To develop fruit and vegetable crops as alternatives which can be economically grown and marketed from southern Ohio and beyond to greatly enhance the income of Ohio family farms through applied research in both production and marketing.
We have a team of professionals who are here to help. Dr. Gary Gao, extension specialist for small fruit crops and associate professor, primarily conducts applied research and extension programs in the areas of blackberries and raspberries, blueberries, currants and gooseberries, and winegrapes. Mr. Brad Bergefurd, extension specialist for horticulture, conducts research and extension programs in vegetable crops and plasticulture strawberries. Dr. Julie Fox, direct marketing specialist, conducts research and extension programs on direct marketing, tourism and community economic development. We also have a business team who can help current and perspective growers with their business plan.
Please visit our individual pages for more information. You are also welcome to email Julie Moose, office associate, or call her at 740-289-2071, ext. 223, to be placed in our email lists for upcoming programs and newsletters
December 28, 2011 - Don't miss the Southwest Ohio Fruit and Vegetable School on February 9, 2012, at Valley Vineyards in Morrow. Details
Nov. 7, 2011 - Registration is now open for Increasing Producer Profits through Community Supported Agriculture. This workshop assists producers with evaluating, developing and sustaining CSAs and will be held in four locations around the state. Find out more!
Oct. 24, 2011 - The 2011 Farmers' Tax Guide is available electronically. Click here
Aug. 30, 2011 - Notice to Hispanic and/or Women Farmers or Ranchers from USDA
July 10, 2011 - Downy Mildew Found on Northern Ohio Cucumbers - Downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber samples from Wayne and Ashland counties in Ohio on July 6. Read more.....
December 14, 2010 - See a demonstration of our new NetterGetter taking the netting off of our winegrapes. Click here
November 4, 2010 - OSU South Centers releases the results of its 2010 Pumpkin Cultivar Observation. Read more.....
August 25, 2010 - View pictures and get all of the resources and handouts discussed during the Commercial Winegrape Grower's Workshop held on August 13 at OSU South Centers. Read more....
August 11, 2010 - Urban Growing a Cinch Thanks to Ohio's New Compost Socks (Farm World article) - Horticulturists at The Ohio State University extension at South Centers in Piketon have devised a way of turning a vacant downtown alley into a source of fresh fruits and vegetables. Read more....
July 22, 2010 - Downy Mildew Confirmed on Ohio Melons - Downy mildew was confirmed on July 22 on melons in Holmes County. Growers in northern Ohio should begin applying fungicides effective against downy mildew on melons, if they are not already doing so. Read more....
July 1, 2010 - Late blight and downy mildew - diseases that attack tomatoes, potatoes and vine crops such as cucumbers and squash - have been confirmed in Ohio, threatening vegetable farms and backyard gardens across the state. Read more.....
June 25, 2010 - Late blight has been found on tomatoes from home gardens in Pennsylvania and New York, and also from commercial farms in Pennsylvania and Virginia. It has also been confirmed on potatoes from Pennsylvania. Infected plants were found at a Lowes in New York, and since Lowes retails plants from a limited number of suppliers, it is possible that infected plants may be now widely distributed across the country. Read more.....
June 23, 2010 - Late blight has been confirmed in tomatoes on an organic farm in Harrison County, OH. Harrison County is in east/central Ohio, one county west of the Pennsylvania border. This follows confirmations of late blight in potatoes or tomatoes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York. Read more.....
June 23, 2010 - Downy mildew was confirmed today on cucumbers in Wayne County, OH. In addition, spore counts are increasing in traps in Monroe County, MI and the disease was found on cucumbers in Ontario last week. Therefore, we recommend that cucumber growers in northern Ohio begin fungicide applications right away. Read more.....
May 24, 2010 - Ohio State University Extension horticulturists at OSU South Centers at Piketon are already picking their high tunnel strawberries - about a month ahead of field-grown strawberries. But that's not the exciting news. They will be harvesting a crop grown using potentially new technology that could make fruits and vegetables accessible to anyone, anywhere. Read more.....
Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/osuschortCreated: 2007-04-24 , Updated: 2011-12-29
One cup of strawberries contains over 100 mg of vitamin C, almost as much as a cup of orange juice. We need vitamin C for immune system function and for strong connective tissue. Strawberries also add a bit of calcium, magnesium, folate and potassium and only 53 calories.
