<b>By JANE HOUIN<br>
Ohio Correspondent</b> </p><p>

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — More than $245,000 in funding will be coming Ohio’s way, thanks to the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Marketing Division recently received the funding to support new marketing initiatives.</p><p>
This will be used to create new opportunities for Ohio produce growers through wholesale buyer promotions and to increase consumption and consumer awareness of Ohio-grown produce through retail and direct market outlet promotions.</p><p>
“Ohio’s specialty crop industry is an important component of the state’s economy,” said Greg Hargett, ODA deputy director. “The federal funds we received will especially assist Ohio’s direct market outlets in increasing the value of specialty crops through education and promotion.”</p><p>
The Farm-to-School program is just one of the promotional and educational activities the grant will fund. This program consists of tastings and workshops conducted by ODA and the Ohio Food Policy Council, to encourage food service distributors to purchase locally grown produce for Ohio’s public school districts.</p><p>
The funding will also be used for the Mobile Kitchen Promotion, in which the focus is on increasing consumer awareness of the types of Ohio-grown specialty crops and the benefits of selecting Ohio produce during seasonal availability.</p><p>
Other activities will include media and buyer tours of grower operations, direct markets, wineries and retail stores to see the scope and diversity of Ohio’s specialty crop industry.</p><p>
The OHIO PROUD branded campaign will also be expanded with these funds through the creation of promotional materials and marketing tools. This program is designed to inform consumers of the benefits of selecting Ohio-grown produce and plants.</p><p>
Additionally, the funding will allow the ODA and the Ohio Department of Development’s Division of Travel and Tourism to work cooperatively on a passport program to increase awareness of and visits to Ohio’s direct marketing and agritourism operations.
The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 authorizes the USDA to make grants to states between 2005-09 solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture. The program is designed to provide each state that submits a reviewed and approved application $100,000, as well as an additional amount that represents the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the state, in relation to the national value of specialty crops.</p><p>
In fiscal year 2007, approximately $6,895,000 was appropriated to the secretary of agriculture to support the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Project funds must be used to benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole, not for projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide profit to a single organization, institution or individual.</p><p>
Example of activities and promotions eligible for funding include research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, “buy local” programs, increased consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development and developing cooperatives.</p><p>
Ohio ranks in the top 10 nationally for the production of tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, apples and strawberries. The state’s specialty crop production plays a critical role in placing food and agriculture as Ohio’s number-one industry, adding more than $93 billion annually to the state’s economy.