In this special episode of Food Stories: The Podcast, we sit down with Paula Ray, the soon-to-be-retired Operations Manager of the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK), to reflect on nearly two decades of dedicated service. Paula shares the history of the NOCK, its transformative impact on the local and regional food industry, and the lessons learned from helping countless food entrepreneurs bring their visions to life.

From navigating regulatory hurdles to supporting small food businesses on their journey from farmers' markets to store shelves, Paula's insights highlight the NOCK’s role as a launching pad for dreams. We also discuss how the NOCK has evolved over the years, her proudest moments, and what’s next for Paula as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement.

Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation about passion, perseverance, and the profound impact of supporting small food businesses.

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In this episode of Food Stories, we sit down with Anna Shields, the dynamic CEO of Snowville Creamery, to delve into her inspiring journey from a teenage farmhand to leading one of Ohio's most innovative dairy companies. Anna shares her personal story of starting in the dairy industry at just 16 and rising through the ranks to become CEO in November 2022.

We'll explore Snowville Creamery's commitment to sustainability, their unique A2A2 dairy products, and the challenges and triumphs of running a business dedicated to premium and wholesome dairy products. Discover how Snowville Creamery supports local farmers, practices regenerative agriculture, and strives to create a positive impact on the planet and its community.

Whether you're in the food industry or simply interested in the journey of how quality dairy products make it to your table, this episode offers a heartfelt and insightful look into the world of dairy farming and production. Join us for an engaging conversation with Anna Shields, where passion, innovation, and dedication come together to enrich the lives of many.

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Today we get a chance to sit down with one of our keynotes of our 2024 Ohio Food Industry Summit - Jacob Hall also known as the Manufacturing Millennial.

With an an audience of 75,000+ followers with over 100 million views on social media Jacob is a strong advocate for innovation and more for manufacturers. We talk about his background, how he has grown such a massive online following, and what he is looking forward to by engaging with us in person at the OFIS on April 2nd in Lewis Center.

Don't miss this exciting conversation, and you can follow him on LinkedIn, and don't forget to register to join us on April 2nd for the Ohio Food Industry Summit!

For our first episode of Food Stories: Season 3,  we are joined by Maddie Coppel, the Food Editor of The Toledo Blade. Maddie is from Chillicothe, OH, and graduated from The Ohio State University in May of 2023 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural communication. She joined The Blade in June 2023 and covers all things food for Northwest Ohio. You can find her column weekly in the Sunday edition of The Blade.

We had a great and entertaining conversation where she shared how she came to love food and writing, how a person of her generation person views the surprising history and depth of the food industry in our region, and what she is excited about covering for the future.

So sit back and join us for this episode of Food Stories: The Podcast.

A special thanks again to our sponsors for making this programming possible –

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Go into any grocery store and you can’t help but be amazed by the amount of options for craft beer. Travel across the state through towns small, medium, or large, and you will come across tap rooms and breweries featuring local and unique craft beers. With over 400 breweries operating in Ohio last year and close to a hundred more in the planning stages, this mature market is fueled by passionate craftspeople of all ages.We got a chance to sit down and discuss all things craft beer with Justin Hemminger - Deputy Director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

For this discussion we were joined by FICT’s own craft beer enthusiast, Matt Inniger - Program Manager – Advanced Food Technology. Sit back and listen as we talk about how this artisan product has grown and put its unique impact across our state and beyond. And if you want to learn more about the Ohio Craft Brewers Association click for their website. 

A special thanks again to our sponsors for making this programming possible -

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From trying to feed astronauts on space missions to catering pizza parties, to now potentially being used in your local bakery 3D food printing is here. In our second episode of season 2 of Food Stories, we sit down with Anjan Contractor, founder and CEO of Beehex Inc, the company pioneering 3D food printing right here in Ohio. We talk about how he got started, how Beehex had grown so quickly and what the future holds for this amazing new technology. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation. To learn more about Beehex Inc click here 

A special thanks again to our sponsors for making this programming possible -

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If you have ever bought guacamole at the grocery store you have most likely been exposed to HPP technology. But what is this technology, and why is it essential to how we will consume food in the future? In today's episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Professor V.M. (Bala) Balasubramaniam who has been at the forefront of reintroducing this technology in new ways to keep food fresh longer without using chemicals and preservatives. This is having a big impact  Ohio food companies who are using this technology and we discuss its history as well as new ways it can be used going forward.

To learn more about HPP visit The Ohio State HPP Fact Sheet here - Link

A special thanks again to our sponsors for making this programming possible -

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On today's podcast, we are joined by Teryn Marie Wolfe, CEO of Martix Food Technologies Inc., based in Dublin Ohio. Matrix is a cutting-edge manufacturer of fibrous, edible, animal component-free, plant-based, customizable nanofiber scaffolds and microcarriers used in growing and creating alternative proteins.

We discuss this emerging technology and the impact it will have in creating a sustainable and more ethical source for proteins, as well as the challenges in developing a new technology in today's food market. We also talk about Teryn's amazing professional journey to leading Matrix and how it has helped her to create the innovative culture needed to help them succeed in their mission. It's a fascinating conversation that you are not going to want to miss out on.

You can learn more about Teryn here as well as Matrix FT here.

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Ohio is home to many iconic food and food companies. But very few foods are as original, and perhaps controversial, than Cincinnati chili. In today's episode we are joined by Dann Woellert, who literally the book on the subject. We discuss the unique Ohio history of the dish its impact and spread outside of Ohio, as well as it moving into grocery stores across the nation and world.

We want to thank our sponsors who make telling these stories possible.

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The Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority

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The backbone of any industry growth and innovation is anchored with entrepreneurs and people willing to start their own business. in this episode we talk about what makes Ohio a good an unique place to start a food company,  what challenges are faced, and what advice can help get people started.

RGP Northwest Ohio

The Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority

Ag Credit

 Jobs Ohio