Maryland

Local, regional produce gains consumer interest

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:16:37 GMT

Companies have their own definition of what “local produce” means, but the consensus is the closer the better.

Calling U.S.A.-grown produce “local” is a bit of a stretch when it’s cross-country. Regional is better, and in-state is even better.

And produce that’s grown within 150 miles of consumption? Pretty much the best.

When it comes to tropical fruit and root vegetables, grown in South Florida is pretty local, said Jessie Capote, executive vice president of Miami-based J&C Tropicals . His family has been farming in the Homestead and Redlands agricultural areas of South Florida since 1963, growing items such as avocados, mangoes, dragon fruit, the boniato variety of sweet potato, lychee, starfruit, mamey sapote and limes.

“Before local was trending, we’ve been Florida-grown,” Capote said. “It’s an enormous part of our marketing effort. We’re very proud of our heritage.”

In all of J&C Tropicals’ labeling it says “J&C Tropicals Homegrown,” from the the PLU sticker on each piece of fruit and the packaging to in-store demontrations, retailer point-of-sale materials and all marketing and advertising.

July is right smack in the middle of South Florida’s tropical produce high season, which runs April through November.

About 30% of the company’s annual distribution comes from Florida and the rest is imported, but during this time of year, about 70% of the produce is from Florida, Capote said.

Some grocery stores are even growing produce within the store, such as the mushrooms at Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn, N.Y., where there is also a leafy greens grower on a rooftop greenhouse, Gotham Greens.

Hudson, Ohio-based Free! Leafy Greens, another hydroponic grower in controlled environment agriculture, ships salad greens to retailers as far as 200 miles from the farm, usually within 48 hours after harvest.

The concept for this company’s hands-free, fully automated cultivation method came in 2017, and the greenhouse started operating in February, said Mark Chenoweth, executive vice president of sales and marketing.

“Business has been great. Many retailers are reducing their conventionally grown product, choosing greenhouse-grown product due to the increased safety and freshness,” Chenoweth said.

State-grown brands

Most state agriculture departments offer state-grown, and sometimes certified, marketing tools featuring a logo, such as “Fresh from Florida,” “Maryland’s Best,” “Jersey Fresh,” “CA Grown” and “Go Texan.”

Launched in 1984, Jersey Fresh was possibly the first state-branding initiative of produce grown in the state.

“This year, with the stay-at-home orders in place and reduced traffic on New Jersey roadways, we opted to launch our season with targeted online display and responsive ads reaching primary shoppers who have shown an interest in fresh produce, and introduce billboards and radio as more and more people began to use their vehicles again,” said Joe Atchsion III, director of marketing and development at New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

All participants have access to Jersey Fresh point-of-purchase materials, including banners, price cards, bin wraps, pennants, stickers, truck decals, hats and aprons, along with a digital version of the Jersey Fresh logo in each company’s different marketing efforts.

Direct marketing and farmers markets

The steep drop in foodservice customers for growers has meant finding new revenue streams, such as direct marketing and farmers markets, both which can keep the produce distribution local.

State agriculture departments, such as Georgia and North Carolina, have created interactive maps and lists of where consumers can do curb-side pickup of produce from their local farmers.

Georgia’s department launched a Georgia Grown To-Go program, offering contactless drive-through markets around the state to support the state’s farmers.

The Atlanta State Farmers Market, which is also a wholesale market terminal, saw an increase in consumers shopping at the retail side, said Jeff Howard, markets manager.

“The pandemic, I think it’s brought more people outside. I think they learned to appreciate open-air shopping a little more. I walk this market every single day and talk to different vendors, and everyone’s talking about the uptick in sales,” Howard said.

The same is true in the Northeast.

Farmers markets didn’t close, even in New York City, which was once the epicenter of the pandemic.

“Farmers markets are reporting increases in business year-over-year, which they are attributing to COVID-19 and peoples’ desire for local products,” Atchison said.

Related content:
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Local produce matters

Maryland Best Food & Beverage Expo set for January

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:20:48 GMT

The Maryland Department of Agriculture will host Maryland’s Best Food & Beverage Expo on Jan. 22.

The event gives Maryland growers, seafood producers, and processors to connect with buyers from grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, food distributors, and other venues, according to a news release.

“The Maryland’s Best Expo is the premier event in the state where buyers from an array of industries can find all of the locally-produced products that Maryland consumers prefer,” Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder said in the release.

In 2019, the release said the event drew more than 400 attendees and exhibitors, including produce farmers, artisan cheese and ice cream producers, beef and bison farmers, grocery store representatives, chefs, school nutrition directors, distributors, economic development officials, Maryland Cooperative Extension, and regional agricultural marketing officials.

The event is set for the “N” Room at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, according to the release.

Maryland growers, watermen, and processors will be charged an exhibitor’s fee of $25 to help offset the cost of the event, and there is no fee for buyers to attend. For questions or for help registering, contact Karen Fedor at (410) 841-5773 or karen.fedor@maryland.gov.

Maryland’s Best promotes local fruits, vegetables

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:36 GMT

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland’s Best program is doing its part to make sure that the state’s fruits and vegetables are top of mind for consumers in the region.

“We have billboards right now promoting Maryland watermelons, sweet corn and everything else in season,” said Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing for the department of agriculture.

“We’re doing advertising promotions in the Baltimore and D.C. regions, on radio, print magazines,” he said.

“We are doing a big push to get people to buy Maryland produce where they can.”

In addition to advertising, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has been working with chain stores to supply Maryland’s Best point-of-sale materials this summer.

The Maryland Department of Ag offers a web page featuring the location and contact information for the state’s farmers markets, and an interactive map of direct marketers of fresh vegetables.

With restaurants closed or at limited capacity during much of the pandemic, Powell said grocery stores have been moving big volumes of local fruits and vegetables.

The “Keep Calm and Carry Out” social media campaign is a partnership between the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Office of Tourism and the Maryland

Restaurant Association to promote local food at the many restaurants across the state that continue to offer carry-out and delivery services.

A full list of restaurants with carryout is available for consumers on visitmaryland.org.

Powell said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program has been helpful to area distributors who lost restaurant sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some distributors also sold produce boxes directly to consumers.

“The food box program that USDA came out with has really helped distributors (with food box contracts),” he said.

“We are hoping that there can be more local produce boxes in the third round,” he said.

In September, the Maryland Department of Agriculture is having a joint promotion with the Maryland Restaurant Association.

Featuring three competitions on Sept 9, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, the events are qualifying competitions for the World Food Championships in November.

“The idea was to promote restaurants, assuming they are open,” he said.

Whether restaurants are fully open by then or just offering curbside pickup, the competition will go on in September, he said.

“Whatever the situation is, we will be doing this promotion to really try to push the restaurants and their sales, and try to help the industry that way,” Powell said.

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How Hungry Harvest made changes for sustainability

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:17:18 GMT

Building trust in food begins with empowering farmers through one of the largest and most diverse conservation- and sustainability-focused public-private partnerships in our nation’s history: America’s Conservation Ag Movement. To find the latest news and resources related to the Movement, visit AgWeb.com/ACAM .

Sometimes there is a steep upfront cost to change the way you operate your business in order to benefit the environment.

For instance, earning the USDA Organic label can take years and a lot of money.

But making a change toward better sustainability doesn’t have to be a huge overhaul of your farm or packing house’s systems, equipment and materials. Small steps can gradually lead to big change.

For instance, at Hungry Harvest in Jessup, Md., CEO and cofounder Evan Lutz found that simply paying more attention to inventory can lead to a significant reduction of waste.

Hungry Harvest purchases surplus produce or unusable produce due to appearance, and then sells direct-to-consumer customizable boxes of produce delivered to the door through an online subscription service.

You might think, “Wait, isn’t a food-rescue business supposed to reduce waste in the first place?” Yes.

And that’s a prime example of how no business is above an internal review. Everyone can do better.

It’s even possible to pull off during these tumultuous times of dramatic market changes and safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

And it can save you money too. That’s some good business.

Look for an article featuring Lutz and Hungry Harvest in the June 15 issue of The Packer, plus more articles on how Mid-Atlantic crops and marketing are doing as summer heats up.

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Cold temperatures, rain delay Mid-Atlantic’s crops

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:55:55 GMT

Mark Hickman climbed out of a hole in the ground where he switched on his irrigation pump for his potatoes and green beans.

“It’s just been an all-around odd year as far as weather,” said Hickman, operations manager and food safety director of Dublin Farms , Horntown, Va.

Summer harvests are later than usual after a cold, wet spring delayed some plantings in the mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

And many of those crops that planted on schedule matured more slowly than typical, a trend that affected much of the mid-Atlantic region, said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse.

Scuse expects much of the vegetable harvest to be delayed a week to 10 days.

“I don’t think that’s just Delaware. I think that’s across the mid-Atlantic and even into the South. It was a very cool, damp spring,” he said.

May frosts managed to leave many fruit growers unscathed, except for the damage some watermelon growers experienced, but “it was scary though, for our fruit growers, this late in the year,” Scuse said.

Vegetable volumes should be the same, as long as summer doesn’t bring too much rain.

DELAWARE

In Delaware, sweet corn under plastic could be ready by mid-June, he said. Snap beans may be ready by the end of June or early July, and cabbage, probably by mid-June.

Scuse expects watermelon to start shipping after mid-July.

Delaware ranks in the nation’s top 10 for sweet corn and watermelon, he said.

Smaller acreages of tomatoes, squash and cucumbers for fresh market will come throughout. Blueberries will follow strawberries in June, and then peaches come by the end of June, early July.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that for the week ending May 31, in Delaware:

the cantaloupe crop was 75% planted, compared to 61% planted the same time last year and 73% for the five-year average;
for cucumbers, 47% of the crop was planted, compared to 50% same time last year and 42% for the five-year average;
for snap beans, 59% of the crop was planted, compared to 54% last year and 51% for the five-year average;
for sweet corn, 69% was planted, compared to 39% last year and 56% for the five-year average; and
for watermelon, 78% of the crop was planted, compared to 67% the same time last year and 78% for the five-year average.

MARYLAND

Maryland gets its first local sweet corn by the end of June, said Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

“It looks like plantings are basically on track, although we got an awful lot of rain,” Powell said.

National statistics show that by the week ending May 31, Maryland had:

51% of cantaloupes planted compared to 55% the same time last year, and 53% of the five-year average;
96% of strawberries were in full bloom, compared to 92% the same time last year; and
57% of the tomato crop was planted, compared to 62% the same time last year and 56% for the five-year average.

VIRGINIA

In Virginia, apples, grapes, peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins are top specialty crops, the first four ranking in the top 10 among all U.S. states, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Economic Research Service.

According to the USDA’s 2019 State Agriculture Overview:

9,500 acres of apples were harvested, yielding about 20,000 pounds per acre, and excluding processed apples, it was valued at $0.25 per pound for fresh-market apples, resulting in $22.4 million in production value; and
5,600 acres of pumpkins were harvested, yielding 18,480 pounds per acre, for a total of 103.5 million pounds, $0.18 per pound, resulting in $16.4 million in production value.

Even though the growing weather was wet and cool until almost the start of June, much of Virginia’s harvests could be essentially on time, said Butch Nottingham, marketing specialist representing the eastern part of the state for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“Prospects look pretty good. We’ve got good moisture,” he said, acknowledging that the late frosts could affect some growers.

By the way it looked at the beginning of June, potatoes should start about June 20 and continue through July, possibly into early August, Nottingham said. Potato acreage dropped by about 500 acres for a total of about 3,000 acres this year, he said, as a large farm purchase transitioned some cropland.

Dublin Farms’ potato crop is 10 days to two weeks behind schedule primarily because of two frosts on April 19 and May 10, Hickman said.

About 300 of 500 acres of white, yellow and red-skinned potatoes burned from the frost, and the stressed potatoes haven’t been sizing up like they usually do since.

Typically, 60% to 70% of Hickman’s crop is the retailer-preferred A size, which is 2¼ to 2¾ inches in diameter.

Some potatoes are turning out grape-sized, which can’t be used. Others are more golf-ball sized, or the B size that’s 1½ to 2¼ inches diameter. Also called creamers, this size is typically used in foodservice for roasting.

“Right now, A size is the only thing with a home, because with restaurants closed, there’s no need for the smaller ones. The only thing moving is what’s sold in grocery stores,” Hickman said.

“We’re a little worried about it, so we’re hopeful things will open quickly, as some places go into Phase 2 of reopening restaurants.”

Hickman likes to start shipping July 1, but it may not be until about July 4, optimistically. Most of the potatoes end up at the terminal markets in Jessup, Md.; New York; Boston and Philadelphia, as well as at repacker facilities.

“We didn’t quite realize how much of our product was ending up at foodservice until now because someone else would buy it, and then it would go to foodservice,” he said.

If foodservice business doesn’t pick up in time, Hickman is considering how the company can modify sorting lines so that after the potatoes are graded, it can pack the B-sized potatoes into 2,000-pound tote bags, which is typically what goes to a repacker.

And he’s looking into directing some to soup processing plants.

“It’s very cheap, but it is a way of getting rid of them. And Bs typically bring a premium because there are less of them. But at least you’re getting something for them rather than nothing,” Hickman said.

Dublin Farms also grows string beans for processing and fresh market for C&E Farms, Cheriton, Va. From there, the green beans will ship direct to retailers and to terminal markets.

The tomato deal ought to crank up July 1 and go through September, possibly into October.

“Although they might be a little late because it was kinda wet getting started,” Nottingham said.

He expects shipping to begin July 8 for cherry and grape tomatoes and July 11 for round and roma tomatoes.

Green beans from one of the largest growers of the commodity on the East Coast, C&E Farms, should be ready by mid-June.

More inland, flat or “donut” peaches should reach their peak in mid-July, most coming from near Charlottesville at Crown Orchard Co. , Covesville, Va., the largest donut peach producer in the state and a major player on the East Coast, Nottingham said.

Related news: Mid-Atlantic Produce

Maryland: E. coli related to romaine in Ready Pac salad

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:20:01 GMT

The Maryland Department of Health is advising consumers to not eat Ready Pac Bistro Bowl Chicken Caesar Salads with specific lot numbers, after seven cases of E. coli were reported in the state.

All of the patients reported eating the Ready Pac brand salad sold at Sam’s Clubs in Maryland, and when an unopened salad purchased by one of the consumers was tested, E. coli was identified on romaine lettuce, according to a news release from the state health department.

The lot number is 255406963, and other salads have been distributed to “many other retailers,” according to the Maryland department, although no other retailers have been named in connection to the outbreak. Additional lab tests are pending, according to the agency.

In a statement by Bonduelle Fresh Americas, which markets the Ready Pac brand, the company said it is working with the Maryland agency to identify the “possible root cause to reduce possible impacts to consumers.”

The salads linked to the illnesses have use-by dates of Oct. 31, according to the Maryland department.

“Because the products identified are already significantly past their use-by dates, we are not taking any recall action, and it does not affect any product currently on store shelves,” according to the Bonduelle Fresh Americas statement. “As always, please abide by any use-by dates, and do not consume any products that have exceeded these dates.”

The company tests all leafy greens for pathogens in the fields before harvest, including E. coli O157:H7, which has been identified as the pathogen in the Maryland cases.

“During this time frame, we did not have any positive test results for E. coli O157:H7,” according to the Bonduellle Fresh Americas statement.
The salads have Universal Product Codes of 7774527249.

Related stories:

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Romaine Task force calls for action, further study of outbreak causes

Idaho Potato Commission’s Don Odiorne gets CAFÉ Champion Award

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:36:44 GMT

Don Odiorne was honored with the first Champion Award from the Annapolis, Md.-based Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education for his help connecting the foodservice industry to culinary educators.

Odiorne, who recently retired as the Idaho Potato Commission’s vice president of foodservice, received the surprise recognition during CAFÉ’s 15th annual Leadership Conference in Charlotte, N.C., June 20-22, according to a news release. Odiorne was with the commission for 30 years.

The award recognizes individuals who have assisted CAFÉ in linking the foodservice industry with culinary educators throughout the nation.

“Without the support and encouragement of engaged industry partners like Don Odiorne and IPC, it would have been difficult to succeed when there are so many challenges facing, not only the foodservice industry, but also culinary education and its delivery, relevance and outreach. Don has helped immeasurably with the obstacles facing culinary programs in the U.S,” CAFÉ President Mary Petersen said in the release.

Odiorne’s vision included sponsoring the IPC Innovation Award, recognizing innovative approaches to culinary arts education at the secondary and postsecondary levels. This award is presented during CAFÉ’s annual Leadership Conference and is open to culinary arts instructors nationwide. More than 40 instructors have received awards totaling more than $50,000 in scholarship funds, according to the release.

Odiorne began his foodservice career in Denver. He owned fresh pasta restaurants, a regional pizza franchise and consulted on several major sandwich, coffee and dessert concepts. Before joining the Idaho Potato Commission, Odiorne was promotions director for the California Lettuce Commission in Salinas, Calif.

Odiorne directed the www.idahopotato.com website, creating the Dr. Potato blog, which now has more than 600 posts of tips on potato preparation. He also worked with more than 100 food bloggers to encourage the use of Idaho potatoes in their recipes and videos.

His additional awards include The Packer’s Foodservice Achievement Award in 2013, International Foodservice Editorial Council’s annual Betty award for foodservice publicity, and in the food blogger community he received the Camp Blogaway Golden Pinecone for brand excellence as well as the Sunday Suppers Brand partnership award.

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Maryland's Best Expo set for Jan. 19

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:45:19 GMT

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will host the Maryland’s Best Expo on Wednesday, January 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

Returning for its eighteenth year, after being canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-10 pandemic, the Maryland’s Best Expo provides an opportunity for Maryland farmers, seafood producers, and processors to connect with buyers from grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, food distributors, and other venues.

“We are thrilled to be back in person and hosting the 2022 Maryland’s Best Expo,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “This premiere event plays an important role in connecting our Maryland farmers and producers to buyers from around the state. Over the past two decades, MDA’s Marketing Program, Maryland’s Best, has promoted our state’s agricultural and seafood products, and expanded markets for our farmers and producers. I am incredibly proud of their work and grateful for their efforts.”

The 2020 Maryland’s Best Expo attracted more than 300 attendees. Participants included farmers, producers, watermen, aquaculturists, processors, grocery store retailers, restaurants, schools, institutions, distributors, economic development officials, University of Maryland Extension (UME) agents, and regional agricultural marketing officials. The Maryland Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition will also be meeting during the Expo.

This year’s event will be held in the “N Room” at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis. Registration is required. The deadline to sign up is January 5, 2022. There is a $25 fee for a table display space. There is no fee for buyers, but they must register. For more information on the expo or to register, visit the Maryland’s Best website.

You should attend this event if you are:

A Maryland grower, watermen, seafood company, or processor interested in finding new markets for your products;
A buyer from a grocery store, restaurant, hospital, school, or other venue looking to purchase Maryland grown or produced products; or
A service provider in agriculture or local food (such as a UME county extension agent, food writer, etc.).
The types of local products that buyers will typically find are:

Fruits and vegetables
Meats (such as poultry, beef, and bison)
Dairy products (cow, sheep, and goats milk/cheese; icecream; yogurt; and butter)
Seafood (such as crabmeat, oysters, and rockfish)
Craft Beverages (beer, wine, spirits, juices, kombucha, coffee, etc.)
Specialty products (including hemp products, sauces, baked goods, chocolate, soups, flour, etc.)

For questions or help registering, please contact Karen Fedor at (410) 841-5773 or karen.fedor@maryland.gov.

Maryland produce industry beefs up resiliency

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:36:20 GMT

Cautiously optimistic is the feeling of at least one produce wholesaler at the heart of the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area, while state officials are taking action to beef up the supply chain’s resiliency amid crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Foodservice is coming back, but we are cautiously anticipating what happens this autumn, if the Delta variant affects indoor dining,” said Anthony “Tony” Vitrano, president of Tony Vitrano Co. , based at the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Jessup, Md.

Almost 30 firms operate from the market terminal. Vitrano’s company distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to the region, including foodservice companies that count schools and universities as customers.

“The DC-Baltimore area is home to a number of colleges, so hopefully that should lead to more business,” he said.

Besides the improvements necessary during the pandemic, the company has upgraded its security system and keeps adding to its truck fleet.

Resiliency means finding customers wherever they are in this ever-changing climate.

This urban Mid-Atlantic region is home to a large immigrant population.

“So, serving them requires carrying a number of items that were considered specialty items in the past, but now are part of our regular inventory,” Vitrano said.

Maryland’s General Assembly has created a Food System Resiliency Council to find solutions to the problems of 2020 and 2021, said Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing at Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The council is co-chaired by Russ Strickland, executive director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and Heather Bruskin of the Montgomery County Food Council, a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Md.

“This council is looking at what the pandemic did to the state’s food distribution systems,” Powell said.

The council has convened virtually June 24 and July 30 so far.

At the most recent meeting, experts gave several presentations:

Food access programming;
Regional approach to feeding response during COVID-19;
Food as critical infrastructure; and
UMES Extension Small Farms Program.

Also, the state is implementing a new law, the Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program, Powell said.

“This requires that vendors selling to Maryland state institutions,” he said, such as prisons, and universities, “aim for a 20% goal of products from the farmers on our certified farmer list.”

This program requires that farmers on the list meet Maryland’s nutrient management law.

Maryland marketers push ‘buy local’ on social

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:53 GMT

The Maryland Department of Agriculture recognizes the power of social media in its 2021 promotional efforts, as more and more people are glued to their phones.

So, when promoting the Buy Local Challenge, created in 2006, department officials focused on social media, as well as other platforms.

Maryland Buy Local Week was July 17-25.

“Our Facebook posts reached nearly 100,000 in Maryland. Our Twitter posts reached more than 52,000,” said Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing at the state agriculture department.

The campaign also used billboards promoting local sweet corn and watermelons in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., markets: That reached more than 2.5 million people, he said.

“Our goal is to increase sales of local product while it is abundant,” Powell said. “We are promoting farmers markets now.”

Aug. 1 started Maryland Farmers Market Week. Next up will be Mar-Del watermelons and then peaches.

“After watermelon and peach promos, we go into billboard, radio and social media ads promoting Maryland apples,” he said.

Marylanders are encouraged to visit MarylandsBest.net to be connected with fresh produce, as well as meat products, farm-made ice cream and craft beverages across the state.

“Buying local puts more money back into the pockets of our farmers, watermen and producers, allowing them to grow their operations, hire more people, support other local businesses, and reinvest in their communities,” said Gov. Larry Hogan in a news release.

The department’s marketing program, Maryland’s Best, also shared a series of recipe videos from local chefs throughout the week that highlight the state’s outstanding culinary culture. Maryland’s agriculture and seafood industries contribute more than $16 billion to the state’s economy and account for more than 68,000 jobs, according to a 2018 study from BEACON at Salisbury University . Nearly 1,350 Maryland farmers sell directly to consumers, generating more than $54 million in sales annually, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture .

The department encouraged those who participated to use the hashtags #MDBuyLocal2021 and #BuyLocalChallenge on social media.

“All of our surveys show extremely strong demand for local product. Our farmers have lots of market opportunities: Sales through farmstands and farmers markets, grocery stores, institutions and restaurants,” Powell said. “For grocery stores looking to build a strong local program in our state, we really think focusing on Maryland product, versus regional, is the way to go. It takes some work, but MDA can help buyers build those connections.”

Maryland’s Best Expo set

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:36:07 GMT

The historical Maryland’s Best Expo, now in its 18th year, will once again give buyers from supermarkets, schools, foodservice operations and food distributors a chance to mingle with farmers and other food producers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 19, 2022.

The expo was launched 19 years ago, when a handful of produce farmers gathered with some buyers in the basement of the agriculture department, Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, said.
There was no expo in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 400 people are expected to attend the 2022 event.

The Maryland Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition will also meet during the expo.

The event will be held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

“This premiere event plays an important role in connecting our Maryland farmers and producers to buyers from around the state,” Joe Bartenfelder, Maryland’s agriculture secretary, said in a news release.

Participants at the 2020 Maryland’s Best Expo included farmers, producers, watermen, aquaculturists, processors, grocery store retailers, restaurants, schools, institutions, distributors, economic development officials, University of Maryland Extension agents and regional agricultural marketing officials.

The Maryland’s Best campaign is in its 20th year, Powell said.
“It all ties into the demand for local product in Maryland,” he said. “All our surveys indicate that local food is popular.”

The promotional program presents weekly profiles on public television and advertises on public radio and in newspapers and other media to tout Maryland products, he said.

“Basically, grocery store chains and other businesses are benefitting from all that advertising,” Powell said. “It’s definitely been a successful campaign.”

Registration is required for the expo. Deadline to sign up is Jan. 5, 2022.

There is a $25 fee for a table display space. There is no fee for buyers, but they must register.

For more information about the expo or to register, visit marylandsbest.maryland.gov.

Pete Pappas & Sons wins sustainability leadership award

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:41:45 GMT

Jessup, Md.-based Pete Pappas & Sons has won a 2022 Sustainability Leadership Award from the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Green Registry.

The award recognizes the produce distributor’s sustainability achievements in areas such as landfill diversion, food-waste minimization, composting, recycling, energy and water conservation, and reducing the overall environmental impacts of doing business, according to a news release.

“We are thrilled to be a 2022 Sustainability Leadership Award winner,” Helen Pappas, director of marketing and sustainability, said in the release. “Our commitment to sustainability yields measurable successes for our green business, including the diversion of millions of pounds of waste away from landfills each year. Pete Pappas & Sons proudly sets an example in sustainable business practices for companies throughout Maryland and the fresh produce industry.”

The release said the Maryland Green Registry recognizes organizations that have shown a strong commitment to the implementation of sustainable practices, the demonstration of measurable results and the continual improvement of environmental performance with the leadership awards.

The company’s sustainability review is available at www.petepappasinc.com/sustainability.

More information on 2022 Sustainability Leadership Awards can be found online .

Will The Collapse Of The Baltimore Key Bridge Impact Agriculture?

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:21:53 GMT

Early Tuesday morning, a cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse. The Port of Baltimore later announced all vessel traffic in and out of the port is suspended indefinitely.

pic.twitter.com/VUDcNw0z5T
— Port of Baltimore (@portofbalt) March 26, 2024

Mike Steenhoek, executive director at the Soy Transportation Coalition, joined the AgriTalk podcast shortly after to share what this devastating event could mean for shipping and the agriculture industry.

“[The Port of Baltimore] doesn’t accommodate a lot in terms of agricultural exports,” he says. “Sugar would be No. 1, then soybeans No. 2, grain products including corn and wheat are No. 3 and then coffee and grocery items.”

According to Steenhoek, the Port of Baltimore exports around 200,000 metric tons of soybeans. In comparison, the Mississippi Gulf near New Orleans is the No. 1 export region for soybeans and exports 35 million metric tons.

He shares the port is a larger importer and exporter of automobiles and light trucks, but the supply chain can have a ripple effect.

“It’s all a part of this big issue that when it comes to supply chains: don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,” Steenhoek says. “The more you can spread your eggs across multiple baskets, the better you are, and the more resilient you are. So, we take real concern when you’ve got a major disruption at one of our ports.”

During a press conference, Maryland transportation secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said it’s too early to tell how long the port will be closed.

Top retailers in the Northeast by market share

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:42:35 GMT

Each year, The Shelby Report showcases valuable retail market share data. In the interactive map below, find each major market around the Northeast. Also, highlighted are the major cities in each market.

All markets are “labeled” or identified by their primary state (with metros or key cities). Percentages are estimates based on annualized sales, industry data, institutional research and store footprints. Shares are updated as market metrics dictate and retailers supply their store lists.*

Market shares are for chains, independents and/or the wholesalers (voluntary or cooperative) which supply them within each region’s distribution area, extending well beyond typical metros or CBSAs. Each market is defined by the sphere of distribution, not by a rigid geographic boundary.

Major cities in each market:

Connecticut/Massachusets/Vermont - Hartford, Springfield, Montpelier
East Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey - Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilmington, Dover, Camden, Trenton
Maryland/DC/N. Virginia/Delaware - Baltimore, Washington, Arlington, Charlottesville, Georgetown
Massachusets/Rhode Island/New Hampshire/Maine - Boston, Providence, Manchester, Portland, Bangor
New York/ New Jersey - New York City, Newark
Upstate New York - Vermont - Albany, Syracuse, Burlington
Western New York - Northern Pennsylvania - Buffalo, Rochester
Western Pennsylvania -West Virginia-Maryland - Pittsburg, Erie, Morgantown

USApple awards Baltimore school with Apples4Ed Grant

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:38:07 GMT

The U.S. Apple Association awarded a $4,000 grant to Baltimore’s Robert W. Coleman Elementary as part of its 2019 Apples4Ed program.

The grant will provide about 200 “weekend survival” food-filled backpacks to its homeless student population, according to the association’s news release.

“Receiving numerous applications from across the country, Robert W. Coleman Elementary really stood out because of its critical need to provide students with healthy, substantive food they otherwise might not receive,” apple association president and CEO Jim Bair in the release.

Nearly 3,000 students in Baltimore are homeless, which means they may get free meals at school during the weekdays, but on the weekends, they are likely to go without, according to the release.

Through Heart’s Place Services Inc., a homeless charity, Weekend Survival Backpacks are given to homeless students at the end of each week to feed a family of three. Robert W. Coleman Elementary is one of 11 elementary schools in Baltimore that participates in the program.

Also attending the grant presentation was U.S. Apple Association board member Ryan Hess from Hess Brothers Fruit Co., Lancaster, Pa., which provided apples for the entire student body.

Applications for 2020 Apples4Ed funding will open in August.

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