MT. HOPE, Ohio – The tenth Mid-Ohio Growers’ Meeting continues to grow in popularity. It’s two days packed with tips on everything producers need to raise high quality produce, fruits and flowers on any size operation, and tips on the business side of produce production.

The meeting is Jan. 4-5, 2022, at the Mt. Hope Event Center, located at 8076 SR 241, Mt. Hope, Ohio.

From food safety regulations to customer service, this event will have it covered. According to Monroe Yoder, a member of the planning committee, the meeting features a slate of producers, university and industry professionals, who will present the latest research and techniques on produce production.

A highlight of the event is an expanded trade show with exhibitors offering new information and technology for the produce industry, with significant discounts for purchases during the show. The meeting draws somewhere between 75 and 100 vendors to the trade show.

“We will have some new vendors this year,” Yoder said. “But the trade show will also give growers a chance to talk to the vendors and see what products they have and what their availability is going into the growing season.”

New to the 2022 meeting is a series of “Ask the Expert” sessions, giving producers a chance to break out into smaller groups of about 40 people for a more in-depth discussion about their area of interest.

Another goal of the meeting is to give producers access to business leaders. This year, during the Jan. 4 sessions, producers will have the opportunity to learn about the founding and growth of Hershberger Truck Patch and Bakery from Daniel Hershberger. The business was started by Hershberger’s father and Daniel and his wife, Mary Esther, and their nine children. Hershberger has been a steady customer at the local produce auctions since taking over the business in 1998.

Yoder said that Hershberger’s session should be popular with growers as well as the general public.

“Daniel has done very well in his business,” Yoder said. “He has built his business from the ground up and it is a popular destination for visitors and local people alike.”

Jan. 4 sessions include Value of Customer Service and Displays, by Dave Miller; Experiences Growing Broccoli and Cauliflower; Maintaining Your Beehives, by Kim Flottum; The Importance of Soil Fertility, by Gary Zimmer; Planting Fruit Trees; Spacing, Training, and Trellising, by Bill Pitts; Creating Annual Flower Combos, by Michael Deberti; High Tunnel Tomato Growing Practices, Judson Reid; Flower Growing Experiences Panel, by Aiden Hurst, Emanuel Fisher; and Organic Vegetable Growing Challenges, John Miller Jr.; Raspberry High Tunnel Growing Experiences, Gary Gao; Insect Control in Greenhouse Flower Production, Raymond Cloud; Improving Food Safety Plans with Traceability, Betzy Bihn; Panel on Benefits of Using Grafted Tomato Plants, John Mullet, Elmer Schrock; Identifying and Managing Cucurbit Diseases, Dan Egel; Sunflower and Cutflower Growing Opportunities, Steve Adams; Experiences in Growing Pumpkins; and Growing and Marketing Lavender.

Jan. 5 sessions include Benefits of Using PGRs on Annual Flowers, Michael Derberti; Do’s and Don’ts of Blackberry Growing, Wes Awalt; Seedless Watermelon: From Seed to Market, Dave Miller; Auction Panel; Diseases in Greenhouse Production, Janna Beckerman; Panel on Organic Growing Experiences, David Raber, Joseph Miller and John Swartzentruber; Maintaining Healthy Soil, Gary Zimmer; Maintaining Your Apple Orchard, Gary Pitts; Growing Herbs and Vegetable Transplants; Benefits of Using Cover Crops, Brad Bergefurd; Flower Panel, Jenell Martin, Cindy Pettiti; and Displaying at Market.

As in other years, the planning committee has designed the program to have some sessions approved for meeting P.A.T. credit requirements for producers.

The cost of the meeting is $20 if postmarked by Dec. 17. After Dec. 17, the cost is $25 and may be paid at the door. Young people 14 and under will be admitted free. The fee includes the trade show and materials.

For more information or to register, call or write: Mid-Ohio Growers LLC, PO Box 111, Mt. Hope, Ohio 44691, 330-275-7566 or e-mail midohiogrowersmtg@gmail.com. For a list of local hotels, contact the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau at visitamishcountry.com.