Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody, led two fermentation workshops at The Wild Ramp in Huntington, WV last Friday, March 10th. A total of 15 people learned how to make 2 flavors of artisanal sauerkraut – curry and classic caraway.

The workshop was sponsored by Refresh Appalachia, a program of one of our partners, Coalfield Development, that is focused on developing, shaping, and supporting the regenerative and sustainable agriculture sector in Central Appalachia.

Participants learned how mixing salt with cabbage causes it to release liquid, naturally making its own brining solution. When cabbage is submerged in this liquid and left in a cool dark spot for a short period of time, it will ferment into deliciously crunchy sauerkraut.

There were lots of smiles and laughter throughout the workshop, during which participants got a hands-on experience, literally mixing ingredients together and mashing it all with their fists! Everyone got to take a mason jar of kraut home to excitedly (and patiently) watch ferment and enjoy.

Ohio's Winding Road Seed Grant application closes at midnight on Friday, March 17th! Do not miss this opportunity to apply for free money!

Funds are for the development and/or marketing of authentic experience products in Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Vinton & Washington counties.

Requests up to $750 are accepted. Applicants can be businesses, non-profit organizations, individual interpretive guides and individual producers. For more info & to apply: https://ohioswindingroad.org/2023/02/02/2023-seed-grant-applications-open/

Ohio is gearing up for the heart of farmers market season across the state. On March 9th, the Ohio Farmers Market Network hosted the Ohio Farmers Market Conference at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus. This conference allowed farmers market managers, volunteers, and nonprofit affiliates to share new ideas and successful initiatives for others to implement at their own market.

Southeast Ohio was well represented at the conference with members of ACEnet, Community Food Initiatives, and the Athens Farmers Market in attendance. ACEnet was represented by staff members Tessa Wieneke, Food Access Partners Coordinator, and Brianna McGuire, Value Chain Coordinator.

Susie Huser and Reggie Morrow of Community Food Initiatives (CFI) presented the Donation Station model, which is used at the Athens Farmers Market, and how it has expanded to improve food access in Southeast Ohio. Donation Station volunteers are present at participating farmers markets to accept monetary and excess produce donations. With the monetary donations, they purchase produce from the Athens Farmers Market, Chesterhill Produce Auction, and additional local farmers to distribute to food access partners and food pantries throughout the greater Athens area.

Tanya Hire, Athens Farmers Market Market Manager, and Ronda Clark of Blackberry Sage Farm spoke about the Ann Fugate Memorial Fund and how it is used to support beginning farmers interested in selling their yields at the Athens Farmers Market.

Representatives from the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market spoke about finding financial support from community sponsors and the importance of building relationships.

To conclude the event, a representative from the Ohio Department of Agriculture presented on Cottage Food Laws and how to help farmers market vendors navigate them.

Check out your local farmers markets this spring in Athens, Meigs, Shawnee, or wherever you call home! For more information on our regional farmers markets, please visit our Farmers Market page.

ACEnet is beginning an innovative new asset building program for lower income entrepreneurs this year. With support from the Ohio CDC Association, and Merchants Bank, we're launching our 2023 Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program.

IDAs are matched savings accounts established in qualified financial institutions. Participants who make the required deposits by 12/31/2023 ($250 total) and complete the program steps below will receive $2,000.00, plus an additional $1,000 from Merchants Bank (total: $3,000) to be deposited into their IDA accounts to use for their businesses.

In order to qualify, participants must meet the following requirements:

To complete the program, all participants must:

Accounts must be opened by June 30th, 2023, and we only have room in the program for a few participants, so if you qualify, please provide us with your contact information today! Please feel free to share this with an entrepreneur you think may be interested.

Link to Google Form to provide your contact info to ACEnet: https://forms.gle/VP81v5f9HSBsaAC37

Supporting Appalachia was created as an innovative solution to uplift local food economies across the region by a cooperative formed through a Regional Food System Partnership grant. Our goal is to build thriving local food systems and get more local products into grocery and specialty stores, public schools, food banks and other institutions throughout our region.

Each partner in the cooperative is a key player in the local food and agriculture sectors in their respective communities in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia. Together, they have established distribution routes of local produce and value added food products in the Huntington, WV area. Some of these products include SE Ohio favorites like Snowville Creamery, Shagbark Seed & Mill, and Frog Ranch Salsa (you can find all three at The Wild Ramp).

Their efforts will expand the distribution of local products to schools, grocers, and food hubs throughout the Appalachian region.

This RFSP partnership includes ACEnet, Appalachian Sustainable Development - ASD, Coalfield Development Corporation, KY Center for Ag & Rural Development, WVU Center for Resilient Communities, Rural Action, Grow Ohio Valley, New Roots Community Farm, and Sprouting Farms.

ACEnet is excited to continue our partnership with the West Virginia Farmers Market Association!

In the fall of 2021, the West Virginia Farmers Market Association was awarded a three year USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant to assist farmers markets and agricultural businesses in understanding, planning, and implementing marketing and business development strategies to rebuild and strengthen these rural economies.

In depth marketing workshops have been hosted across West Virginia in Cabell (The Wild Ramp), Ohio (Grow Ohio Valley’s Public Market), Mingo, Upshur, Putnam, Nicholas, Lincoln, and Hampshire Counties.Through this series of workshops, the WV Farmers Market Association and partners including ACEnet, the WV Department of Agriculture, American National Insurance, and WVU Extension are collaborating to address key barriers in communication and business expansion.

Workshop participants are learning valuable skills for providing products to their communities that are safe, cost effective, and visually appealing. While working closely with experienced and knowledgeable organizations, participants are encouraged to develop effective marketing strategies.

ACEnet Program Director, Leslie Schaller, and previous Multimedia Designer, Delia Palmisano, have been the main presenters at these workshop. ACEnet’s new multimedia designer, Avery Snyder, is assisting individual farmers and food entrepreneurs design logos and upgrade logos.

Of the 125+ attendees this far, a number of farmers are receiving 1-on-1 marketing assistance. All attendees are eligible to receive a free nutrition facts panel for one of their products prepared by ACEnet’s Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody.

For full story: ACEnet Partnership News: WV Farmers Market Association

CFI's Annual Seed Potato Giveaway is exactly one week from today!

Absolutely everyone is welcome to come pick up free seed potatoes on Thursday, March 23rd, 10am-5:30pm, at ACEnet's Food & Farm Enterprise Center facility, located at 296 S Harper Street in Nelsonville.

If you plan to pick up more than 200 pounds, please contact CFI in advance to arrange an early pick up time. Veggie Van will also be on the road with seed potatoes, stay tuned! Make sure to share this information with anyone you know who may be interested!

We offer a variety of affordable office space for rent in our Nelsonville facilities.

ADMIN OFFICE BUILDING – 294 S. Harper St.

• Entire building for rent

• 4,600 sq. ft.

• 13 individual offices (100 – 215 sq. ft.)

• 1,570 sq. ft. open area

• Coat closet, waiting area, store room, kitchenette/lunch room, and a separate HVAC and data room

• 25 parking spaces

• Price: $.90 sq. ft.

• Utilities: Lessee pays water, gas and electric

We have 3 offices open in our IT/WAREHOUSE SUITE – 296 S. Harper St.

• Separate HVAC units control the offices and the open area

• Shared-use bathrooms, kitchenette and conference room available

• Parking spaces

• Utilities: Included

For information on available rental spaces in Nelsonville, please contact:

Larry Fisher

(740) 592-3854 Ext. 112

The American Farm Bureau Federation has included the need to support rural childcare access in its 2023 policy priorities for the Farm Bill. In addition, two U.S. senators have drafted a bill to support childcare through the Farm Bill with bi-partisan support. To help inform farm organizations and legislators in their activities, we are hoping to hear from as many farmers and ranchers as possible.

Researchers at the National Farm Medicine Center and The Ohio State University are looking for farmers and ranchers who are raising children 0 to 18 to participate in an online survey. The survey asks about your families’ experiences of taking care of children (age 0 to 18) while also working on and off the farm/ranch. The survey is open to part-time and full-time farmers, ranchers, and their partners operating in rural, urban, or suburban areas.

Participants have the option to enter a raffle for one of fifty $50 checks. Deadline is tomorrow, Friday March 17th 2023.

To fill out the 15 to 20 minute survey, visit this link: https://redcap.link/Survey1_FarmersRaisingChildren

For questions or to request a paper survey, contact Florence Becot at 715-389-9379 or becot.florence@marshfieldresearch.org

Back after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CDFA will host the 2023 CDFA Federal Policy Conference on April 11-12, 2023, at the Washington Marriott Georgetown!

The 2023 CDFA Federal Policy Conference will bring together federal agency and development finance industry experts to help attendees better understand the tools, resources, and regulatory changes impacting the entire federal development finance spectrum. The conference will include panels, roundtable discussions, keynote remarks, and opportunities to engage with top leaders in the 118^th Congress, federal agencies, and the Biden administration. The Conference will also include a tailored, one-of-a-kind workshop on identifying, assessing, and applying for federal grant opportunities.

For more info & to register: https://www.cdfa.net/e/973067826

Have you heard of UpBEAT? A program sponsored by OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital in Athens, Ohio, UpBEAT offers free programs for those in our community 55 years and older.

For UpBEAT in March, this month we will take a virtual trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to partake in the Cherry Blossom Tour. We will listen to a story about basketball that highlights a moment in sports history that changed college sports forever. We will learn about treatment of cancer and local resources that are available.

In addition to these topics, we will have additional opportunities to learn, socialize and remain physically active, through our book club and exercise class. Please feel welcome to share our UpBEAT newsletter with those you feel may enjoy joining us: www.ohiohealth.com/UpBEAT

Contact UpBEAT with questions and to receive UpBEAT newsletter: 740-566-4680; MaryJane.Timmons@OhioHealth.com.