Mt. HOPE, Ohio — The ninth Mid-Ohio Growers’ Meeting continues to grow in popularity. It is packed over two days with tips on everything producers need to raise high quality flowers and produce on any size operation and tips on the business side of produce production. 

The 2021 meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7-8, 2021 at the Mt. Hope Event Center, located at 8076 SR 241, Mt. Hope, Ohio.

From food safety regulations to wowing customers with exciting colors or unique vegetables and flowers for their consumers, this two-day event will have it covered. 

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 venders to the trade show.

 Another goal of the meeting is to give producers access to business leaders. This year, producers will have the opportunity to learn about the founding and growth of Schlabach Engine, from Dan Schlabach, during his keynote presentation on “Good Business Relationships” on Thursday, January 7. Other Thursday, January 7 sessions include Importance of Providing Customer Service, Joe Bartolane, Creating Baskets With Color That Sell, Paul Zammit, Sustainable on ¼ Acre, Noah Sanders, High Tunnel Vegetable Growing, Todd Nichols, Maintaining Your Bee Hives, Aaron Weaver, Maximizing The Use Of Cover Crops, Soil Nutrition, Justin Leavens, Identify and Control Flower Insects, Paul Pilon, Using No Till Methods To Maximixe Your Space, Noah Sanders, Raspberries In High Tunnels, Kathy Demchak, Vegetable Plant Nutrition, Jordan Martin, Cut Flower Growing and Marketing Experiences, Lindsey Biehl. Food Safety Updates, Betsy Bihn, Field Tomato Growing Practices, Mark Horst, Specialty And Niche Crop Production, Todd Nichols, Growing Perennial Flowers, Paul Pilon, Vegetable Grower Panel, Noah Hostetler, Freeman Miller and Ervin Weaver.

Friday, January 8 sessions include From Seed to Market on Seedless Watermelons by Dave Miller, Flower Combinations, speaker to be determined, Hobby Maple Syrup, Nathan Goodell, Apple Growing Practices, Joe Burnham, The Excitement of Succulent Planters, Paul Zammit, Cantaloupe Growing Experiences, Jacob Beiler, Healthy Soil for Healthy People, Warren Dick, Tree Fruit Nutrition, Jordan Martin, Greenhouse and Nursery Disease Control, Paul Pilon, Maximizing Your Market Options, Todd Nichols, CSA & Farm Market Experiences, Dave Miller, Blueberry Growing Experiences, Kathy Demchak 

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

The cost of the meeting is $20 if postmarked by Dec. 21. After Dec. 21, 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. A food concession will be available during the meeting at a cost of $12.50 for adults, $8 for children 4 years to 9 years and children 3 and under eat free.

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.