There are more than 140 farmers’ markets across Maryland—at least one in every county and Baltimore City.
There's still time to participate in National Farmers' Market Week and get some fresh, local produce from your local farmers!
There are more than 140 farmers’ markets across the state—at least one in every county and Baltimore City. To find a market near you, visit Maryland's Best to find products from farmers and seafood producers.
Governor Larry Hogan has designated August 2–8 as Farmers' Market Week in Maryland to coincide with National Farmers’ Market Week. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages citizens to celebrate the week by visiting farmers' markets and buying local products.
“Buying local supports our family farms, our local jobs and our local economies. By shopping at farmers’ markets, Marylanders can offer their families fresh, healthy produce while ensuring a greener, more sustainable Maryland. I hope that Marylanders will join in the celebration by visiting a market near them," Governor Hogan said.
“Maryland’s farmers are now offering their freshest products at farmers’ markets across the state. These markets provide an important source of income for farmers as more and more consumers seek the freshness, quality, and wide selection of locally grown produce, meats, dairy, and more,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.
This year, amidst a global pandemic and national unrest, farmers' markets have played a vital role as food access points offering shoppers wholesome foods sold in safe, open-air settings.
Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, Hogan was one of the first governors in the nation to declare farmers' markets an "essential business." In turn, Maryland farmers' market managers and farmers quickly modified their sales platforms and daily operations to conform with local and state guidelines to serve their communities safely.
Photo courtesy of Maryland Farmers Markets.
More than 400 Maryland farmers also participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for Women, Infants, Children (WIC), and Seniors. This program helps expand access for low-income Marylanders to be able to purchase fresh local produce at their local farmers' markets. About a quarter of the markets also participate in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly known as food stamps.
Some statistics about Maryland farmers’ markets:
- Total number of MDA-recognized farmers' markets: 143
- Number of markets with FMNP/FVC-authorized farmers: 143
- Number of markets with SNAP: 46
- Year-round markets: 12
In addition to purchasing produce from local famers, people can also enter a photo contest by uploading their favorite farmers' market photo to Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag: #MdFarmersMarketWeek. At the end of the week, The Maryland Department of Agriculture will enter all the names of people who uploaded a photo into a drawing to win a prize! If you don’t engage with social media, you can submit photos the old-fashioned way—by U.S. mail. Include name and contact information, phone number, and send to Shelby Watson Hampton, MDA, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401. All photo submissions must be postmarked by Aug. 8. A randomly selected participant will win a copy of the local cookbook Dishing Up Maryland, a $50 gift certificate to use on Maryland’s Best Ice Cream trail, and a copy of the first season of Maryland Public Television’s award-winning series Maryland Farm & Harvest.
This week, you can support your favorite Maryland farmers' market by volunteering your time, making a financial donation, recommending the market to a friend, posting about your farmers market haul and tagging the market and farmers, and finally, by thanking the farmers and market operators who make it all happen!
