REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is announcing the return of a program dedicated to strengthening and expanding markets for Ohio’s agricultural products and producers. ODA will work to enhance Ohio’s competitive advantage globally by increasing its efforts in agricultural trade and export. The new program will support producers while strengthening partnerships with state agencies and commodity groups.
“We are very excited the Department of Agriculture will now have a renewed focus on trade and export,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “This program will help fuel the state’s economic growth and support the number one industry, food and agriculture. We look forward to working with our ag commodities, and partnering with the Ohio Department of Development and Food Export Midwest to ensure our small and medium-sized ag businesses continue to grow in Ohio.”
The program, under ODA’s Division of Markets, will be led by the new Agriculture Export Administrator Tim Sword. He will focus on increasing international opportunities for Ohio’s agricultural sector. Sword brings an extensive background in trade and export, previously working at ODA and the Ohio Department of Development as a trade advisor.
“I am thrilled to rejoin the remarkable team at ODA,” said Tim Sword. “I am eager to spearhead the agency’s international initiatives to achieve Director Baldridge’s vision of strengthening Ohio’s economy by increasing Ohio food and agricultural exports. I look forward to partnering with the state’s food and agricultural industry leaders and dynamic network of state and federal export organizations to assist our producers in expanding their sales into new markets.”
The Agricultural Trade and Export Program was formerly housed within ODA before it was transferred to the Ohio Department of Development in 2011. ODA’s Markets Division provides services to Ohio’s food and agricultural sectors to help retain and create jobs and enhance their competitive advantage in Ohio and the United States. ODA’s Marketing Division is home to the Ohio Proud Program, the Ohio Community+Agriculture+Nutrition (CAN) Program and the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC).
To learn more about the Ohio Department of Agriculture, please visit ODA’s website.
— Ohio Department of Agriculture
