittersweet Farms began harvesting the first crop on February 12th cutting several varieties of lettuce. Several varieties of beets and radishes will also be harvested. This produce is most cold resistant and capable of withstanding temperatures during the October to February growing period. Following harvest, the ground will be worked and a new crop will be planted within a week. Intensive management of product and planting cycles results in produce entering the market place upwards of a month in advance of other growing conditions. This early season product provides more economic opportunity for the grower and enables consumers to enjoy fresh produce for a longer period of time.
Hoop house butter crunch lettuce cleaned, packed and ready to go.
“Bittersweet has provided us an exceptional outlet to demonstrate to growers, consumers, institutions, and other non-profit organizations how a hoop house has the potential for sustainable food production. Through this project we hope to encourage and strengthen local food systems within our region,” stated Singer.
For more information on hoop house design, construction and operation, please view CIFT's newly published guide, Extending the Seasons and Profitability through a Growing Environment*.
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*This document requires the Adobe Reader. 
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