Ohio Food Policy Network Virtual Convening with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

The Ohio Food Policy Network's December Virtual Convening will be held on Thursday, December 20th from 12:00pm-1:00pm. The webinar topic is: Resources and Technical Assistance from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. We will be joined by Debra Tropp and Ronald Batcher from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).  

Debra and Ron will discuss the different types of technical assistance and resources USDA AMS offers to their clients. They will also discuss how AMS provides no cost architectural design services to stakeholders across the United States for food related facilities, food hubs, farmers markets, wholesale markets, and other food facilities.

You can register for December’s virtual convening here: 

https://osu-cfaes.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4MIFnD3tQ3ajan6WyooZxg

The webinar will also be recorded if you're unable to join on December 20th. Contact Amanda Osborne, Community Development Extension Educator, OSU Extension Cuyahoga County for more information. 216-429-8200 ext. 212 or email osborne.414@osu.edu

Speaker Bios

Debra Tropp

Deputy Director, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Debra Tropp is a 26-year veteran of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), where she presently serves as Deputy Director of AMS's Marketing Services Division and oversees the Division's applied research and technical assistance work on local food system development. Much of her work over the past two decades has focused on identifying marketing opportunities for locally-produced food in institutional and commercial channels, and tracking the evolution and development of business models that facilitate cost-effective local food distribution. Ms. Tropp has a master's degree from Columbia University's School of International Affairs in Economic and Political Development, and a A.B. in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College.

Ronald Batcher

Architect, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Ron Batcher is an Architect for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Ron obtained a Masters of Architecture from Norwich University. Before joining the USDA, Ron had a 19 year career in the private sector. Ron owned and managed a design and construction company and has worked extensively in residential and commercial architecture with a focus on historic preservation. Ron joined USDA in 2017 where he has worked to improve the Wholesale Market and Food Facility Design Program which provides no cost architectural design services to stakeholders across the United States for food related facilities, food hubs, farmers markets, wholesale markets, and other food facilities. He is the USDA lead for the Wholesale Market and Food Facility Design Program – architectural design technical assistance, serves on the Board of Directors for the Employee Services and Recreation association, and serves as the Communication Director for the USDA Ag Running and Walking Club.