Proposed rules regulating the advertising of “local” foods have been drafted by MDA as part of a law signed by Governor O’Malley earlier this year which seeks to bring clarity to consumers as to what constitutes local. The proposal has been submitted for publication in the Maryland Register for public comment.  Check MDA’s website under “Hot Topics” in mid-December for a link to the Register.

The law authorizes the Secretary to regulate the use of the terms “local” or “locally grown” when used to advertise agricultural products.  It aims to support Maryland farmers and provide transparency to consumers interested in purchasing local foods by informing Marylanders about their local foods purchases.  In recent years, interest in locally produced foods has surged, leading to the rapid growth of farmer’s markets, and the appearance of Maryland products in restaurants and grocery stores.  However, there has been little agreement as to the definition of “local” foods.  A task force  of farmers, retail representatives, consumer advocates, and other interested stakeholders provided input for the proposal.
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg

MDA is proposing revised nutrient management guidance related to nutrient applications on soybeans. Farmers using organic sources of nutrients, including manure, for soybean production will be required to apply nutrients based on the crop uptake of phosphorus, or as determined by a soil test and the related recommended rate of phosphorus for the crop. However, application rates can not exceed 50 pounds per acre of plant available nitrogen. This proposed policy helps farmers utilize manure, which is a valuable nutrient source, to meet soybean phosphorus needs, and was developed after discussions with the agriculture community, agronomists, and the University of Maryland scientists.  The new policy is officially considered draft until it goes through the state regulatory process.

For more information, consult an MDA Nutrient Management staff person. Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg.

Maryland hosted its inaugural aquaculture conference in Annapolis on November 9-10 attended by about 150 watermen, aqua-farmers, government officials, natural resource, economic development and agriculture experts.  The Maryland Aquaculture Conference focused on all aspects of establishing shellfish aquaculture businesses in Maryland. These businesses will provide economic growth and employment to rural areas while aiding the environment. Click here to learn more.

Governor Martin O’Malley recently announced a new program to provide affordable financing to watermen and others interested in launching or expanding commercial shellfish aquaculture operations in Maryland.  Of the State’s $10.6 million oyster restoration budget for fiscal year 2011, $2.2 million in subsidized loans will be available for aquaculture projects through a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO).  In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services launched a new, complementary funding program for shellfish aquafarming businesses.

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to support Maryland agriculture through the purchase of farm-fresh products for decorations around the home, unique gifts, and locally-produced food and drinks for every holiday meal.  Click here to find out about the seasonal bounty offered by Maryland’s farms including lists of farmers’ markets, Maryland wineries, local seafood retailers, turkey growers, and choose-and-cut or retail operations selling Maryland-grown Christmas trees. The Maryland Christmas Tree Association has also published a directory of Choose & Cut Farms, which lists dozens of locations across Maryland where families can harvest their own Christmas trees. 

There are many ways to buy locally and support Maryland’s farmers all year long.  A few farmers’ markets across the State are open through the month of December and continue to offer fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce such as apples, pears, persimmons, greens, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash, and beets.  Several markets also offer a variety of farm-made products like baked goods, honey, jams, jellies, syrups, cider, and an assortment of holiday gift items.  Consumers can also purchase a variety of meats and cheeses directly from the farms where they were produced.  One of Maryland’s more than 400 different wines, along with fresh seafood from the Bay, will round out any holiday meal.

Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg

Lucie Snodgrass, author of Dishing Up Maryland, a cookbook featuring local agricultural products and the growers who raise them, recently made a generous donation to the Maryland’s Best program.  The contribution is a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book and will be used to promote the sale of Maryland products through the Maryland’s Best website.

“Lucie Snodgrass absolutely cares about this state’s farmers, as witnessed in her wonderful book. This donation to the Maryland’s Best program will help us promote Maryland-grown agricultural products and our farmers. We thank her,” said MDA Chief of Marketing Mark Powell.  Photo L-R: Dep. Secretary Mary Ellen Setting, Lucie Snodgrass, Mark Powell

The Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture (GICA) has developed a draft “tool kit” to help Maryland counties support  local farmers.  The tool kit, “Understanding and Responding to the Changing Face of Maryland Agriculture: A Resource for Local Communities,” aims to inform communities and local officials about the current context within which their farmers operate.  The document outlines the most pressing concerns of farmers, as voiced in a 2010 survey presented at the Governor’s Agriculture Forum, held earlier this year, and lays out the importance of the industry to Maryland.  It also provides contacts and potential policies that can help facilitate both profitable agriculture and a high quality of life.  Click here to view the draft document.

GICA is a public-private and interagency workgroup that is ideal for the task, as it seeks to promote better collaboration across state agencies and with citizens in an effort to support Maryland’s agricultural sector.  As a result, the toolkit was able to gain broad-based input from a wide variety of contributors, to present a comprehensive look at the industry. GICA members will review the draft and welcome public comments.

For more than three decades, Deanna Baldwin has been working to protect Maryland consumers and the food we eat. She started as an agricultural inspector in 1978 and currently manages the Food Quality Assurance Program.  Providing consumers with high quality agricultural food products, while maintaining fair business practices and marketing the agricultural industry, are the main goals of the Food Quality Assurance Office. Other tasks of the program include promoting good agricultural practices and overseeing the Organic Certification Program, Maryland Egg Law enforcement, the Grain Dealers Licensing Law, and food safety audits for eggs and produce.  Her favorite part of the job is, “working in the field with the farmers and egg producers.”

Over the years, her job has changed slightly due to the increased consumer demand for organic products.  When Ms. Baldwin started in this field, there was no Organic Certification Program, and the eggs were considered safe only if the shell was clean.  In the late 1980s it was discovered that salmonella could occur inside the egg.  This discovery led to new production practices to minimize the risk of salmonella enteritidis contaminating the egg.

Ms. Baldwin’s experiences within this field include inspecting shell eggs for quality, labeling, condition and handling at the packer, wholesale, and retail levels, inspecting egg production facilities for compliance with the egg quality assurance program requirements, and conducting inspections under the authority of the federal Egg Products Inspection Act.

Ms. Baldwin attended the University of Maryland, College Park, and majored in Agronomy.  She has one brother, and grew up on a fruit and vegetable farm, which ran its own road-side produce stand in Baltimore.

Ms. Baldwin is also an active member of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, Association of American Warehouse Control officials, and the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Inspection and Standardization Agencies.  In her spare time, she enjoys visiting her daughter at college.

Courtesy of Lucie Snodgrass, author of  Dishing Up Maryland. Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg.

6-8 large sweet potatoes
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup milk, heated
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups pecan halves
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.  Prick the sweet potatoes and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until soft. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.

2. Cut the sweet potatoes open, scoop out all the flesh, and spoon it into a large mixing bowl. Add 1 stick of the butter, the warm milk, vanilla and salt. Beat the sweet potato mixture until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Butter a large baking dish and spoon the sweet potato mixture into it. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes.

3. While the casserole is baking, make the topping: Melt the remaining 1 stick of butter in the microwave and let it cool for 5 minutes. Mix the pecans, brown sugar and flour together with the melted butter.

4. Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover it. Spoon the topping over the casserole and return it to the oven, uncovered. Bake 15 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Serves 12.

This Year, Buy a Real, Fresh Christmas Tree!
Support Maryland Farmers, Buy Local

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to support Maryland agriculture through the purchase of farm-fresh products for decorations around the home, unique gifts, and locally-produced food and drinks for every holiday feast.  Maryland’s Best is your source to the best locally grown, sustainable and eco-friendly products from Maryland farmers including choose-and-cut or retail operations selling Maryland-grown Christmas trees. The Maryland Christmas Tree Association also publishes a directory of Choose & Cut Farms, which lists dozens of locations across Maryland where families can harvest their own Christmas trees.