Make it Maryland this July 4th Holiday and Taste the Difference

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2011) – The Fourth of July weekend is almost upon us. It is a time for family, friends and of course, delicious food. What better way to celebrate America’s independence than to indulge in delicious, locally grown food? Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance, encourages you to support Maryland farmers by remembering to buy local and enjoy the best our great state has to offer.

“Buying locally grown products this Fourth of July weekend is a great way to show your patriotism and support of Maryland agriculture – the State’s leading industry,” said Secretary Hance. “It not only tastes delicious – buying locally is a key to ensuring a smart, green and growing future for Maryland families. It preserves farmland, protects the environment, keeps our money in Maryland, and provides fresh, nutritious food for a healthy diet.”

To find a local farmer or producer near you to provide fresh meats, cheese, bread, fruits, vegetables, ice cream and more for your meals this holiday weekend and every day, visit www.marylandsbest.net. To find local seafood, check out the Maryland seafood directory online at www.marylandseafood.org. For information on Maryland wines, go to www.marylandwine.com. Below are a few home grown ideas for your next cookout:

• Hot Dogs/Brats: Binkerts, Roseda
• Hamburgers: Southern Maryland Meats, Roseda, Cedar Run Farm, Deer Creek Farm, Hickory Chance Beef, Ivy Neck, Cedar Run Farm, Daniel Rohrer’s Farm, Deer Creek Beef
• Chicken: Groff’s Content, England Acres, Ferguson Family Farms, Perdue
• Buns & Bread: Atwaters, H&S Bakery, Great Harvest, Magnolia Bread, Stone Hearth Bakery
• Soft Drinks: Honest Tea, Silence Tea
• Coffee: Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co., Zekes, Mayorga Coffee, Cosmic Bean Coffee
• Chips and snacks: Snikiddy’s, Lays
• Salsa/Sauces/Seasonings: Todd’s Dirt Seasonings, J.O. Spice Company, Mama Vida, Vann’s Spices
• Baked goods: Smith Island Cake
• Beer: Flying Dog, Heavy Seas
• Cheese: Firefly Farms, Palmyra Cheese, Eve’s Cheese

In addition to buying locally, the Maryland Department of Agriculture reminds consumers to follow basic food safety guidelines when making your Maryland meals to help keep family and friends healthy.

General guidelines
• Start with the basics – always wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after handling food.
• Use separate clean utensils, cutting boards and serving dishes for raw and cooked foods, and wash thoroughly with warm, soapy water before re-using. Never serve grilled/ cooked food on the same dish that held uncooked eggs, raw meat, poultry or fish.

For fresh produce
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing and eating.
• Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There’s no need to use soap or a produce wash.
• Wash produce before you peel it so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife onto the fruit or veggie.
• Use a vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers.
• Dry product with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
• Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.

Meat thermometer guidelines
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure foods reach safe internal temperatures because cooking by checking the color of the meat is not enough. For example, hamburgers should be cooked to 160° F, poultry to 165° F, pork to 160° F and large cuts of beef to 145° F for medium rare, and 160° F for medium.
• Insert a meat thermometer horizontally into the center of the burger, steak or poultry for
10-15 seconds to register the internal temperature.

Additional food safety guidelines
• Carry food in a cooler with a cold pack and keep it in the shade with the lid on. The temperature inside the cooler should be 41°F or less.
• Never leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. When outdoor temperatures reach 90° F, food shouldn’t be left out for more than an hour. If foods are left out for this long in these instances, throw them away.
• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

For more information, visit www.foodsafety.gov, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry toll-free hotline at 800-535-4555, or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Information Line at 888-SAFE-FOOD.

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(Editor’s note: This is not a complete list of all Maryland foods or companies nor does it imply an endorsement of the product.)