A good inventory and assessment of agricultural resources in Ohio, both
production and processing is an important and needed baseline - what
infrastructure do we currently have in place? People with knowledge of
local and regional value added processing needs and capabilities should
come together to examine needs from local to regional to statewide
scales and from small to medium to large scale facilities. A group on
value added processing could initially share knowledge and information
to identify some of the real opportunities for Ohio - locally
controlled, scalable processing for Ohio foodsheds. The group may then
need to meet to complete the assembly of this knowledge and information
and generate specific local, regional and statewide needs for value
added processing infrastructure.