A Worker-Owner Cooperative Initiative The Greater Cincinnati Food Hub The Cincinnati Union Coop Initiative in Collaboration with Mondragon presents Brad Bergefurd Horticulture Educator Tom Snyder, Ohio Cooperative Development Center OSU South Centers Piketon, Ohio

Project Overview The purpose of this project is to determine if the Our Harvest Cooperative, Inc. Food Hub (OHCI) concept is a viable business model to create good, green jobs, improve our region’s access to local food, and increase the viability of local food systems with sustainable farming practices. This study focuses on needs relating to the food hub infrastructure for mutual benefit to local farmers, workers, and consumers. OHCI is uniquely positioned to provide affordable healthcare, retirement plans, and the resources to recruit, train, and staff labor needs.

Tentative Regional Businesses Operation Areas OHCI ~ 300 Acre Worker-Owner Farms Wholesale Marketed Central Operations (Store/Processing/Deli, etc.) Retail Marketed - Local Contracted Farmer Supplied ~ 15 Acre Incubator Training Farms Wholesale and CSA Marketed

Local Food Cooperative Hub Business Operational Areas Growing (field, greenhouse, and high tunnel) Produce purchasing Cooling, refrigerating, and storing Sorting, grading, and packing Processing (canning, bottling, freezing, cooking) Direct marketing (CSA, farm market/store, farmers' markets, catering, individual meal delivery, banquets) Wholesale marketing (corrections, groceries, hospitals, schools, restaurants, etc.) Distribution and trucking

Apprenticeship training YEAR I start-up business (2012):  Early Incubator/Training Farm (six leased acres, Dale Barr Farm, 969 N Bend Rd, Cincinnati, 45224) o Products sold to Dinovo, Jungle Jims, other local wholesale buyers, and/or direct marketed through retail options o Small start-up CSA, members are mostly local union workers, businesses employees, others Farm is being used for the apprenticeship pilot training program (two apprentices) - trained workers would help operate the expanded incubator farm next season (2013) o Farm is on the Cincinnati city bus line

Food Hub Apprenticeship program In response to the escalating demand for locally grown specialty crops and growers, the Non-Profit Local Foods Network (NPLFN); a group of local producers, community food projects participants, and the OSU South Centers have partnered to increase the number of specialty crop growers in Ohio.

Apprenticeship training The committee designed a program to educate and support new specialty crop growers as they enter the farming industry. As part of that plan, a Specialty Crop Growers Apprenticeship Program was submitted to and approved by the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council for implementation. The first apprenticeship classes began in April 2012 in the Cincinnati and North Canton/Youngtown areas.

Apprenticeship training Hopeful apprentices submitted applications, were interviewed, and took a general skills knowledge assessment. Approved applicants began classes on April 4. The Specialty Crop Growers Apprenticeship Training Program consists of 144 technical classroom instruction hours and 2000 hours of “Hands-on Experience”/on-the-job-training (OJT).

Apprenticeship training Brad Bergefurd, Horticulture Specialist at The OSU South Centers, provides online technical instruction in research-proven techniques of planning seasonal crop production, maintaining equipment and facilities, preparing growing medium for planting, harvesting and packing produce for delivery, government regulations compliance, and product marketing strategies.

Apprenticeship training Other online technical trainings include business and cooperative development related topics taught by the Ohio Cooperative Development Center Staff and other guest speakers regarding topics such as: safety requirements, recordkeeping, taxes, financing and loan options, land acquisition, business planning, cooperative formation, bylaws development, board of directors training, and cooperative purchasing.

Completion/Graduation Upon program completion, each apprentice will receive a certificate of completion from the Ohio Apprenticeship Council and the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor. Participants who complete the apprenticeship program will continue to be supported by the NPLFN through technical support specialists in the specialty crop growers’ field.

Future Affiliated Projects Incubator Farm Budget (7 acre) Full Size Incubator Farm Budget (15 acre) 300 Acre Business Start-Up /Operations Budget Farm Market Store/Central Operations Business Institutional Buyers Survey Grower and Process0rs Survey Hub Models and Best Practice Options Research Farmer/Hub Template Business/Financial Plans Development Farmer/Processor/Hub Systems Training & Business Development Customer and/or Consumer Purchasing Survey

Ellen Dienger, Our Harvest Cooperative, 200 Kovach Drive, Cincinnati OH 45215, Ext 3014, Cell , Brad Bergefurd, Horticulture and Extension, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon Ohio, 45661, Ext 136, , Tom Snyder, Ohio Cooperative Development Center, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon Ohio, 45661, Ext 220, Cell ,

“The Cooperative Advantage” Ohio Cooperative Development Center The Ohio State University, South Centers 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, Ohio ext 136 Office Cell