June is National Dairy Month and we continue to celebrate Maryland’s dairy industry and the farm families that operate them.  Maryland’s dairy industry is thriving! Per the University of Maryland Extension, Maryland is home to over 40,000 dairy cows spread across 310 farms throughout the state, and in 2022, Maryland’s dairy industry produced over 876 million pounds of milk and generated over $157 million in sales?!.  Maryland Dairy Princess Elizabeth Karides is providing some insight into all things dairy, including the incredible health benefits of milk, yogurt, and cheese.   And don’t forget the 2023 Maryland Ice Cream Trail is open so get out and enjoy some farm-fresh ice cream today!    Kick Off the Summer by Celebrating Dairy! By: Elizabeth Karides, 2021-22 Maryland Dairy Princess   In 1937, June was dubbed National Milk Month as a way to distribute extra milk during the hot Summer. Since then, June has evolved into National Dairy Month. Though it may sound silly to dedicate an entire thirty days to this food group, National Dairy Month gives us a chance to reflect upon the vital work dairy farmers do for our community and the environment. For starters, our farmers work 365 days a […]

Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail’s 2023 season officially begins on May 26 and will run through September 30. Now in its tenth year, the Ice Cream Trail is designed to promote the state’s dairy industry and has become increasingly popular, drawing participants from across the state and beyond. The 2023 Ice Cream Trail features 9 on-farm creameries across the state that produce and sell their ice cream directly to consumers. The trail stretches more than 290 miles from Washington County in the west to Worcester County in the east. The trail aims to increase the public’s understanding of dairy farming and highlight the important contributions of Maryland’s dairy farms. Per University of Maryland Extension, Maryland is home to over 40,000 dairy cows spread across 310 farms throughout the state and in 2022, Maryland’s dairy industry produced over 876 mil pounds of milk and generated over $157 million in sales. Creamery Locations Broom’s Bloom Dairy 1700 S. Fountain Green Road (MD 543) Bel Air, MD 21015 bbdairy.com Phone: 410-399-COWS (2697) Chesapeake Bay Farms Inc. 8905 Logtown Road, Berlin, MD 21811 supportlocalcows.com; Phone: 410-629-1997 or 4111 Whitesburg Road Pocomoke, MD 21851 Phone: 443-373-8487 Facebook Deliteful Dairy 16320 Long Delite Lane, Williamsport, MD […]

The warmer temperatures of spring may have you itching to get out there and plant and guess what the warmer temperatures of April combined with ample amounts of rain are perfect for establishing good root growth and healthy flowers, trees, and shrubs.    Some things to look at before you plant: the date for the last frost as this could affect and harm less-frost tolerant plants, sunshine, amount of water, and soil quality. Once you’ve made these observations you’re ready to head off to a local garden center and make your purchases.    If you’re having any trouble or have more questions we recommend reaching out to someone at your local University of Maryland Extension Office or asking someone at your local garden center.    We recommend shopping local as local garden centers will have a selection that is tailored to your area and will carry plants that will be more successful in your area. Local garden centers also carry more heirloom and diverse selections than other big box stores.    Maryland’s green industry had an estimated $1.5 billion impact on the economy in 2019 according to a 2018 survey .   To find one of 34  garden centers near […]

Guide to Buying, Cleaning & Shucking Maryland Oysters Maryland oysters are available year-round! Use the videos and links below to learn the best ways to buy, clean and shuck this tasty seafood! How to Buy Oysters Buying Guide- Maryland Oysters How to Clean Oysters Wild oysters may need a quick rinse if they’re muddy, scrubbing with a brush if needed before you shuck, as Chef Gwyn demonstrates! (Using a hose outdoors is a great idea too!) Watch the video linked below. Cleaning Oysters Video How to Shuck Oysters Opening oysters is a snap once you get the hang of it. Make sure to wear a glove or wrap your hand with a towel before beginning. Watch the video linked below to see a proper technique of how to shuck an oyster without losing the juice that gives them their delicious taste! How to Shuck an Oyster Video

Maryland farmers offer some of the freshest holiday trees available, including the popular Fraser fir and Canaan fir as well as the Douglas fir, Concolor fir, Scotch pine, White pine, and Blue spruce. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture for Maryland, there are more than 185 Christmas tree growers in the state with nearly 2,200 acres in production. Nationally, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S. and the fresh-cut Christmas tree business generates nearly $377 million in sales, according to the latest agriculture census. Not only do real trees look and smell amazing, they are also a renewable and recyclable resource that keep unwanted waste out of our landfills. Artificial trees are often petroleum based, imported from overseas, and do not biodegrade, so they eventually end up laying in landfills forever. In contrast, real Christmas trees can be recycled at the end of the holiday season, often chipped into mulch that returns important nutrients to the earth. While growing, Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen. When growing in an open area, a 3-inch diameter Douglas fir can reduce atmospheric carbon by 23 pounds and intercept 102 gallons of stormwater […]

In an effort to support Maryland veterans who farm, the Homegrown by Heroes program provides unique signage to identify and promote products at farmers’ markets and local groceries grown by local veterans. “I am proud that we have this program in support of our state’s military veterans,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “These brave men and women have served and protected our country, and they deserve all the support we can give. I encourage all Marylanders to seek out products with the ‘Homegrown By Heroes’ label.” The department’s family of Maryland’s Best logos was created to identify and promote products as locally grown or produced. The addition of the Homegrown by Heroes logo expands on this effort and recognizes a small but important group of farmers who have served honorably and returned to the land. The Farmer Veteran Coalition was granted the honor of administering the “Homegrown By Heroes” program nationally on Veterans Day 2013. The “Homegrown By Heroes [marylandsbest.net]” program is available free of charge to Maryland farmers who have served in any branch of the armed services. Eligible farmers interested in joining the program are encouraged to visit the Farmer Veteran Coalition website [farmvetco.org]. At MDA, contact Mark […]

Eat more Chesapeake Bay blue catfish! Wild caught by Waterman in the Chesapeake Bay rivers in Maryland, this delicious tasting fish is quickly becoming a Maryland seafood favorite. Blue Catfish are versatile and can be easily prepared by baking, frying, sautéing and more. Show your support for Maryland watermen and order blue catfish from the menu of your favorite seafood restaurant or pick some up from your local grocery store to prepare at home. Try out one of our blue catfish recipes in the link below! Blue Catfish Recipes. Invasive Blue Catfish Information.

The holidays are here! While seasonal celebrations will be smaller this year, it is still a perfect time to include local seafood and farm products on your table. “This is a holiday season unlike any other, and it is more important than ever that we continue to support the men and women who have worked throughout the pandemic to provide fresh, local food products,” said Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder. “There is plenty of local meat, seafood, dairy products and hardy winter vegetables available for your holiday meal. Visit MarylandsBest.net to find local products near you.” “It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, not only because of the holidays, but also for fresh Maryland oysters – which are at their best right now,” said Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “While this has been a tough year for many of us, we can support the men and women in our communities who produce and catch our food while celebrating with our families by choosing locally grown and locally caught items this holiday season.” “Chesapeake cuisine makes Maryland a very special place to be for the holidays,” said Chef John Shields, author of several books on the region’s cuisine. “Think local […]

One of our most intriguing foods, oysters are like fine wine, its flavor a mirror of its habitat. Move a grapevine, you get a different wine. Oysters are same. Maryland oysters are sweet and delicate A result of merroir, the content and characteristics of the sea in which it grows, the Chesapeake haunts every slurp or savor you have of an oyster taken from its tributaries. Check out the links below to learn more about Maryland oysters and the locations where you can purchase them. Find restaurants serving local oysters here: www.seafood.maryland.gov/oyster-pledge Explore the seafood trail: www.visitmaryland.org/article/crack-shuck-savor-maryland Try some oyster recipes: www.seafood.maryland.gov/category/oysters/ Learn about the Oyster Recovery Partnership: www.oysterrecovery.org/

The Farmers Market Nutrition Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture supplemental nutritional grant and provides checks to low income senior citizens and participants of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Theses checks can be redeemed to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, and cut herbs at local farmers markets.   Find the nearest farmer’s market where FNMP checks are accepted!