11/02/2009

Listening Sessions to Help Guide Ohio Fresh Produce Marketing Agreement

Writer:

Laura A. Kunkle
opgma@ofa.org
614-487-1117

Source:

Doug Doohan, OSU Extension, fruit and vegetable crops
doohan.1@osu.edu
330-202-3593

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A series of listening sessions has been scheduled for Ohio produce growers to learn more about two new food safety proposals -- one national and another statewide.

The Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association (OPGMA) is organizing the sessions, said Doug Doohan, fruit and vegetable specialist with Ohio State University Extension and a leader of the Ohio Roundtable on Safe Production of Fresh Produce. The OPGMA was awarded funding from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program) for the development of an "Ohio Fresh Produce Marketing Agreement." OPGMA has begun developing an Ohio-specific food safety standard for fresh produce that takes into consideration the climate, commodities and cultural practices unique to Ohio fresh fruit and vegetable growers. In addition, other proposed marketing agreements and regulatory programs for produce growers and marketers are in development at the national level.

OPGMA will be conducting seven listening sessions around the state to inform Ohio growers about the national proposals and the Ohio project, which is an alternative to the proposed national standards. The intent of these listening sessions is to:

• Provide a food safety update on proposed national programs and how they would affect Ohio growers.
• Explain how the Ohio Fresh Produce Marketing Agreement would provide an alternative to the national programs.
• Outline the action steps an individual grower or operation should take to prepare and protect one's business.
• Answer questions and receive input regarding the design and implementation of an Ohio Fresh Produce Marketing Agreement.

The primary presenter at the sessions will be Karl Kolb, a scientist and member of Ohio Roundtable on Safe Production of Fresh Produce. Also presenting will be members of OSU Extension's Fruit and Vegetable Food Safety Team, made up of state specialists and county educators, and the OPGMA.

The sessions are scheduled for:

• Northeast Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m., Mt. Hope Auction, 8076 State Route 241, Mt. Hope, Ohio; and Friday, Nov. 13, 8-10 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn Garnet Room #2, 4900 Emerald Ct. SW, Cleveland, Ohio.
• Northwest Ohio, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 9-11 a.m., OSU Extension's Agricultural Business Enhancement Center, 639 S. Dunbridge Road, Suite 4, Bowling Green, Ohio.
• Southeast Ohio, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m., Valley Vineyards, 2276 E. U.S. 22 & Rt. 3 (Montgomery Road), Morrow, Ohio.
• South Central Ohio, Thursday, Nov. 12, 9-11 a.m., Township Hall in Cynthiana at the corner of State Route 41 and Barrett Mills Road, Bainbridge, Ohio.
• Southeast Ohio, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2-4 p.m., Athens County office of OSU Extension, 280 W. Union St., Athens, Ohio.
• OPGMA Congress, Wednesday Jan. 20, Kalahari Convention Center, Sandusky, Ohio.

For additional information, contact the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association at 614-487-1117 or opgma@ofa.org, or see its Web site at http://www.opgma.org.