Innovation & Industry: Apples and Incentives

Not life changing, but delicious

Ohio, through one its most famous inventors, Thomas Edison, has a big place in history. Edison “changed life around the world.” Others have had outsized impact too. Charles Kettering, Granville Woods and the Wright Brothers to name a few. 

Dr. Freeman S. Howlett’s invention may not be life changing, but it sure is delicious! In 1944, Dr. Howlett’s dedication to horticulture and the ubiquitous Melrose apple was introduced to Ohioans. From the halls of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), the Melrose apple is the result of his joy and responsibility, time and patience, having spent 46 years in public service.

The Melrose apple is a cross between Jonathan and Delicious. It’s not as tart as a Jonathan and comes into season in the fall. While not popular in the commercial market due to a muted color, the Melrose is grown widely throughout Ohio and can be found at a farm or farmers market near you. Read more about Dr. Howlett here, and more about the Melrose apple here.  

Access to fresh for everyone

Ohio doesn’t just develop and grow fresh produce, it makes sure that every Ohioan has access to it. 

In 2001, Ohio was a participant in the pilot program that is today known as the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). Stewarded by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District, the program sought to improve the diets of low-income seniors. And it was a huge success! In its first year, more than 20,000 older adults and dozens of farmers applied to participate. 

“We appreciate being part of one of the only programs that supports both the local farmers and our area seniors,” said Becky Strain of Tom Strain & Sons and Daughter Too. She continued, “This program, most importantly, provides our area seniors with fresh homegrown produce and builds relationships within our community between the farmers and senior citizens.”

Initial funding was provided to sixteen states and was operated in Ohio by the Area Agency on Aging of Northwestern Ohio. The Northwest office wrote the first application and provided service and benefits to seniors and farmers in the agency’s ten county service area. Eventually, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Ohio Department of Aging expanded the program to include all 88 counties across Ohio.  

Congresswoman Kaptur and the Northwest office received mail from grateful farmers and older adults, thanking them for the program. As Congresswoman Kaptur recalls, “One woman sent a photo of a pint of fresh raspberries and wrote ”…this is the first time I was able to eat raspberries in seven years.” And yet another took a picture of her pantry, full of canned fruits and vegetables and wrote of her appreciation. Farmers reported increasing their sales significantly.

Today, 25 years after the pilot, Ohio is among the top five recipient states, serving more than 50,000 Ohio seniors and 600 farmers and farmers markets. And while the nuts and bolts of the program are very much the same, the state has recently undergone a modernization that has introduced technology and new partners, including Ohio Farmers Market Network. It is the first significant change to the program since its inception. 

“We wanted to make it easier for older Ohioans to bring healthy food options into their homes, while also supporting local farmers in their communities,” said AGE Director Ursel J. McElroy. “Modernizing the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a win for everybody and continues to build upon our agency’s work to reach more Ohioans with healthy lifestyle options that empower them to age well.”

There are many food assistance and nutrition incentive programs that serve Ohioans, but the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is one that Ohio can proudly say it was able to steward forward for the benefit of its residents and farmers.