{"id":29942,"date":"2026-07-30T10:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=29942"},"modified":"2026-07-30T10:29:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:29:38","slug":"kick-off-the-2026-farmers-market-week-in-reisterstown-on-august-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2026\/07\/30\/kick-off-the-2026-farmers-market-week-in-reisterstown-on-august-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Kick-Off the 2026 Farmers Market Week in Reisterstown on August 2!"},"content":{"rendered":"

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 30, 2026)<\/b>\u2013 On <\/span>Sunday, August 2, 2026<\/b>, join Maryland\u2019s Best to kick-off Maryland Farmers Market Week at the <\/span>Reisterstown Farmers Market<\/span><\/a>! To celebrate this national recognition of the vital role farmers play in our food system, <\/span>Maryland Governor Wes Moore<\/b> has<\/span> declared August 2-8, 2026 as <\/span>Maryland Farmers Market Week<\/b><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryland\u2019s Best<\/span><\/a>\u2014the marketing arm of the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)\u2014will be at the Reisterstown Farmers Market, located outside of Franklin Middle School, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET. The celebration will feature a chef competition sponsored by the <\/span>Restaurant Association of Maryland<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>World Food Championships<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Competitors will have to shop from the local farmers market and use at least five Maryland-grown ingredients in their dish, including at least one protein. Dishes will be judged by a blind panel of judges including MDA Chief of Staff Harrison Palmer, Fox45 BMORE Lifestyle Host <\/span>Tiffany \u201cLady T\u201d Watson and Chef Matthew Lego of <\/span>Leo Annapolis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maryland\u2019s Best 2026 Chef Partner of the Year<\/span><\/a>. Participants will vie for a \u201cGolden Ticket\u201d that enables them to compete at the World Food Championships, which will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana this October. More information about the cooking competition can be found on the Reisterstown Farmers Market Facebook page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We are incredibly excited to be hosting this year’s competition at the Reisterstown Farmers Market and highlight our wonderful farmers, food producers and vendors who make our local food community so special,\u201d <\/span>said<\/b> Samantha Kahan, manager of the Reisterstown Farmers Market.<\/b> \u201cThis event brings farm to table to life, showcasing the freshest local ingredients being grown right here in our community. We look forward to celebrating our chefs, vendors, customers and the vibrant local food community we are building together!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryland\u2019s Best will promote farmers markets throughout the week to encourage consumers to shop local. With over 100 farmers markets throughout the state, consumers can locate the one nearest to them by visiting <\/span>marylandsbest.net<\/span><\/a> and entering their zip code.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe love having a dedicated week to celebrate the farmers, community partners and food access organizations that make Maryland\u2019s farmers markets thrive,\u201d <\/span>said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks<\/b>. \u201cWhile fresh, local food is always the highlight, farmers markets are also gathering places that bring communities together and connect people with the farmers who feed them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many Maryland farmers markets, including the Reisterstown Farmers Market, participate in the <\/span>Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program<\/span><\/a>, a federally-funded nutrition benefit program administered by MDA. The program connects participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and low-resource older adults to farmers markets and farm stands, where they can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and cut herbs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of the more than 100 farmers markets across the State, the majority have at least one farmer who participates in FMNP. The digital <\/span>Farmers Market Directory<\/span><\/a> highlights farmers markets in each of the counties and the federal nutrition benefits that are accepted at each one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with FMNP, the<\/span> Maryland Market Money<\/span><\/a> program offers a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases made using federal nutrition benefits at participating Maryland farmers markets, farm stands and farms that offer community supported agriculture (CSAs). Maryland Market Money is also administered by MDA and helps to remove economic barriers for Marylanders experiencing food insecurity through its matching program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While farmers markets offer a variety of products like produce, honey, eggs, meats, breads, flowers, coffee and even spirits, summer is the peak season for tomatoes, berries, leafy greens and more!\u00a0 <\/span>In addition to regular market operations, which can be found in the Directory, many markets across the state will host special events and activities throughout Maryland Farmers Market Week. The following markets will offer unique opportunities for shoppers to celebrate local food, farmers, and their communities:<\/span><\/p>\n