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The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
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The Center |
Staff
Members Membership RSS Feeds CIFT Video Library News Archive Contact Us |
Special Programs...
Our City in a GardenOur City in a Garden is an urban, Toledo-based system to produce, prepare, distribute, process, and preserve healthy food products in the community, and to accomplish these ends in a manner that stresses environmental sustainability.
CIFT MembershipSince 1995, CIFT has organized and managed a membership-based consortium of food industry companies, their suppliers, and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to enhance the economic viability of Ohio's food and agricultural sector through technology.
Energy & Environmental ManagementEnergy and environmental management initiatives can improve the bottom line for businesses through cost reduction and alternative revenue pathways, essentially enhancing market competitiveness.
Food SafetyThis page covers food safety issues ranging from safety recalls and safe food handling practices to regulatory guidelines.
Local InitiativesCIFT Local Initiatives include the Farm to School Program, Local Food Manufacturers Program, Agritourism and the Farm to Chef Program.
NOCKThe Agricultural Incubator Foundation's Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) is a nonprofit kitchen facility designed to assist entrepreneurial efforts and expand current food-related businesses by providing access to a commercially licensed kithchen.
Northwest Ohio Energy Crop CenterThe mission of the Northern Ohio Energy Crop Center is the identification and evaluation of opportunities to involve regional growers, processors and other entrepreneurs in biofuel production.
Northwest Ohio Green Products CenterThe Northwest Ohio Green Products Center is a collaborative effort among several partnering organizations to provide the resources, technical assistance and business expertise to regional entrepreneurs or established manufacturers who currently produce, or plan to produce, green or biobased products.
USDA-ARS Technology Transfer ProgramUSDA-ARS technology transfer provides a means for moving promising technologies discovered through federal and university research into the public arena where they are developed into marketable products. USDA-ARS accomplishes this by forming partnerships with universities and private sector businesses.
In the CIFT Spotlight...
CIFT 2008 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2008 programs, projects and activities Hoop HousesA CIFT hoop house feasibility study that will determine what plants are appropriate to plant and when these plants will generate the greatest economic return. Ohio Federal Stimulus Bill WebsiteAn Ohio website where parties interested in federal stimulus dollars can submit ideas. Ohio MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers. USDA Releases Beginning Farmers and Ranchers PublicationUSDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin EIB-53 (32 pp, May 2009) draws on data from annual surveys and the Census of Agriculture to provide policymakers with a better understanding of beginning farmers and ranchers, including how they contribute to U.S. agricultural production. Vertical Hydroponic Growing SystemsA high density vertical growing system designed for non-traditional production locations. The system enables plants to grow in significantly smaller spaces and in varying ground covers from concrete to parking lots.CIFT Resources...
CIFT News ArchiveA repository of past CIFT news stories... CIFT RSS FeedsSubscribe to CIFT RSS feeds... CIFT Video LibraryA collection of CIFT event videos... Contact UsThe CIFT contact page with phone numbers, email addresses and directions... Privacy PolicyThe CIFT website privacy policy...Other Resources...
Current FDA RecallsThe Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over recalls involving food and pet & farm animal feed. This page is a list of the latest FDA food recall notices. Current USDA RecallsThe Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and regulates meat, poultry products and eggs. This page is a list of the latest USDA food recall notices. FoodSafety.govFoodSafety.gov is your source for the latest news and information on food safety issues. Grants.govGrants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal government grants. Quick Reference Guide to Growth FinancingThis MEP guide provides information on general financing options, programs, and techniques available to small and medium-sized enterprises and companies pursuing growth oriented strategies.
Attention Nonprofits...
CIFT Entrepreneur Services
CIFT provides the following services for entrpreneurs:
CIFT has worked with small and start up companies since the center's inception in 1995. In conjunction with the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK), CIFT provides product development guidelines, resources and marketing direction to entrepreneurs involved in the production of value-added food products. Technical capabilities, including nutritional analysis and self-life stability testing, ensure that the products are produced safely and properly.
CIFT hosts numerous educational programs at the NOCK facility that show participants how to establish a commercially viable food business. Our food technology center also helps food-based entrepreneurs with regulatory compliance involving local health departments and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Information on packaging options, sourcing of ingredients and labeling offer a portfolio of knowledge to start up enterprises. One-on-one consultations with CIFT business advisors provide help with defining a viable plan to establish a profitable food business venture.
The Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) provides an affordable venue in which to develop a concept into a commercially viable food product. The commercial kitchen facility combines business and technical assistance with production equipment to bridge the gap between an idea and reality.
The ability to network with other entrepreneurs, access information and take advantage of production capacity - all in one spot - minimizes the risk for a new food business venture.
For additional information, download the NOCK brochure.
To view a slideshow tour of the NOCK facility, please click here.
CIFT works with start-up food processing companies through its association with several Midwestern incubator facilities. Through these relationships, we have learned that limited distribution resources represent a major barrier to growth for small processors.
By linking small producers on a regional basis, multiple companies can synergize their distribution efforts. Utilizing backhauls and consolidating shipments, for instance, allow small companies to extend their markets and reduce delivery expenses. To this end CIFT has explored and will continue to investigate a model for creating a virtual distribution company. Multiple food manufacturing companies have provided information on their capacity to assist with this initiative. For more information about the proposed virtual food distribution company, contact us at our toll-free number or e-mail us to speak to a CIFT business advisor.
Start-up food companies often do not have the capability to efficiently manufacture all products with their own equipment or within their available facility. One option is to turn to contract processing or co-packaging with a larger, established food processing company. CIFT has done the research for you by identifying packers and processors that offer this service. Contact us for more details on this initiative.
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CIFT, 5555 Airport Highway,
Ste 100, Toledo, Ohio 43615-7320
419.535.6000 877.668.3472 (toll-free) 419.531.8465 (fax) © 1995 - 2009 EISC, Inc. |