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Virginia observes Farmers' Market Week

Their popularity is increasing, their numbers have more than doubled since 2004 and they help support farm jobs across Virginia. Officials say farmers’ markets, now more than 190 strong in Virginia, are an essential element in communities across the Commonwealth. To celebrate their growing importance to consumers, farmers and the economy of the state, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has recognized the week of August 1 – 7, 2010 as Farmers’ Market Week. As an extra added enticement, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is sponsoring a photo contest with prizes in four categories. Details at www.virginiagrown.com.

Matthew J. Lohr, VDACS Commissioner, commented that farmers’ markets are a great tradition in Virginia that date from the very early days of the Commonwealth. “Several markets – Richmond and Alexandria among them – claim to be the oldest farmers’ markets in the nation operating from the same location. But it doesn’t matter if a market is 250 years old or just opened this summer, it’s still a great place to find Virginia Grown tomatoes, homemade strawberry jam, fresh meats and cheeses or a chat with neighbors and friends,” Lohr said. He added that people often can find and talk to the person who grew, produced or processed the fresh, delicious food they have come to buy.

Consumers are not the only ones who benefit from farmers markets. Local farmers just starting out can take advantage of the markets’ readymade sales outlets and experienced farmers can use the markets to gain additional marketing and sales opportunities. Farmers markets offer all sellers the chance to increase their financial returns by selling directly to buyers.

Crop conditions lagging in North Carolina

North Carolina farmers have rightfully been complaining about the lack of precipitation in July. Overall, the state received little rainfall the last two weeks of the month. Average temperatures were above normal ranging from 75 to 86 degrees. Statewide soil moisture levels were rated at 19% very short, 39% short, 40% adequate and 2% surplus. Minimal showers combined with excessive heat throughout the state adversely affected most crops.

So far this year, Elizabeth City is 7.3 inches below normal for year-to-date precipitation, while the Raleigh area is 6.3 inches behind normal for year-to-date precipitation.

During the last week of July, 38 percent of the North Carolina corn crop and 30 percent of the tobacco crop were rated in poor or very poor condition. Soybeans were a bit better, being rated only 23 percent in poor or very poor condition.

Thirteen percent of corn for silage in NC has already been harvested. Ninety-six percent of peanuts are now at the pegging stage, which is slightly ahead of the 5-year average.

Pennsylvania’s Orchard & Vineyard Results Now Available

HARRISBURG, PA, Jul 28, 2010 -- Pennsylvania's 2008 Orchard and Vineyard Survey results are now available. The 94-page report contains information about the number of fruit trees and grapevines located in Pennsylvania, acreage by age and variety listed by county and state totals, rootstock information, and intentions for future plantings. The information is gathered from the Orchard and Vineyard Survey that is conducted every five years, with the most recent conducted in the late 2008 and early 2009.

Below is a sample of the information found in the report:

Number of Commercial Orchards/Vineyards: The number of commercial apple orchards counted in the 2008 survey was 566, compared with 364 in the 2002 survey, an increase of 55 percent. The number of commercial peach orchards totaled 322 in the 2008 survey, compared with 229 in the previous survey.

A total of 92 commercial pear orchards were counted in 2008, compared with 83 in 2002. Commercial tart cherry orchards increased by 30 percent, from 40 in 2002 to 52 in 2008. The number of commercial vineyards totaled 358 in 2008, compared with 239 in 2002. Commercial nectarine orchards increased 25 percent, from 61 in 2002 to 76 in 2008.

Trees in Commercial Orchards: Commercial tree numbers for apples increased 31 percent from 2002; commercial peach tree numbers increased 48 percent; commercial pear tree numbers increased 41 percent; the number of commercial tart cherry trees increased 5 percent; and the number of commercial nectarine trees increased 16 percent from 2002.

Find agricultural statistics for your county, State, and the Nation at www.nass.usda.gov.

Emerald Ash Borer found in two more counties of West Virginia

July 20 - Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been detected in Raleigh and Calhoun Counties on purple prism traps seen in trees throughout the state, according to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Five West Virginia counties are now infested with the invasive and destructive beetle, which has killed more than 25 million ash trees in North America.

“The discovery of emerald ash borer in these two additional counties shows how easily these non-native insect populations can move,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “Once they begin to visibly damage trees, it’s too late. That’s why we need to focus on ways to prevent the artificial movement of these insects, such as using local firewood when camping, rather than carrying your own.”

WVDA first found EAB in West Virginia in October 2007 in Fayette County on a trap tree set up as a monitoring tool. In 2009, it was detected in Morgan County by a landowner and again on one of the purple prism traps set in Roane County. With the Roane County find, the state EAB quarantine in Fayette and Morgan Counties was rescinded and the state became regulated under the federal EAB quarantine.

“Due to the close proximity to other catches, I don’t think either one of these discoveries came as much of a surprise to anyone,” said Jason Watkins, State Plant Health Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The emerald ash borer attacks only ash trees. It is believed to have been introduced into the Detroit, Mich., area 15-20 years ago on wood packing material from Asia. Since then, the destructive insect has been found in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Anyone with questions about EAB can contact the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industries Division at 304-558-2212.

Foreign interests acquiring U.S. farmland

July 23 - USDA's Farm Service Agency reports that through Feb. 28, 2009, 22.2 million acres of U.S. agricultural land was owned in part by foreign persons. That's an increase of 1.3 million acres from 2008.

The annual FSA report shows that foreign persons have an interest in 1.7% of all privately held U.S. agricultural land and 0.98% of all land in the United States.

According to the report, 59% of all U.S. forestland has some foreign ownership. Fourteen percent of the cropland, and 27% of pasture and other agricultural land also have some foreign ownership.

About one-third of that land is owned in part by Canadians. Thirty percent of the owners are from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom or Germany.

The states with the highest proportions of foreign-owned agricultural land to all privately owned agricultural land are Maine, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada and Alabama.

Pennsylvania vegetable growers report acreage

July 23 - Vegetable processors in Pennsylvania have contracted 10,500 acres of snap beans in 2010, up 46 percent from the 7,200 acres contracted in 2009, according to the Pennsylvania Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Pennsylvania’s forecasts based on the 2010 July Fresh Market Vegetable Survey indicate that harvested acreage for fresh market sweet corn will be unchanged from 2009, while fresh market tomato acreage is up 100 acres. Fresh market sweet corn acres for harvest are forecast at 14,400 and tomato acres for harvest are forecast at 1,800.

West Nile Virus confirmed in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 22, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced the first detection of a West Nile virus mosquito pool in Maryland in 2010. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed the presence of WNV in mosquitoes collected by Maryland Department of Agriculture personnel on July 13 in the Linthicum area of Anne Arundel County. This community participates in the cooperative mosquito control program and a routine spraying occurred on July 20 with a subsequent spraying on July 27. MDA mosquito control personnel continue to work aggressively to reduce mosquito populations across the State.

“We know that West Nile virus may be present throughout Maryland. It typically appears at this time in the summer, so we are not surprised with this positive finding,” says Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance. “The confirmation of virus-positive mosquitoes serves as a reminder to all residents to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites and to conduct backyard mosquito control activities in addition to MDA’s routine surveillance and spray activities.”

Officials say the MDA mosquito control office, in cooperation with DHMH, is conducting state-wide surveillance activities to monitor mosquito populations and detect mosquito-borne viruses of public health concern.

Cost-share grants for organic certification in NC still available

RALEIGH -- Organic growers in North Carolina can still apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or recertified producers through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“We still have about a third of the grant funds available, so I would encourage organic producers who have gone through the certification process to submit their application for reimbursement,” said Kevin Hardison, marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.”

Growers who are certified or recertified before Sept. 30, can apply for assistance. The program will pay 75 percent of the cost of certification, up to $750.

The program is funded through a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply, growers must fill out an authorization form that can be found online at www.ncdaorganic.org. The completed form, a copy of the farm’s certification and a copy of the receipts from the certifying agency should be mailed to the NCDA&CS Division of Marketing, Attn. Kevin Hardison, 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1020. The invoice must show the total cost of certification and the 75 percent portion that is eligible for reimbursement.

Growers with questions can call Hardison at (919) 733-7887.

“As consumer interest in certified products has grown, so has the number of organic producers statewide,” Hardison said. “North Carolina has more than 6,000 certified organic acres, and these farms produce a variety of vegetables, livestock, herbs and other products.”

Economist: Ag remains a bright spot in economy

July 12 - griculture, with the exception of pork and dairy has been and remains a bright spot in the economy, according to one agricultural economist.

"Agricultural commodities remain an asset, but the U.S. dollar is fluctuating and markets are searching for direction," said Terry Barr, a senior director at CoBank who spoke to seed industry representatives at the American Seed Trade Association's 127th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Barr said agriculture is a robust economy and acres are certainly not coming down. "The real challenge is keeping up with the growing demand on the ethanol side," he said. "As businesses providing a service, know that you are selling to a sector that is financially strong." The challenges, he pointed out, are consolidation and the expectations put on technology.

"Will technology be able to produce that next big jump in yield that is being discussed by the industry?" Barr asked. The industry is making great strides and advances and has many tools in its pockets, he said. Barr explained that we can continue to see an acreage shift in the United States.

"As the technology changes, the pattern of where you plant certain crop changes and creates more opportunities," he pointed out. "The market is so strong on the grain side, I think it is going to be a huge plus for the grain industry."

Barr recognized the potential for the seed industry to take the technology to a global level. "There are a lot of opportunities, especially in the Asian markets," he said.

In terms of the general economy, Barr expects it to take several years to recover and hopes that the economy recovers slowly and over a period of several years instead of rapid growth increasing the likelihood of a double-dip recession.

He said the housing market and the unemployment rate remain sore spots in the economy; however land values are only going to increase with time.

"In general, volatility in agriculture is not going to change," Barr said. "The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent. Keep this in mind as you make decisions and move forward during the next several months."

Record soybean acreage planted in U.S.

July 1 - U.S. farmers planted 78.9 million acres of soybeans, exceeding last year’s planted area by 1.4 million acres, or 2 percent, and setting a new record high, according to the Acreage report just released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Aided by favorable weather conditions early in the season, farmers in the Northern and Western Corn Belt and the Northeast increased their soybean acreage. Record-high planted acreage was reported in Kansas, Nebraska, New York and Pennsylvania, while Minnesota and Oklahoma tied their all-time record highs. Iowa continues to lead all states in total soybean acres with 10.2 million acres.

In Virginia, soybean acreage increased from 570,000 to 580,000 acres. Pennsylvania soybean growers increased acreage from 445,000 to 465,000. Maryland farmers planted 490,000 acres of soybeans, compared to 475,000 in 2009. But soy acreage is down in the Tarheel State. North Carolina farmers decreased soybean acreage from 1.75 million acres to 1.52 million acres. Soy acreage in West Virginia dropped from 19,000 in 2009 to 17,000 this year.

Farmers also planted a near record-breaking 87.9 million acres to corn, up 1.4 million acres from last year but down 1 percent from March. This marks the second consecutive increase in planted acreage to corn and the second highest acreage on record since 1946, only behind 2007.

Illinois and Kansas reported the largest increases in corn acres with both states planting 600,000 acres above last year. While Iowa continues to lead the nation with 13.3 million corn acres, the state experienced a decrease of 400,000 acres from 2009. This drop is primarily attributed to the increase in soybeans planted.

Virginia Ag secretary vows to increase domestic and international sales

RICHMOND—Todd Haymore, Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, is concentrating on improving domestic and international sales of the state’s farm and forest products.

"Gov. McDonnell ran on one word—jobs—and agriculture and forestry are the two largest industries in Virginia," Haymore said at a June 23 meeting of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board of directors. "He wants me to be the chief marketing officer for agriculture and forestry products … and work with Farm Bureau and the private sector to move products all over the world."

Virginia agriculture and forestry exports reached an all-time high of $2.3 billion in 2009. "This was an all-time high during a weak economy, so continuing to grow those exports is a top priority," Haymore said.

His goal is to increase the number of countries to which Virginia exports its ag and forestry products. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has trade offices in Hong Kong, Brussels and Brazil and is planning to open new ones in the United Kingdom, India and China.

Haymore said foreign countries want to buy from Virginia for three reasons: The state’s farmers and foresters have some of the best products anywhere; Virginia’s port system is one of the finest in the world; and Virginia fosters a pro-business atmosphere.

"They need and want our products."

Another area on which Haymore is focusing is developing programs to help Virginia’s existing agriculture and forestry operations.

"We create jobs, but we need improvement in helping existing businesses grow and prosper," he said. "We tend to take these companies for granted, and we can’t do that."

Maryland Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame nominations due August 25

ANNAPOLIS – To honor the leaders of Maryland’s thriving agricultural community, the Maryland Department of Agriculture is accepting nominations of farmers and farm families for the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to the state's leading industry.

“Farmers are the solid foundation of our state and a vital part of our future. They provide the food, fiber, and farmland from which we all benefit,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I encourage all Marylanders to identify the people who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to nominate them to the Hall of Fame.”

Any farm family that derives its income principally from farming is eligible for the award. Since 1991, when the Hall of Fame was established, 40 farm families from 21 counties have been honored for their high standards of conduct; personal values; contributions to their community; and performance, leadership, innovation, and achievement in agriculture.

Nomination forms are available from MDA or local cooperative extension offices, which serve as local nominating committee coordinators. Each local nominating committee, which is made up of the county extension educator, county farm bureau president, county fair representative, and county soil conservation district chairman, reviews a pool of candidates from its county and forwards a selection to the Governor’s Selection Committee.

Nominations from the committees are due to MDA by August 25, 2010, and will be reviewed by the Governor’s Selection Committee. The selection committee includes the Dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the President of the Maryland Farm Bureau, and members of the agricultural community. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held during the Maryland Agricultural Dinner in February 2011.

For a nomination form or further information, contact MDA at 410-841-5770, contact your local cooperative extension office, or log onto www.mda.state.md.us.

Farm organization "frustrated" by EPA delay on ethanol

Against a backdrop of the largest petroleum-related environmental disaster ever, the American Farm Bureau Federation is dismayed that the Environmental Protection Agency is again delaying a decision to boost the percentage of ethanol that can be blended into the domestic gasoline supply.

"It now appears it will be September or later before a ruling is made on blending 15 percent ethanol (E15)," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

"The EPA's delay is frustrating," Stallman said. "The request to increase the percentage of ethanol that could be blended into our domestic gasoline supply to E15 should be a front-burner issue for EPA. This matter that has been in front of the agency long before the Gulf oil disaster. Ethanol is a clean-burning, home-grown renewable fuel that makes sense."

Stallman added that regulators also are considering limits to the size of the current market for enhanced ethanol blends to just vehicles from the 2007 or later model years, rather than what originally was thought to include 2001 and newer vehicles. There was also no word on a pending request to immediately approve the use of 12 percent ethanol blends for all vehicles."

"It is time for our government officials to do everything in their power to expedite the approval process for E15 and to grant an immediate rule for E12," Stallman said.

Some Virginia farms producing their own energy

HALIFAX—Virginia farms are beginning to use energy technology such as wind turbines, solar panels and anaerobic digesters in hopes of cutting energy costs and farming in a more environmentally friendly fashion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting a survey this year of 20,000 farms nationwide that produce their own energy. “The results will provide agricultural producers, policymakers and the public with factual data about the economic and environmental implications of on-farm energy production,” said Herman Ellison, director of the Virginia field office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Halifax County Christmas tree grower Jenny Hochstein recently installed a wind turbine on her farm.

“We have a nice breeze here,” she said, and the turbine “operates on wind speeds 7 mph and higher.”

Her electricity bill for $10 in April indicates the turbine is making a difference. “We don’t expect that the turbine is going to make all of our energy, but we wanted to be involved in the green transition,” Hochstein said.

She and her husband invested about $14,000 in the installation. They received grants that paid for about 60 percent of the total cost.

“It will take five years to pay for itself,” Hochstein said of the new system. “We could have bought a hybrid car, but it would have cost twice that much and cars depreciate. … It’s for independence and self-satisfaction for doing something for the Earth. We did it so we could save resources.”

Shortage of large-animal vets has officials in WV concerned

Charleston - West Virginia farmers – like farmers throughout the country – are facing a critical shortage of veterinarians trained to care for livestock, making farm management more difficult and hampering response to animal disease outbreaks.

The shortage of so-called “large animal” veterinarians has West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass concerned. He is urging students to consider veterinary medicine as a profession. “New veterinarians today overwhelmingly are choosing to enter the small animal practice,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I’m seeing fewer and fewer veterinarians with the training or experience to deal with food animals.”

About half of food animal veterinarians are over age 50 and near retirement, according to American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) membership data. At the same time, about 15 percent of veterinary school graduates are pursuing that career path, most of whom have an average of $120,000 in educational debt. The nation’s 28 veterinary schools produce 2,500 graduates a year, a number that hasn’t changed in three decades. At that rate, recent studies show that the supply of “large animal” veterinarians will fall short by 4 to 5 percent annually through 2016.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) estimates the state has 150 large animal veterinarians, but many of those are involved in equine-only practices, still leaving the majority of the state’s livestock farmers without veterinary services.

The good news is two programs are making it more affordable to attend veterinary school, and there are veterinary schools in three neighboring states.

The AVMA has created a new educational debt relief program. The Food Animal Veterinarian Recruitment and Retention Program is a joint effort of the AVMA and its charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, and is funded by several industry partners.

The effort provides student loan debt forgiveness for veterinarians who commit to four years of employment in food animal veterinary medicine. Depending on demand and the availability of funds, the program seeks to support about 50 rural food animal veterinarians during the next five years by providing total payments of up to $100,000 for each practitioner.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a similar program, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which will soon begin accepting applications.

The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) designated veterinarian shortage situations for a period of three years.

The VMLRP application cycle is open through June 30 this year. The two areas designated through VMLRP are Preston and Ritchie Counties. Adjoining counties would be served by a veterinarian working from either of the two mentioned counties. An individual may submit only one application per cycle.

Pilgrim's Pride "goes local" in selected market

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. and Florida's agricultural department have partnered to introduce "Fresh from Florida" chicken at several leading retailers across the state, appealing to residents who prefer locally grown products.

The "Fresh from Florida" chicken is raised by local Florida farmers and processed at the Pilgrim's Pride facility in Live Oak, Fla. The new case-ready chicken products are packaged with a brightly colored "Fresh from Florida" logo (see below), which helps Florida consumers easily identify products grown or raised in the state.

"Florida consumers can be confident that the chicken they purchase is not only the quality of poultry they've come to expect from Pilgrim's Pride, but is also sourced and processed locally, ensuring the freshest product," said Jerry Wilson, Pilgrim's Pride executive vice president of sales and marketing, in a news release.

Wilson said he expects total volume for the "Fresh from Florida" product to be more than 60 million pounds in the first year.

Nation-wide farmers' market contest launched

American Farmland Trust has announced its 2010 "America's Favorite Farmers Markets" online contest kicked off on June 1 at www.farmland.org/vote. The contest is a nation-wide challenge to see which farmers markets can rally the most support from its customers. The goal is to promote the connection between fresh local food and the local farms and farmland that supply it.

"Farmers markets are one of the best ways for consumers to support local farms and farmers," says Julia Freedgood, managing director for Farmland and Communities. "Markets are a great place to purchase seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. And maintaining farmers markets and farms also benefits the public health and economic health of our communities," she adds. The 2007 U.S. Agricultural Census reports a 49% growth in sales from farms directly to consumers since 2002 -- representing $1.2 billon that stayed in local communities. But at the same time, nearly one million acres of farmland are developed each year -- most around cities where there is greatest demand for local food. "We need to make the connection: there's no local food without local farms and farmland," says Freedgood.

Farmers market managers can register to join the free contest by visiting www.farmland.org/marketmanager.

Market shoppers will vote to support their favorite farmers market at www.farmland.org/vote starting June 1 until midnight on August 31, 2010. People can vote for as many participating farmers markets as they choose, but can only vote for each market once.

At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large, and a new category, boutique, farmers market will win the title of "America's Favorite Farmers Market" for 2010.

Researchers at Penn State say egg-production practices meet consumer demand, maintain hen well-being

As the public and various interest groups debate the relative pros and cons of different egg-production practices and poultry-housing options, poultry scientists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences say modern, science-based methods are helping to meet consumer demand for safe and nutritious eggs.

Whether production practices use conventional cages or cage-free methods, researchers and producers have found advantages and disadvantages in each system for the birds, for farmers and for consumers.

"As it stands now, consumers have choices, such as whether eggs are produced in conventional housing or cage-free, whether eggs have white or brown shells, whether eggs have higher levels of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, or whether they were produced under certified-organic guidelines," said Gregory Martin, a Penn State Cooperative Extension poultry educator based in Lancaster County.

"Once you take any of those alternatives away, you reduce choice and competition and create artificial barriers in the marketplace," he said. "Ultimately, that could hurt consumers in the form of higher food prices and fewer options for obtaining high-quality dietary protein."

Martin noted that as much as 85 percent of Pennsylvania's eggs are produced under quality-assurance guidelines established by the United Egg Producers. Eggs labeled with the UEP seal are certified to have been produced in accordance with the industry group's best practices for animal husbandry, which were developed by an independent panel of scientists primarily from land-grant universities.

Popularity of farmers' markets in Maryland leads to new directory

Annapolis - The 2010 Maryland Farmers’ Market Directory listing locations and hours of each of the state’s markets is now available through the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) website.  This year, some 112 markets will be open with at least one in every county and Baltimore City. Many of the farmers’ markets in the state are already open and offering early season produce and plants such as kale, salad greens, spinach, asparagus, strawberries, hanging flower baskets, bedding plants and garden seedlings.   

“At farmers’ markets across the state, customers can purchase a wide variety of locally-grown and -produced products including fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants, eggs, meats, baked goods and cheeses,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “Customers can enjoy some of the freshest and best tasting local products, and in turn will directly support our family farmers, our environment, economy, and the health of our families.  Every dollar spent on local agricultural products contributes to the economic health of the community, keeps our land in farming, and helps to support a smart, green and growing future for Maryland agriculture.”  

Farmers’ markets provide an important source of income for farmers and also provide the community with a meeting place where residents can catch up with each other while purchasing farm-fresh, nutritious, local products.  Customers have the opportunity to ask farmers how their products are grown or produced, how to prepare fresh produce and how to incorporate local products into their home-cooked meals, gardens, and landscaping.  

Farmers’ Markets have become more and more popular as interest in purchasing fresh, local food and connecting directly with the farmers who grow the food has risen.  In 1991, there were only 20 markets, there were 88 in 2008, 103 last year and 110 this year.  In a telephone survey of 800 Marylanders last year, 78 percent of Marylanders said they are more likely to buy produce that is identified as having been grown by a Maryland farmer.

Approximately 300 farmers will participate in the farmers’ market nutrition program (FMNP) initiative which provides an additional source of income to farmers.  More than $900,000 in checks will be available for eligible women, infants, children (WIC – FMNP) through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s local WIC offices and seniors (SFMNP) through the Maryland Department of Aging’s local senior centers to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs at farmers’ markets during the 2010 season. The program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by MDA in partnership with the Maryland Departments of Aging and Health and Mental Hygiene.  

The 2010 Maryland Farmers’ Market Directory print version will be available in mid May from MDA’s Marketing Division at 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis, 410-841-5770.