News and information from Ohio State University Extension and WVU Extension
The crazy weather is wearing on local fruit and vegetable growers throughout Ohio this spring. These farmers work tirelessly this time of year to protect their crops. This week we are looking at low temperatures around 30. This is still stressful for growers, but not as bad as the past few weeks. You can learn about about how they are proteching crops, including an overview of low temperatures for specific crops here in the Mahoning Valley. DETAILS:
http://go.osu.edu/ProtectFruitsVeggies
Thanks again to Jim Ochterski and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ontario County, NY, for inviting me to present at their “Farm Market Merchandising: The Keys to Incredible Sales” program on February 22, 2012. It was great to meet a variety of farmers from all over New York to share my experiences and learn about their farming operations.
This presentation is a ‘quick’ overview of many topics relating to farm market merchandising. It includes understanding your passion for farming, getting back to the basics of branding, a review of the top 10 opportunities at farmers markets, lots of photo examples of what folks are doing right and some information on working with staff to make things happen. Happy reading!
Ever notice how people are drawn to individuals who have a passion for what they do and are advocates for the industry they serve? Learn pointers for helping your employees capture your vision and commitment, helping them to be effective advocates of your business and our industry, and enabling them to better relate to customers, fostering customer loyalty and increased sales.
Hal Kneen and Eric Barrett continue to share their experiences and insight from a trip to New York state and their visit to over 17 farmers’ markets in the state. They learned what makes vendors and customers happy. They gained insight into what makes vendors profitable at certain markets, and not profitable at others. Additionally, they learned prices fluctuate at different farmers markets for different reasons. Learn about these insights through their experiences.
Here are some notes from our trip summarizing the top 10 opportunities:
http://vegfruit.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/top-10-strategies-for-farmers-market-vendors/
Readers can also access our blogs about each farmers’ market in the posts prior to this one listed above.
For the presentation at the NACAA Conference, here you go:
Top 10 Strategies – Farmers Markets – PPT – NACAA
For a scripted Powerpoint presentation and handout to teach this presentation in your state, contact them directly:
Eric Barrett barrett.90@osu.edu
Hal Kneen kneen.1@osu.edu
The Produce Safety Team at Ohio State University includes Extension professionals, OARDC research staff and others working in the industry. Over the past few years, they have worked to develop resources to assist Ohio growers with produce safety on the farm. After many meetings planning curriculum and many improvements based on teaching sessions the past three years, the team has come up with a great model. First, the power point presentation below features the basic level of instruction. The actual Powerpoint presentation with a script included can be requested through Hal Kneen at kneen.1@osu.edu Additional resources/information can be obtained through Hal or through our team coordinator, Ashley Kulhanek at kulhanek.5@osu.edu .
Here’s the handout:
Ohio Produce Safety – PPT Handout- NACAA
Be sure to follow our Produce Safety Team on twitter @FruitVegSafety
Extension is a great resource for those farmers wanting to get started in agritourism. There are many basic questions to be adressed when working with clientele on the complex issues involved with agritourism. Eric Barrett, Rob Leeds and Julie Fox (all at OSU Extension) have created many resources for Extension professionals to use to assist these farmers/entrepreneurs who are asking for assistance with their businesses. These first basic resources will help guide farmers through the initial planning of their agritourism operation.
Here are some introductory resources:
Liability Insurance – Agritourism - NACAA
Social Media for Farms – NACAA
Designing Effective Mktg Materials 2011 – NACAA
Promotion Calendar – Agritourism - NACAA
For additional resources and information, please see our direct marketing team website at http://directmarketing.osu.edu
Hal Kneen and Eric Barrett are enjoying the learning opportunities in Kansas this week at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference. There are many great poster presentations and sessions about fruits, vegetables, direct marketing and more. Our colleagues from across the country are sharing their experiences to help us improve our programs back in Ohio.
In addition, we are sharing our research, experiences and factsheets/handouts with these Extension Professionals. The next few posts will have details and handouts from our three presentations at the conference this afternoon. For more information on the presentations, abstracts and other Extension materials, you can visit http://www.nacaa.com
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Marietta Tree Farm site is for sale. At least 21 acres of this property will be dedicated to agricultural use. The total farm is over 95 acres. The farm has sandy soil, includes buildings and has a well with an irrigation system in place.
What a wonderful opportunity for direct marketing farm products! Part or all of this property could be a pick-your-own operation, produce farm or related. The property is just 4 miles from I-77 and to downtown Marietta, Ohio. The Marietta area is home to the earliest fruit/vegetable production in Ohio most years.
The deadline for submitting offers is October 31, 2011. A site visit can be scheduled. Details about the property and information can be found here:
Sweet corn growers need to start their control strategies for corn earworm this week to prevent worms in their corn! Moth traps in the Mid-Ohio Valley have reached the economic threshold for control.
For conventional growers:
Sweetcorn – OSU Veg Guide
For organic growers:
Using Vegetable Oil and Btk
Strawberries in Washington County are finally coming on after the long season of rain and cool weather. One local grower is charging $4.25 per quart for pre-picked berries. This is a great start to the season and a this is a price which reflects the hard work and dedication to a quality product.
