Campaign Spotlights Ohio-grown Fruits, Veggies

The Ohio Grocer’s Foundation’s new retail marketing campaign, designed to recognize Ohio’s local growers, has launched at many of the state’s independent grocery stores and chains.

“OH So Fresh” aims to raise consumer awareness about Ohio-grown specialty crops sold at grocers and retail stores around the state, according to the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), one of several creators of the campaign. Ohio has more than 200 specialty crop producers, OEFFA said.

“Although Ohio-grown produce is abundant at farmers markets, farm stands and through community supported agriculture programs, the majority of Ohioans turn to their local grocery stores for the bulk of their grocery purchases," OEFFA program associate Milo Petruziello said in a statement.

"That’s why it’s critical that growers and grocers are working together to offer locally grown food at these stores,” Petruziello added. “Shoppers increasingly want to support local farmers, and this marketing campaign will help to let them know what Ohio grown foods are available at their local grocery store.”

The Ohio Grocers Foundation, Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association and Ohio Department of Agriculture also helped create the program which will provide promotional materials that identify Ohio-grown produce to grocers. Sampling and demonstration events aimed at spreading the word will be unveiled on the campaign's Facebook page.

So far, about 70 grocery locations have signed up for the campaign, including Weiland's Gourmet Market in Clintonville and the Community Market in Marysville.