Wild Caught Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish
The Chesapeake blue catfish was introduced into the Chesapeake Bay decades ago and has drastically increased in numbers. Tasting similar to rockfish, blue catfish are not your typical “catfish.” The fish is a tasty, white flaky fish that is excellent in a variety of recipes, such as our Maryland’s Best recipes.
Eating the wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish is not only good for you, it’s helping the Chesapeake Bay. Blue catfish is consuming other species in the Bay, such as crabs, oysters, rockfish, and anything else in its path, which is causing ecological damage.
Consumers can find the fish in select grocery stores and restaurants. Maryland’s Best has compiled a list of both retail and restaurants that serve the wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish.
Learn MoreCelebrate Maryland Horticulture this Spring with Maryland Plants, Flowers and Trees
April is the perfect time of year to start planning your garden and landscape. Depending on the plants, it may be time to put them in the ground or it may be time to prep your soil. Some of Maryland’s Best Tips: Before you plant, check the date for the last frost as this could affect and harm less-frost tolerant plants. Have that date in mind as part of your planning. Check the area and make a note of how much sunshine, shade, and rain it receives. Consider planting native Maryland plants as these are what’s best in our ecosystem. You can learn a lot more about native plants at the Maryland Native Plant Society. Head to your local nursery with this information in mind along with an idea of what kind of plants you are looking for – flowers, vegetables, hedges, etc. If you have specific questions about planting in your area, the University of Maryland Extension Offices has a wide variety of experts and can help you better understand your area’s best practices. A list of county agents can be found here. Shopping local always has benefits like keeping money in the community, and supporting local jobs – […]
March is Maryland Wine Month!
Get in a Situation-Sip During Maryland Wine Month! Governor Moore has declared March as Maryland Wine Month and there is much to celebrate. The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland’s Best program and the Maryland Wine Association have partnered to highlight fun pairings and offer prizes to consumers. All month long, follow Maryland’s Best Instagram or Facebook pages for suggested “Situation-Sip” pairings; wineries across the state have come up with the best wines for all your situationships. For example, when you’re with the person that always takes you on a “date” at home, we suggest Loew Vineyard’s Ancestry, 2021, which is big and bold – unlike your partner. Consumers are encouraged to submit their own situation-sips by posting online and tagging @mdsbest and @marylandwine. The best ones will be featured online and the consumer will win a gift card to the winery they featured! Additionally, consumers are encouraged to visit three (or more!) participating wineries during the month. “Getting people to experience farms in different ways, like a winery, is one of our goals at the department,” says Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, “connecting consumers to the land and where products come from not only enhances […]
Got Oysters? A Maryland Oyster Guide
As of 2023, there are 474 aquaculture operations and growing! With so many operations, there are plenty of varieties to try from salty delights like the Salty Buoys from Fallen Pine Oyster Company in Havre de Grace or more mild oysters like the Eastern oyster from the 38 North Oysters in Southern Maryland. Contrary to popular belief, Maryland oysters are available year-round and you no longer have to wait for an “r” month. Whether you shuck at home or are looking for a place to enjoy, make sure you ask for Maryland oysters. Supporting the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay contributes to the health of the overall Bay and supports the local economy – in fact, the estimated economic impact in 2022 was $13,335,525.63! Oysters are also nature’s “filters” and play a vital role in the ecosystem. Check out this video supplied by the Oyster Recovery Partnership on the effectiveness of oysters in the water! Speaking of the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), did you know they recycle oyster shells and use them to plant new water-filtering oysters back into Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay?? You can help by dining at one of the 200+ restaurants that recycle shells in […]
Maryland's Best Featured Product
March is Maryland Wine month. Elk Run Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County surrounded by dairy and horse farms and fields of wheat and corn. Since 1983 Fred and Carol Wilson and Neill Bassford, along with associates, family and friends, have made Elk Run a shining star among American wine producers.
There are 110 Maryland wineries across the state with at least one in every county. The vast majority of them are located on farms or use at least 51% Maryland grapes in their products. In the 2022 USDA Agricultural Census, 239 farms grew 1,472 acres of grapes; an increase of over 20% since the last census in 2017.
Maryland Wine Month is here and with a winery in every county, there’s something for everyone! Throughout the month, log in to the MD Craft Beverages app, log 3 or more wineries on your passport, and be entered to win wine-themed prizes for more info click here.