Take Action to establish the Urban Agriculture Grant Program (SB673/HB269)! Sponsored by Sen. Gallion and Del. Wells, this meaningful bill would establish an Urban Agriculture Grant Program and Fund housed within the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). It will be up to MDA to establish and define the program, but the bill is a necessary first …
The Food Donation Pilot Program was originally established in 2017 thanks to the advocacy of Fair Farms consumers and farmers like you. This initial iteration of the program gave farmers in Southern Maryland and Montgomery County a tax credit, up to $5,000 per farm, for food that is donated to eligible food pantries. Due to …
Read moreTake Action: Fight Food Insecurity and Support Local Farmers in Maryland!
Take Action to fund the Maryland Healthy Soils Program (HB8)! This important bill, sponsored by Del. Krimm, would allow Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds to be used for the currently-unfunded Maryland Healthy Soils Program, encouraging and supporting farmers in their journey to build soil health. Benefits of healthy soils on Maryland’s farmland: Increases farm …
Read moreTake Action: Fund the Maryland Healthy Soils Program
Written by Nicole Oveisi, Fair Farms Intern Waterkeepers Chesapeake’s Clear Choices Clean Water campaign added a new pledge on healthy soils to emphasize the importance of soil health and how integral soil is to food production, water sources, and the climate and environment in general. Here at Fair Farms, we’re excited about this new pledge …
With your help, last year Maryland created the Maryland Food for Maryland Institutions Study Group whose goal has been to increase the amount of locally grown food procured by Maryland institutions, providing more market opportunities for our local farming community. Out of that diverse network of stakeholders, came the idea to establish the two important …
Read moreTake Action: Get locally-grown food into Maryland institutions!
Farmers’ markets are a critical component of Virginia’s food system and economy as they provide affordable, fresh, and nutritious food directly to consumers, and keep much needed capital within their local communities. Moreover, farmers’ markets also play an instrumental role in communities’ food security systems, as surplus stocks are donated to area food banks, and …
Read moreVA Farmers’ Markets Should be ‘Essential’ during COVID-19 Crisis