As a follow up to the great discussion at the Leap into Local foods conference around setting up more value added processing in the state we will be having a conference call.
Possible dates are Monday, April 21st, Thursday 4/24 or Friday 4/24 at 10:00 am.. Please let me know what dates you are available by April 16th so we can get the call and agenda set up and thank you for your participating towards keeping more local food, health and economic activity in Ohio!
Attached are the notes from the Value Added Processing Group Conference Call. Please feel free to read through them and comment. We will be gathering additional information to be posted in the near future.
The processor data that is available through Market Maker, according to Julie Fox, was provided by InfoUSA (who it seems gather their information from the Yellow Pages).
The data used by Fred Hitzhusen and his team is from the Harris Ohio Industrial Directory. I attach their report "Assessing Ohio's Biomass Resources for Energy Potential Using GIS", which presents some maps regarding the distribution of processors in Ohio (starting on page 75). They plan to make their data publicly available after publishing their current work.
September 5, 2008 Wall Street Journal has article about a "slaughterhouse on wheels" on Lopez Island, Washington. The farmers formed the Island Grown Farmers Cooperative to manage the abattoir. This mobile abattoir opened custom butching options to the small and local farms. It is the first mobile slaughterhouse to sanctioned by USDA. The unit handles sheep, pigs and beef. A diesel truck pulls 8 by 12 foot trailer fitted with sink, water tank and cooling locker. The trailer is used 3 to 4 times a week with a butcher and inspector. It is bringing the infrastruc
On May 31 a meeting of folks devoted to the growth of Value Added Dairy in Ohio took place at OARDC in Wooster to determine resources, network and support the development of established and up and coming VAD producers. This project is volunteer driven and an initiative of the Leap Into Local Foods Workshop of the Ohio Local Food Systems Collaborative.
The purpose of the workshop was to: •Share experiences. •Identify efforts underway that show promise. •Develop, target and commit to advance specific innovative solutions
This announcement is courtesy of Georgia Reash, an excellent opportunity particularly with some quality input from those with a background in market research, thanks Georgia!
I had an inquiry of a farmer looking for someone who has yogurt processing capacity. He is in the exploratory stages of looking at producing yogurt. If you know someone, please let me know. Thanks.
Leslie Schaller, Consultant and Director of AceNet's Food
Venture Center will be presenting at a state level meeting next
Wednesday, February 18th from 10-12:00 at the Ohio Department of
Agriculture
If you are in any stage of the process of developing
a Food Business Incubator - or "shared use commercial
kitchen". please join us.--see attachment