Celebrating Agriculture, Honoring Maryland Farmers

Without agriculture—the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock—there is no food.

And people working in that industry have done such a good job of providing food, that we often overlook just how much effort goes into it.

At the Maryland Food Bank, we know exactly how important agriculture is to our ability to feed neighbors facing food insecurity, and we deeply value our relationship with each of the farms, dairies, fisheries, and other Maryland-based food producers we are proud to call partners.

Without them, neighbors in need wouldn’t be able to choose much of the fresh produce, eggs, dairy products, blue catfish, poultry, proteins, and culturally inclusive crops that are available when they visit one of our 780 statewide community partners.

And we prioritize these items, because when we offer healthier foods, people can make better choices. Last year alone, our agriculture partners helped us distribute more than 14 million pounds of fresh produce across the state.

Planting the Seeds

Farm to Food Bank, our longest running and most impactful agriculture program, has been getting fresh produce from farmers’ fields onto neighbors’ tables for nearly 15 years. In that time, dozens of farms have produced tens of millions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for hungry neighbors.

Amy Cawley has been cultivating connections between Maryland farmers and the food bank since Farm to Food Bank’s inception, taking the program from its original two Eastern Shore partnerships to the statewide nutritional powerhouse it is today.

“My grandfather was Maryland’s Secretary of Agriculture for 12 years, and I grew up on a farm, so you can literally say farming is in my blood,” she shared. “At home, I’ve seen first-hand how important local agriculture is to my family’s ability to survive, and at work, how much the food the industry produces can help Marylanders in need thrive,” Amy continued.

One of our long-standing agriculture partners agrees with Amy’s perspective. “This project helps us to achieve our goal of improving food security, increasing farm income, and creating economic stability for our employees,” Michael Edwards, Farmer, Wood Duck Landing Farm.

Cultivating Nutrition

In 2021, the Maryland Food Bank partnered with the University of Maryland to test the impact of growing culturally inclusive crops (including callaloo and scotch bonnet peppers) for neighbors who are new to the U.S. and Maryland.

Then, in 2023, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) launched, helping us connect with 20 new farms and bringing our overall agricultural partner total to 46.

“This significant, 77% increase in LFPA partnerships helped diversify purchasing options to meet the demands of MFB community partners, who in turn were able to expand their food menu options in neighborhoods of persistent need across Maryland,” said Meg Kimmel, COO, the Maryland Food Bank.

And we’re continuing to find new partnerships in the agriculture industry to bring hungry Marylanders fresh foods like microgreens and other produce grown hydroponically.

Gleaning for Good

Our connections with Maryland agriculture make it possible for us to feed the 1 in 3 of our neighbors that continue to face hunger on a daily basis. We are grateful for the impact that each and every one of our partners has on hunger in Maryland.

• Red Acres Hydroponics
• Redemption Farms
• Richard Dilworth
• Richardson Farms
• Rinehart Orchards
• Schaefer Farms & Greenhouse
• Schillinger’s Farm
• Shlagel Farms
• Strength to Love 2 (Intersection of Change)
• Tallawah Farms
• Taylor’s Produce
• Tilghman Island Seafood
• TJ Farms
• Vintage Family Farm
• WesCo Farm
• Wood Duck Landing Farm
• Yellow Cart Produce

Want to learn more about agriculture’s key role in feeding hungry Marylanders in a hands-on way? Try gleaning at a local Farm to Food Bank Partner farm, helping out in our Education Garden, or sorting fresh produce for distribution to our partners – there are lots of great volunteer opportunities that let you get even closer to the Maryland Food Bank’s mission!