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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. US Army (Natick) Soldier Systems CenterA DoD installation responsible for the technology, research, development, engineering, fielding and sustainment of our military's food, clothing, shelters, airdrop systems, and Soldier support items.In the CIFT Spotlight...
CIFT 2006 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2006 programs, projects and activities HHS Food Facilities FDA Registration LetterThere has been some confusion regarding a form letter sent to food facilities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ohio MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers.
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CIFT News
On February 25, 2008, CIFT hosted a seminar at its Toledo, Ohio headquarters on two enhanced food production systems, hoop houses and vertical hydroponic gardening. The featured speakers were Adam Montri of Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), a non-profit organization promoting sustainable agriculture initiatives and Jerry Dicus of Earth Safe Hydroculture, a company specializing in hydroponic gardening systems and supplies.
Adam Montri discussing hoop house design, construction and operation.
Adam Montri discussed his experiences operating hoop houses. Hoop houses are arched enclosures usually covered with a light transmitting plastic film. The are placed over the planting area to provide a controlled environment and an extended growing season, as well as, protection and enhance plant growth. Unlike greenhouses, hoop houses require very little energy usage as they use sunlight to maintain acceptable growing temperatures within the structure. Hoop house operation makes it possible to cultivate certain crops well beyond the customary growing seasons experienced in northern climates such as Northwestern Ohio.
Adam Montri's presentation included a discussion of the design, construction, and operation of hoop houses running at MIFFS. He provided insights into the types of material used in hoop house construction, the costs involved and the selection of plants suitable for hoop house cultivation throughout our four seasons.
Jerry Dicus discussing advantages of vertical hydroponic gardening
Jerry Dicus discussed the benefits and advantages of growing plants using the Vertigro System, a vertical hydroponic system that uses growing space more efficiently by stacking growing pots and utilizing a gravity-fed plant nutrient delivery system. This arrangement can produce as much as an eight-to-one increase in yield over the same amount of space used in a conventional field. This makes it possible to cost-effectively large amounts of produce in small areas such as vacant city lots and unused parking lots or any growing area where space is at a premium.
Mr. Dicus discussed design and system layout considerations along with choice of container materials, growing medium, nutrient delivery system details, product costs, plant suitability and potential crop yields. He demonstrated the system using an full-sized five pot stacked system that he constructed onsite before the seminar commenced.
Please view the event video...
Hoop Houses - Mr. Adam Montri, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) discusses Hoop house design, construction and operation. (38 minutes)
Vertical Hydroponics - Mr. Jerry Dicus of Earth Safe Hydroculture discusses vertical hydroponics technology. (22 minutes)
For more information on hoop houses...
For more information on the Vertigro System and hydroponics ...
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