New Episode of Maryland Farm & Harvest premieres December 13

Popular weekly series showcases Maryland’s largest industry

Canning produce from Open Straw Farm at Woodberry Kitchen (Credit: MPT).

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest is now in its fourth season with new half-hour episodes airing Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The series puts a human face on Maryland agriculture by telling stories of the people, skills and technology required to sustain and grow the state’s number one industry. Episode 405 will premiere Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m.

Joanne Clendining, who earned an Emmy® from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter (NCCBC) of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her work as Maryland Farm & Harvest host, returns for season four.  Joining Joanne is Contributing Editor Al Spoler, who serves up the Local Buy segment during each episode.

Featured on this week’s episode:

• Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Diagnostic Lab in Salisbury and Andrew McClean of Relief Farm in Queen Anne’s County. The segment focuses on Avian Influenza—a highly contagious virus among poultry, which threatens millions of chickens raised on the Eastern Shore. Viewers will learn how veterinarians, farmers and state officials are keeping these birds – and our food supply – safe.

• Godfrey Farms in Queen Anne’s County. Tom and Lisa Godfrey discuss how they handle produce grown on their farm to lower the risk of contamination and prevent dangerous outbreaks of foodborne illness.

• Mark Mills of Chocolates and Tomatoes Farm in Poolesville and Tanya Spandala of Passion to Seed Gardening in Mills and Spandala are novice farmers living out their dreams of working the land thanks to Montgomery County’s New Farmer Project, a pilot program designed to support new growers.

• One Straw Farm in White Hall and Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore City. Al Spoler’s weekly Buy Local segment will show viewers how the staff at Woodberry Kitchen cans fresh, local produce from One Straw Farm to use year-round in its recipes.

The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each show also airs on MPT2 on Fridays at 7 p.m.  For more information visit mpt.org/farm.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

Additional funding is provided by Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Soybean Board; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts.  Other support comes from the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; Willard Agri-Service Company; the Maryland Farm Bureau Service Company; the Mar-Del Watermelon Association; and the Maryland Grape Growers Association.

About MPT

Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).  MPT’s six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia.  Frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows.  Beyond broadcast, MPT’s commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through year-round instructional events and the super-website Thinkport, which garners in excess of 19 million page views annually.  MPT’s community engagement connects viewers with local resources on significant health, education, and public interest topics through year-round outreach events, viewer forums, program screenings, and phone bank call-in opportunities.

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Follow the Maryland Department of Agriculture on Twitter @MdAgDept