In a groundbreaking initiative, Grow Ohio Valley has secured a $418,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to address food scarcity in the Appalachian region. The organization's ambitious "Project Everberry" aims to establish a multi-state food hub network spanning 14 counties, revolutionizing the way fresh, locally-sourced produce is grown, processed, and distributed to communities in need.

Revolutionizing Regional Food Systems, One Strawberry at a Time

Establishing a Robust Food Hub Network

The planning grant will fund the first year of development for "Project Everberry," which will involve creating a comprehensive, action-focused plan to establish the multi-state food hub network. This network will include three growing centers located in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, with the central hub situated in Grow OV's Wheeling Food Hub. The produce grown at these regional hubs will be processed and distributed to other food hubs within the 14-county network, ensuring a steady supply of fresh, locally-sourced goods to communities in need.Koegler, the Executive Director of Grow OV, emphasizes the strategic decision to focus on strawberries as the inaugural crop for the initiative. "There have been similar ventures that haven't succeeded, primarily growing lettuce or tomatoes," he explains. "Those ventures did not do well in part because the profit margins of lettuce, for example, make it impossible to compete with growers in California. Even though they grow strawberries in California, they're being sent over here, causing them to lose quality, which gives us an advantage."

Harnessing Sustainable Energy Solutions

The Pennsylvania and Ohio growing centers will leverage innovative energy-saving strategies to enhance the project's sustainability. These centers will be strategically located next to power processing and natural gas production facilities, allowing them to capture the wasted heat from these operations to fuel their greenhouses. "At these two locations, we'll be taking another step towards sustainability by capturing wasted heat that otherwise wouldn't be used for these power plants to fuel the greenhouse," Koegler says. "That's eliminating a lot of energy costs required for the growing centers."

Oglebay's Hydroponics Expertise Fuels the Initiative

Oglebay Park, a renowned destination in Wheeling, West Virginia, will play a crucial role in the project by providing its hydroponics expertise and facilities. The park's Head Grower, Nathan Harlan, is excited about the opportunity to grow strawberries using Oglebay's vertical hydroponics planters, which he believes will make the program more "economically viable" than previous attempts to create food networks.Oglebay's growing center will not only contribute strawberries to the program but also serve as an educational resource for "Project Everberry." The center will host tours to inform the public about the project and sustainable agricultural practices, complementing the primarily production-focused approach of the Pennsylvania and Ohio sites.

Collaborative Efforts Driving Innovation

"Project Everberry" is a collaborative effort involving a diverse array of partners, including CNX, EnergiAcres, Food Helpers, and the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks. Additionally, several higher education institutions, such as Ohio State University, West Virginia University, Penn State University, and West Liberty University, will contribute their expertise in research, development, and public education.Koegler envisions "Project Everberry" as a pioneering effort to address the complex challenges facing modern agriculture. "We want to create a blueprint for sustainable food models that can withstand the pressure of a growing population while mitigating environmental impact and revolutionizing advanced food system capabilities," he says. "In essence, our project represents a pioneering effort to address the complex challenges facing modern agriculture. Through its multi-state, multi-partner approach, it inspires to catalyze a shift towards a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem."As Grow Ohio Valley embarks on this ambitious endeavor, the region eagerly awaits the transformative impact of "Project Everberry" – a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to addressing food insecurity in the Appalachian heartland.