MDA Launches New Farmers Market Campaign: #GetYourFRESHon

ANNAPOLIS, MD –The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Maryland’s Best program is launching a new promotion of the state’s farmers markets this week – #GetYourFRESHon! The promotion includes seven digital billboards in the Baltimore area starting August 24 and a social media campaign.

“We’re encouraging consumers to get out to farmers markets and connect with farmers who are now offering their freshest products including produce, meats, dairy, and more,” said Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder. “As Governor Hogan stated, it’s not about buying fresh local food just one week a year, we need to buy Maryland products all year long.”

Using social media, MDA is urging smart-phone loving Marylanders to snap “selfies” with their favorite farmer and tweet or post them on Facebook using #GetYourFRESHon! The MDA’s Maryland’s Best program will use some of the hashtagged photos in its promotions of farmers markets and Maryland agriculture around the state.

The social media campaign will run until Dec. 1^st, after which MDA will pick a few favorite shots of consumers with their farmers that were tagged with #GetYourFRESHon!, and winners will be rewarded with a collection of Maryland’s Best goodies! This will include a the first two seasons of Maryland Public Television’s popular show Maryland Farm & Harvest on DVD an a basket of fresh local produce, Maryland cheeses and other artisan ‘goodies’.

(For those who haven’t caught the show yet, Season 3 begins November 10 at 7 p.m., don’t forget to tune in to see all the Maryland Ag has to offer!)

The summer months are traditionally strong months for Maryland farmers markets, but as Labor Day nears, MDA is reminding consumers that the markets are still filled with locally-grown fruits, vegetables, and many other products throughout the fall – which leaves plenty of time to #GetYourFRESHon!

Early varieties of apples are coming into season now. Peaches, watermelons, tomatoes, sweet corn and greens are all available. To find your local farmers market, as well as farm stands, pick your own operations and ag-tourism operations in Maryland, go to www.marylandsbest.net.

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