By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is seeking project proposals that will advance long-term economic viability and sustainability of Ohio’s specialty crop industry, while increasing the marketability of specialty crops.

“These projects should enhance the competitiveness of Ohio’s specialty crops through market promotion, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems,” said Kayleigh Frazier, ODA public information officer.

Specialty crops range in variety from fruits and vegetables to dried fruit and tree nuts, to nursery crops, including floriculture. In Ohio, farmers raise 200 different crops and the state has more than 800 tree farmers. Horticulture accounts for 42 percent of Ohio’s agriculture production. But proposals are not limited to these high-visibility growing ventures.

“In developing markets, proposals should identify sales opportunities for these crops, connect specialty crop producers with existing markets, provide for reduced cost distribution systems, develop systems for specialty crop marketing to institutional and food service buyers or perhaps develop value-added products using Ohio specialty crops,” Frazier said.

Funding for the grants is made available by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Grants can range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $60,000. In addition, all applicants must provide a minimum match of 25 percent of total project cost.

Projects may focus on, but are not limited to, developing markets for Ohio specialty crop production, or offering outreach and education. According to Frazier, some research projects could “seek to develop solutions to production obstacles facing Ohio-grown specialty crops, be specific to existing specialty crops grown in Ohio and contain an outreach component.”

All proposals should address obstacles or opportunities that impact Ohio’s specialty crop industry. Those who submit should create a plan to improve obstacles and opportunities and identify a measuring system that can quantify the outcome.

Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m. June 5. They may be mailed or hand-delivered to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets, 8995 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068, to the attention of Amalie Lipstreu. For more information, contact the ODA at 614-728-6200; to obtain a copy of the request for proposals, visit www.agri.ohio.gov