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Grow & Fortify
1783 Forest Drive, Annapolis MD 21401
Cultivating an environment where value-added agricultural producers, startups, operators and growers innovate and thrive.

Cultivate & Craft

Janna Howley

“Frederick County Agritourism Board Created” – WFMD

Frederick County Agritourism Board Created

Photo of an orchard in Frederick County.
Photo from Frederick County, Md Government. Via WFMD.com.

June 8, 2023
Kevin McManus
WFMD

Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has formed an agritourism workgroup. The panel will examine existing laws, regulations and programs related to the growing agritourism industry. It will also make recommendations to promote agritourism while protecting the health, safety and quality of life in the County, according to a statement from the County Executive’s office.

“We need to modernize our system so our farms and farmers can continue to thrive,” said County Executive Fitzwater, in a statement. “Farming has changed substantially over the years. Our laws and regulations need not only to catch up, but they need to lay a foundation that will support innovations in the years to come.”

The workgroup is expected to issue a report to the County Executive and County Council by December 1st, 2023.

This workgroup follows a recommendation from the County Executive’s Transition Report which recommends support for the County’s diversifying agriculture industry.

Councilmembers Jerry Donald (District 1)  and Mason Carter (District 5) will serve on the workgroup. The other members are:

Tom Barse, Milkhouse Brewery

Bob Black, Catoctin Mountain Orchard

JoAnn Coates-Hunter, Fox Haven Organic Farm

Lisa Gaver, Gaver Farm

Janna Howley, Cultivate & Craft

Emma Jagoz, Moon Valley Farm

Mehrl Mayne, Mayne’s Tree Farm

Tom Mullineaux – Agriculture Business Council

Denny Remsburg, Frederick County Farm Bureau

Sam Roop, Brookfield Pumpkins

Emily Snyder, Rocky Point Creamery

Ben Sowers, South Mountain Creamery

Meeting dates and locations for the workgroup will e posted on FrederickCountyMD.gov/Agritourism as they are scheduled.

Maryland Makers Are On Tap At This Year’s DrinkMaryland Events

DrinkMaryland event cover, includes the DrinkMaryland wine drop logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maryland Makers Are On Tap At This Year’s DrinkMaryland Events

Enjoy local food, drink, crafts and music in fantastic main street settings

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – DrinkMaryland is an annual open-air market series bringing the best all-Maryland happy hour to downtown main street settings. Taking place in downtown main street settings, this year’s event series is going to be great. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 17, as Lawyers Row and Broadway in Centreville, MD, transforms into a hub of festivities. The excitement continues on Saturday, June 24, when the heart of North Beach becomes the vibrant backdrop for another unforgettable gathering. Admission to these events is free, and attendees may purchase tasting passes for beer, wine, and spirits in advance or at the door. Tasting passes include samples, at the guests’ leisure, from each of the participating craft beverage alcohol producers. 

“We’re so excited to return to Centreville and North Beach for this incredible series of makers events,” said Abby Casarella, events director at Cultivate & Craft and Maryland Wineries Association. “Each year, we watch these downtown locations transform into thriving, open-air markets showcasing the bounty of local food, drink and crafts.”

Local libations are just part of the DrinkMaryland celebration. Attendees are encouraged to visit and support numerous local food trucks and tents, local artisans and sponsor businesses at each event.

DrinkMaryland: Centreville

The opening DrinkMaryland marketplace pops up on Lawyer’s Row from 12:00-5:00 pm on Saturday, June 17. The first stop for this series includes four wineries, five breweries and meaderies and nine distilleries – each from a Maryland community. The market features food vendors serving a variety of seafood, BBQ and other tasty confections. Rounding out the day are a dozen local artisan craft vendors.

Two live performances from local musicians will provide a soundtrack for a fun party. Chesapeake Sons are set to perform their brand of Southern Rock n’ Roll while Philip Dutton and the Alligators will get moving to the tunes of Louisiana. 

DrinkMaryland: North Beach

North Beach welcomes the DrinkMaryland market back to town on Saturday, June 24. The market opens at noon and closes at 5:00 pm. This year’s lineup of craft beverage vendors currently includes 17 unique Maryland wineries, distilleries, breweries and mead makers. This stop will include a great lineup of food and craft vendors and live music. 

Since 2017, the DrinkMaryland series of events has made stops throughout Maryland. These events give local creators and producers an opportunity to showcase their wares in a unique setting. Hosted in downtown locations, the DrinkMaryland series emphasizes the importance of small towns and tight-knit communities. For more details about the 2023 DrinkMaryland event series and to order your tasting passes in advance, visit drinkmaryland.org.

About the Maryland Wineries Association. The Maryland Wineries Association (MWA), formed in 1984, is the non-profit trade association representing more than 85 member wineries in Maryland. MWA’s mission is to develop and expand Maryland’s grape and wine industry – through education and promotion.

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Breweries, Retailers and Consumers Prepare For Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Breweries, Retailers and Consumers Prepare For Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month
Celebrating local suds this FeBREWary

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – Belly up – this February marks another celebration of Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month. Known locally as “FeBREWary,” this monthlong recognition of craft beer highlights the local beer industry. Whether you’ve got a favorite seat at a community tasting room or like to pick up Maryland-made beer at a local retailer, FeBREWary is your time to celebrate all things Maryland beer.

“We always look forward to Craft Beer Lovers Month,” says Brett Snyder, President of the Brewers Association of Maryland and co-founder of Waredaca Brewing Co. “Some great consumer events are happening and there is always great Maryland beer to enjoy.”

Kick Off FeBREWary With Maryland’s Black-Owned Breweries

FeBREWary commences on Wednesday, February 1 at Charles County’s Patuxent Brewing Company. Enthusiasts are invited to join local brewery representatives from 2-4 pm for a kickoff happy hour featuring releases from Maryland’s Black-owned breweries and beer brands. In an industry underrepresented by minority business owners, the number of Black-owned breweries in Maryland eclipses national figures. To date, five percent of Maryland’s breweries or craft beer brands are identified as being Black-owned.

“Since we celebrate both Black heritage and craft beer in February, we’re compelled to share the story of Black-owned small businesses and their contributions to Maryland beer,” says Jim Bauckman of the Brewers Association of Maryland. “We’re all acutely aware that the brewing industry faces a lack of diversity in business operators and consumers and are excited about any opportunity to elevate these young businesses.”

Patuxent Brewing Co. has a great beer lineup for this celebration and will feature representatives from Black Beauty Brewing Company (Prince George’s County), Black Viking Brewing (Montgomery County), Joyhound Beer Company (Baltimore), Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company (Prince George’s County) and the nationwide Black Brew Movement.

“Kevin, Gene and I are excited to host this year’s kickoff,” says Davie Feaster, founder of Patuxent Brewing Co. “As Maryland’s first 100% Black-owned brewery, Patuxent Brewing Co. has been at the forefront of diversifying the local craft beer industry. Together with the Patuxent team, I am excited about the explosion of Black-owned breweries and brands in the last few years. We have always said that we didn’t desire to be the first and last – our doors have remained open to welcome and educate other Black brewers and brewery operators.”

Love Thy Beer & More FeBREWary Activities

Each FeBREWary the Brewers Association of Maryland invites consumers to “Love Thy Beer,” a craft beer tasting event showcasing beer styles brewed for winter sipping. More than two dozen local breweries will present their offerings from 6:00-10:00 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Friday, February 10. 

Breweries participating at Love Thy Beer share samples of their entry into the “Cupid’s Curse” competition and a winning beer is selected by voting attendees. Justin Trawick and the Common Good will perform live at the event. Tickets are currently on sale via Eventbrite.

This February, consumers are invited to visit Harford County breweries and enjoy “Come See Me About My Pale Ale.” This collaborative recipe will be produced at each participating brewery and coincides with the countywide recognition of its 250th Anniversary. Double Groove Brewing Company in Forest Hill will be the first to tap this release Thursday, February 9, 2023. More details about this project will be available on the Visit Harford and BAM websites.

For more information about FeBREWary events and engagements, visit the BAM website and follow the association on Facebook and Instagram. Download the free MD Craft Beverages App and plan your own Maryland beer journey. The app features Maryland’s brewery, distillery and winery tasting rooms, making tracking your local tasting experiences easy. 

About FeBREWary

FeBREWary is the annual celebration of Maryland’s craft beer industry. Proclaimed as Maryland Craft Beer Lovers Month by the governor since 2015, the month showcases the more than 140 breweries operating in the state. Supporting more than 6,500 full-time jobs and $917 million in economic impact, the state’s beer industry is a major contributor to the economy. Consumers, brewers, retailers, and wholesalers all participate in FeBREWary.

About the Brewers Association of Maryland

The Brewers Association of Maryland, founded in 1999, is the non-profit trade association of Maryland brewing companies. The mission of BAM is to grow, promote, and protect the Maryland craft beer industry. Representing 105 licensed, operating Maryland breweries, the Brewers Association of Maryland is committed to producing memorable beer experiences for craft beer consumers. Events produced and promoted by the Brewers Association of Maryland are fundraisers and directly benefit our craft brewing industry.

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“Innovation Is Advancing Local Value-Added Agriculture” – Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Innovation Is Advancing Local Value-Added Agriculture

Value-added agriculture and agritourism have a bright future in Maryland

(KENT ISLAND, MD) – Nearly 200 local farmers and industry partners gathered on December 1 for the 2022 Value-Added Agriculture Summit in Kent Island, Md. This bi-annual conference, hosted by Cultivate & Craft, explores the opportunities within Maryland’s value-added agriculture and agritourism industries. Attendees were comprised of individuals from various sectors of the state’s agriculture industry and included representatives from state and federal government agencies.

“What an amazing day. Attendees felt the energy, learned about innovation, shared their excitement about the diversity of people and ideas, and left with a sense of community,” said Cultivate & Craft’s chief strategy officer, Kelly Dudeck. “This is what alternative agriculture looks like – it is exactly the industry Maryland needs to support right now.”

Kim Bremmer of Ag Inspirations was the event’s keynote speaker. Emphasizing how narratives around farming can sway consumers and regulators, Bremmer provided the audience with a refreshing and realistic take on the industry. Panelists and contributors from various backgrounds introduced their businesses and agricultural focuses during the highly anticipated “Rapid Fire Panel.” 

The conference included breakout sessions and covered topics ranging from emerging agricultural markets to building more beneficial relationships with consumers and partners. Luke McFadden, a local waterman with more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, provided the audience with unique insight into using social media to promote agriculture.

McFadden shared that social media audiences are interested in the things small farmers and business operators consider to be “day-to-day” and value seeing that every personality is human. This perspective has introduced millions of people to the life and work of a local waterman and has helped McFadden gain new access to the direct-to-consumer market.

Farm Credit, the Rural Maryland Council and the Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center supported this gathering as conference partners. More than a dozen additional sponsors contributed to the success of the event. 

For a listing of this year’s conference programming and updates about future events and the industry, visit the Cultivate & Craft website.

About Cultivate & Craft

Cultivate & Craft is built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. We’ve gathered a team of professionals to support agricultural startups and ensure the financial viability of our land, and ultimately, our community.

Cultivate & Craft is currently retained to represent the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association.

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“Winery owners continue to battle vine-killing spotted lanternflies” – CNBC

“Winery owners continue to battle vine-killing spotted lanternflies” – CNBC

The News With Shepard Smith

Mike Fiore, of Fiore Winery & Distillery in Pylesville, recently spoke with CNBC’s Andrea Day about the impact that the spotted lanternfly is having on vineyards in the Mid-Atlantic.

From CNBC:

Bug experts say the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that mostly feeds on fruits, plants and trees. One of its favorite snacks: grapevines. That has winemakers preparing for the worst. CNBC’s Andrea Day spoke with vineyard owners who say their crops are already under attack.

View this video natively at CNBC.

“Along came a cider: 9 1/2 hours touring the makers of an increasingly popular beverage” – Baltimore Fishbowl

Along came a cider: 9 1/2 hours touring the makers of an increasingly popular beverage

October 10, 2022
Karen Nitkin
Baltimore Fishbowl

The view from Two Story Chimneys Ciderworks, with a flight. Credit: Karen Nitkin, via Baltimore Fishbowl.

Ok, so, here’s what we want you to imagine:

You’re at Two Story Chimney Ciderworks, in Gaithersburg. It’s a beautiful fall day, and you’re sitting at a table in the sun with one or more of your favorite humans. Around you are other equally contented people, some with babies, some with dogs, many with snacks they brought with them or purchased at the “Cluck Truck” parked nearby.

Your view is blue sky and green grass. A few little kids race each other through a pumpkin patch. Everyone is wearing their cutest fall flannels and sweaters.

ln front of you sits four glasses, nestled in a cute wooden tray. The liquid inside, all shades of honey-gold, are different ciders, all made with nearby apples.

You sip the one called Over the Falls, which was aged in a red wine barrel. Flavors of oak and the wine linger. Like the other ciders, it’s crisp and a little tart, far less sweet than the big-name stuff you buy at the liquor store. You sample the others in your $12 flight – Proper Dry, Sweet Tart and Ruby Red – or seasonal ciders flavored with blackberry or pumpkin, and find subtleties in each.

Sounds nice, right?

…

To continue reading this article, visit Baltimore Fishbowl.

“Grape producers battling relentless attack from spotted lanternflies” – The Delmarva Farmer

Grape producers battling relentless attack from spotted lanternflies

October 7, 2022
Jonathan Cribbs
The Delmarva Farmer

Photo by Jonathan Cribbs, via the Delmarva Farmer.

PYLESVILLE, Md. — Mike Fiore frowned as he motored past a depressing heap of dead grape vines at the edge of his winery last week. He was eagerly awaiting the assistance of the local fire department to incinerate the tangled pile, eliminating not just the vines but the thousands of spotted lanternfly eggs attached to them.

It’s been a difficult two years at Fiore Winery & Distillery. He first noticed the invasive, sap-feeding insects on his vineyard, which occupies 12 sloping acres in Harford County, last year. This year, he was inundated, and the insect’s sudden embrace of his vineyard has been devastating. Fiore, born and raised in Italy, estimated he lost about three quarters of his grape production this year. Those grapes typically yield about 5,000 gallons of wine sold to customers at his facility and through local distributors.

“You feel (ticked), but that’s about it,” he said in a thick Calabrian accent as he laughed in his office. “Who are you going to take (your complaint) out to? I should send the bill to (Chinese President) Xi Jinping because they come from China.”

Fiore and other grape producers — mostly in the northern half of Maryland — are now contending with the colorful lanternfly as it settles in the state. It was first detected in Bucks County, Pa., in 2014.

“Our grapes are definitely taking a beating,” said Kelly Dudeck, chair of the Maryland Agricultural Commission, at the group’s Sept. 14 meeting.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture placed Harford and Cecil counties under quarantine in 2019, requiring that businesses moving goods or equipment outside of the quarantine zone acquire a state permit. Now 10 counties and Baltimore City are under quarantine to combat the rapidly spreading lanternfly, which has established itself across the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest.

The planthopper, native to Asia, arrived in the United States on a shipment of stone trucked to a location north of Reading, Pa. It feeds in large groups on a wide range of plants including grapes, peaches, apples, walnuts, oaks, and pines, according to the University of Maryland Extension. Now, regional vineyards are in the pest’s crosshairs.

“The first few years here, it was really daunting,” said Carl Helrich, owner of Allegro Winery in Stewartstown, Pa. “It’s not a very pleasant experience to be out in the vineyard picking grapes and have these things land on you, like, two times a minute.”

Fiore first noticed the insects last year, though they didn’t appear to exist in great numbers. He’s second-guessing that now after he lost roughly 1,500 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon this year. The lanternflies land on the vines in the late summer and fall to suck sap, draining the plant of energy it needs to stay healthy through the winter. The damage doesn’t reveal itself until the next growing season.

“What happens is the vine bud breaks late, and when the bud breaks, the production on that is really weak,” Fiore said. “You’re not going to get a nice bunch of grapes. You’re going to get a little, mangy group of grapes that you’d be better off throwing it away than using it to make your wine.”

The consequences could be devastating to crops. Penn State University recently projected that if lanternflies aren’t contained, they could cause $324 million in lost business in Pennsylvania each year and eliminate 2,800 jobs. When the insects first arrived in Pennsylvania and producers weren’t sure how to respond, the impact was dramatic, Helrich said. He recalled an entire 50-acre vineyard that was lost in 2016.

Charles Mewshaw, co-owner of BirchView Vineyard in Carroll County, Md., said he scours his wife’s car when she returns home from working in Pennsylvania each night to make sure lanternflies haven’t attached themselves to her vehicle — a common method of travel for the insect. He also walks the woods around his 10 acres of vines, searching for evidence of their arrival.

So far, so good, he said, but he suspects that could end soon. His operation produces about 30 tons of fruit each year, mostly for wineries across the state. Lanternflies could threaten that if they can’t be controlled, he said. Even with insurance, the cost to replant a large percentage of the vineyard would be too great.

“If we get massive destruction, we will probably have to reduce our vineyard to a hobby status,” he said.

Mewshaw sits on the board of the Maryland Wineries Association where producers discuss the spotted lanternfly frequently. The reported impact varies.

“I’ve heard ‘devastation’, I’ve heard ‘minimal impact’,” he said.

But the pests can be controlled with insecticides, Helrich said. Because the invasion originated in Pennsylvania, producers said Penn State has produced the best research, including management options depending on the severity, ranging from creating natural habitats for their predators such as spiders and birds to applying EPA-registered chemicals such as dinotefuran, bifenthrin and carbaryl. Helrich said he sprays in the fall.

“It just adds one more thing we have to do during harvest now, unfortunately,” he said.

Fiore found an organic insecticide and fungicide, PureCrop1, made from soybean oil that was effective against the insects, albeit too late this year. He’s ordering 25 gallons of it for the next growing season, and he expects to apply it every week starting in the spring.

“Where do we go from here?” he said. “That last thing I want is sympathy. I want a solution.”

Read the article at the Delmarva Farmer here.

Cultivate & Craft’s Kelly Dudeck To Chair Maryland Agriculture Commission

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Cultivate & Craft’s Kelly Dudeck To Chair Maryland Agriculture Commission

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – Cultivate & Craft is pleased to announce the appointment of their Chief Strategy Officer, Kelly Dudeck, to the chair of the Maryland Agriculture Commission. The Maryland Agriculture Commission serves as an advisory role to the secretary and deputy secretary of agriculture and addresses legislative and policy issues that affect Maryland agribusiness. Each member of the commission is appointed by Governor Larry Hogan. Dudeck joined the commission in 2020 to represent the agritourism sector and now ascends to Chair.

“I’d like to extend my appreciation to our outgoing Chair, Michelle Chesnik, and her leadership over these past two years. I’m honored to have been chosen for this role by my colleagues, and look forward to working with them and the administration,” said Dudeck. “These past two years have been challenging for the agricultural sector, and unfortunately, the challenges continue to mount. It’s so important that we have a mechanism, such as this commission, for experts to report on their respective sector – ensuring that the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and Governor Larry Hogan, are aware, and assisting in any way they can.”

Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joseph Bartenfelder said, “Kelly has been a vital part of the Ag Commission since 2020. Her knowledge and understanding of agritourism has (sic) proven to be an asset in promoting this sector. I wish her nothing but success as she takes on this new role with the Commission.”

Photo of Kelly Dudeck
Photo courtesy of Kelly Dudeck.

In her role at Cultivate & Craft, an organization built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent, Dudeck aligns the firm’s objectives to support and promote Maryland’s value-added agriculture and agritourism industry, and her experience within the industry is significant. 

“Kelly has worked diligently to make Cultivate & Craft the success it has become. She has made the commodities she represents stand out,” said the outgoing Maryland Agricultural Commission Chair Michelle Chesnik. “I anticipate that under her leadership as the Chair of the commission we will see the same success.”

Dudeck led an effort to produce the state’s first economic analysis of Maryland’s Value-Added Agriculture sector. Published in 2020, this analysis serves as a vital tool needed to help this industry grow and thrive. Through Cultivate & Craft’s work with the state’s beverage alcohol industry, Dudeck spearheads a collection of consumer events and competitions. Each event celebrates the union of local agriculture and small business entrepreneurship.

Dean and Director of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Craig Beyrouty said, “Here in our college, we believe it is critical to facilitate a greater public connection back to the food system, and with Kelly as chair, I feel confident that she will strengthen that tie while also generating new opportunities and income for Maryland’s valued farmers and producers.”

In 2021, Dudeck also teamed with the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) to produce and promote ‘An Introduction to Southern Maryland’s Forestry Industry.’ This guide highlights how responsible forest management benefits our state’s ecology and economy. The guide also encourages consumers to identify and seek out products made from locally sourced wood and explores forestry career opportunities.

Dudeck also organizes the bi-annual Cultivate & Craft Summit, which unites local value-added and agritourism businesses, and will return for its first post-Covid event in December 2022. This summit introduces key industry players to strategic partners from the government and private sector. Through her work cultivating these relationships, Dudeck has provided immeasurable support to Maryland farmers and innovators.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Connelly said, “Agritourism is one of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors in Maryland and Kelly has represented the burgeoning industry well as a member of the commission. As the new Chair, she will bring her experience and knowledge of agriculture as a whole to the role and take it to the next level.”

To learn more about value-added agriculture and agritourism in Maryland, visit the Cultivate & Craft website at www.cultivateandcraft.com. If you’d like a grain or grape-to-glass experience, join the Cultivate & Craft team at the 2022 Maryland Beer, Wine, & Spirits Festival on Saturday, July 9 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. 

About Cultivate & Craft

Cultivate & Craft is built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. We’ve gathered a team of professionals to support agricultural startups and ensure the financial viability of our land, and ultimately, our community.

Cultivate & Craft is currently retained to represent the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association.

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New Guide Explores the Importance of Forestry in Maryland

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FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 1


New Guide Explores the Importance of Forestry in Maryland

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – Forestry grows food, creates hundreds of products and materials, supports the environment, and builds careers. Nearly 40% of Maryland is forested. As the single largest land use in the state, forests are vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and offer numerous environmental and economic benefits.

To promote and support this important industry, the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) and Cultivate & Craft teamed up to develop a new resource guide ‘An Introduction to Southern Maryland’s Forestry Industry’ to highlight how responsible forest management benefits our state’s ecology and economy. The guide also encourages consumers to identify and seek out products made from locally sourced wood and explores forestry career opportunities.

Many climate experts believe that a responsibly managed forest offers one of the best and least expensive ways to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon and using carbon-neutral renewable energy. “Forests also provide a viable timber market, incentivizing landowners to retain and care for their trees ensuring the overall health of their forests and habitat for wildlife,” said Kelly Dudeck, Chief Strategy Officer at Cultivate & Craft.

Screenshot of guide cover, featuring project logos.
An Introduction to Southern Maryland’s Forestry Industry is a new guide created by Cultivate & Craft and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

In 2017, the statewide forestry industry directly contributed about $4.2 billion and supported 18,046 jobs in the Maryland economy. In Southern Maryland, forestry businesses contribute over $585 million to the state economy, supporting more than 3,000 jobs. “Forests provide much-needed employment and economic sustainability for our rural communities,” commented Shelby Watson-Hampton, SMADC Director. “And here in Southern Maryland, we are very fortunate to have the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, which offers students a wide variety of career-specific programs in natural resources, including forestry.”

The new guide is available now as a digital educational resource for residents, entrepreneurs, and commercial interests. A brief video announcing the launch of the guide will be premiered for attendees at the 2021 Rural Maryland Council Summit on December 2. To view the guide and to learn more about the important role forestry plays in Maryland, visit cultivateandcraft.com/forestry-guide or SMADC.com.

The Introduction to Southern Maryland’s Forestry Industry Guide and video were made possible in part by a Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant (RMPIF) awarded to Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

About Cultivate & Craft

Cultivate & Craft is built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. We’ve gathered a team of professionals to support agricultural startups and ensure the financial viability of our land, and ultimately, our community.

Cultivate & Craft is currently retained to represent the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association

About SMADC

SMADC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to expanding and promoting a viable and profitable agricultural community that supports farms and the future of agriculture in Southern Maryland and beyond.

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Maryland Craft Beverages App Awarded At 40th Annual Maryland Tourism Summit

Maryland Craft Beverages App Awarded At 40th Annual Maryland Tourism Summit

Free app gains recognition as this year’s best Maryland tourism product.

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – The Maryland Tourism Coalition recognized the Maryland Craft Beverages App as the best new Large Marketing Product or Event for 2021. Released by Cultivate & Craft in July of this year, the Maryland Craft Beverages App is a free application for Android and iOS devices. The app allows craft alcohol consumers to track their exploration of Maryland’s breweries, cideries, distilleries, meaderies, and wineries.

“We’re honored to receive this recognition from the Maryland Tourism Coalition,” says Kevin Atticks, CEO of Cultivate & Craft. “Our app makes it easy for people traveling around Maryland to learn about the state’s beverage alcohol producers, on-demand.”

The Maryland Craft Beverages App is a flagship product guiding residents and visitors to nearly 200 craft alcohol producers located throughout the state. This app highlights locations, allows users to map itineraries and collects trails for the craft beverage industry in one, easy-to-use package. Developed in partnership with the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association, each tasting room featured in the app is a current member of their respective trade association.

“This app is a powerful tool for the industry and for our users,” says Jim Bauckman, Director of Communications at Cultivate & Craft. “Using the app, fans of locally produced beverages are visiting more local tasting rooms and spending more money within Maryland communities.”

The Maryland Craft Beverage App was developed by Daruma Tech and made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant #AM200100XXXXG050. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA. To download the app, users can visit the Google Play and Apple App stores directly or find more information on the Cultivate & Craft website at cultivateandcraft.com.

About Cultivate & Craft

Cultivate & Craft is built to support value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. We’ve gathered a team of professionals to support agricultural startups and ensure the financial viability of our land, and ultimately, our community.

Cultivate & Craft is currently retained to represent the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Distillers Guild, and the Maryland Wineries Association.

 

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Worcester Co passes agritourism legislation

Worcester County Commissioners took a major step toward growing the county’s agritourism industry with the passage of legislation on August 17.

The legislation creates new definitions for agritourism and agricultural alcohol producer, paving the way for farms to create new products and engage directly with the public.

Cultivate & Craft supported the effort, based on requests for support from members of the industry.

We commend the Commissioners of Worcester County for their support of this incredibly valuable industry.

Read more.

The UnCapped Podcast: Ep. 234 – Wanderland

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Listen to the UnCapped Podcast: Ep. 234 – Wanderland HERE.

 

In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, we check in with Jim and Kelly of Cultivate & Craft, the value-added agriculture consultants who currently manage the Brewers Association of Maryland, the Maryland Wineries Association, and the Maryland Distillers Guild.

 We’re talking all about Wanderland! This new event, presented by Cultivate & Craft, showcases Maryland-made beer, wine, and spirits at Ellicott City’s spectacular Shrine of St. Anthony. We also talked about their awesome new mobile app that is available for Android and IOS.

Get your $55 Early Bird Passes TODAY! Click here for event information and passes.

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