By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) statistics, 46 percent of restaurants and 21 percent of independent groceries patronize a farmers market or roadside stand.

Now, ODA’s Ohio Proud program is offering a Retail Ready training program designed to help Ohio producers, processors and growers learn how to reach these retailers, restaurants and other institutions.

“Ohio producers will be the first to receive this valuable training,” said Lori Panda, senior program manager with Ohio Proud. “Each portion of the training will address different issues. Producers will evaluate their readiness by reviewing resources and a checklist of various topics related to how to package, label, price, invoice, deliver, meet quality and insurance standards and much more.”
According to Panda, most buyers are anxious to work with local growers to market their local products, but have also expressed frustration at the lack of grower awareness of their preferred buying practices. The training, Panda adds, should help growers and retailers build more successful market relationships.

“The training is a two-step process,” she said. “First, we’ll take companies through the steps required to sell to retailers and institutions. Then, we’ll teach them how to sell to restaurants. The training sessions will assist producers, processors and growers in determining the expansion of business, as well as increasing business with existing customers. This program is good for a good mix of folks.”

The University of Kentucky designed and developed this program. Ohio is among the first to provide this training to producers. The cost to participate is $25 per person.

Remaining training dates and locations are as follows:
•Peninsula – March 17 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Happy Days Visitors Center, 500 W. Streetsboro Rd. Contact Christy Eckstein at 614-728-6438 or Amalie Lipstreu at 614-466-6198.

•Xenia – March 23 from 1-4 p.m. at Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Rd. Contact Beth Bridgeman at 937-372-9971 or Brian Raison at 937-440-3945.

•Athens – April 5 from 1-4 p.m. at ACENET, Food Ventures Center, 94 Columbus Rd. Contact Leslie Schaller at 740-592-3854.

•Bowling Green – April 13, from 4-7 p.m. at Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen, 13737 Middleton Pike. Contact Paula Ray at 419-823-3099.

To request a registration form or to receive more information contact the Ohio Proud office at 1-800-467-7683 or e-mail to ohioproud@agri.ohio.gov