Maryland Buyer Grower Expo to be Held Jan 22

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will hold a buy-local expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The event will provide Maryland growers, producers, and processors with an opportunity to connect with buyers from grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, institutions, and other venues.

Registration is $20 for growers, producers, and processors if received before December 17. After that, the fee goes up to $40. There is no fee for buyers to attend. To register or for more information, visit www.marylandsbest.net.

The event is geared toward Maryland growers, producers, or processors interested in finding new markets; buyers from grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, schools, or other venues; and service providers or others interested in local food, such as county extension agents, food writers, etc. The types of local products that buyers will typically find at this meeting are: fruits and vegetables, meats (such as beef, turkey, and bison), cheeses (both cow’s and goat’s milk), seafood (such as crabmeat and oysters) and specialty products, including locally made ice cream, soups, flour, wine and more.

The 2012 trade show attracted more than 300 registrants, 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 officials, and regional agricultural marketing officials.

The expo is partially funded through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program, the USDA Risk Management Agency, The Maryland Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service (ACReS), Southern Maryland Agricultural Development (SMADC), Maryland Wineries Association, and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based Industry Development Corp (MARBIDCO).

Rising consumer demand for locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, meats, and specialty items is sparking more interest in Maryland products from commercial purchasing agents. Maryland’s farmers play an important role in providing local, healthy food, saving open farmland, and expanding rural economies. MDA’s marketing division has several on-going programs to link farmers with regional buyers and local consumers: the Maryland’s Best branding program, farmers’ market development, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, and the Farm to School Program.

For questions or help registering, contact Stone Slade at MDA at (410) 841-5779 or [email protected]

See the 2012 Buyer-Grower Expo Directory. To see a brief video of the 2010 Buyer Grower Expo, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rri9dcpjTX8&feature=youtu.be