Other Key Resources

The Food Quality Assurance Program consists of four sections that conduct a variety of inspections, audits, registrations and certifications of agricultural commodities and facilities to provide consumers with safe, high quality agricultural food products while maintaining fair trade practices and enhancing product marketability for the agricultural industry.'

Information for farmers market managers, farmers and vendors.

A statewide nonprofit, the MDFMA operates programs to provide access to healthy local food for all and improve the quality of and transparency at Maryland farmers markets.

"We promote and protect Maryland agriculture and rural life with the support of our passionate membership, ensuring the future of our natural resources, food supply and rural heritage that are all part of what makes Maryland our home."

Maryland FarmLINK helps Maryland farmers sell or buy farmland, mentor novice farmers and find important farming news and information.

NRCS'puts nearly 70 years of experience to work in assisting owners of America's private land with conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources. Local, state and federal agencies and policymakers also rely on our expertise. We deliver technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices.

The University of Maryland Extension boasts a "one stop shop for the 21st century agricultural/natural resource entrepreneur" with the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (MREDC). The Center offers a variety of business development and planning tools, workbooks and guidelines, including a detailed section on food processing.

The Center for Retail Food, Plan, and Process Reviews conducts plan review for all food processing plants and prototypical food service facilities in the State.

The Center for Food Processing assures the safety of food in Maryland. The Center is responsible for licensing and inspecting food processing facilities in the State.

A 2008 paper that sought to identify the barriers to the development of more on-farm, value-added processing in Maryland.

Aligned with the Maryland Food Charter, this report delivers an assessment of Maryland's current policies and provides examples and suggestions of related policies throughout the United States that Maryland could emulate.

MDP hopes that this report will be useful to local governments and others who are interested in incorporating food policy into local comprehensive plans and want to learn more about implementation tools, such as zoning that can and have been used by 4 others to support and enhance local food systems.

Building a sustainable foodshed from farm and fishery to table. Future Harvest CASA's mission is to provide education, networking, and advocacy to help build a sustainable Chesapeake foodshed, where food flows from farm and fishery to table in ways that strengthen farming and the regional food economy; protect our land, water, and air; and provide healthy, nutritious food that sustains the region's communities and cities.

The Easton Economic Development Corporation established a regional brand ' Chesapeake Harvest ' to actively manage the marketing and sales of source-identified food products from local and regional producers to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.

The Shore Gourmet Market is a public retail store that sells items produced at the Caroline Schoolhouse and other regional products. The store allows students to gain the practicum experience of customer service and quick food production. The program also offers support to prospective entrepreneurs by providing assistance in the preparation, marketing, and distribution of products.

This report provides a 'snapshot' of the state of the region's agriculture, as well as the general food production and demand, and economic contributions. Product demand data, which is largely based on estimates from the U.S. Food Market Estimator, is included for area counties.

In May 2016 Grow & Fortify, LLC was retained by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to conduct a qualitative analysis of the economic impact and opportunities of VAA in the BMA, with a focus on the labor market. Through surveys, interviews and focus groups, case studies and recommendations were developed to highlight the opportunities'and many challenges'facing this rapidly evolving industry.

Farm Commons is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering sustainable farmers with the legal resources they need.

Free farm law resource. Login required for free PDF download.

Free farm law resource. Login required for free PDF download.

ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). We are committed to providing high value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States. This pages covers: VAA Product Cost Calculators, Tutorials, Videos, Publications and More.

This publication discusses the concept of adding value to farm products, the differences between creating and capturing value, and the implications for value-added enterprises.