Farm to Table, Farm to Curbside, Farm to Delivery
How MoCo Farmers are Meeting Community Food Needs during COVID-19
In Conversation with Jeremy Criss, Director, Office of Agriculture, Montgomery County
How is the local farm community contributing to food security during this pandemic, amid a more extreme time of need for many? Throughout the years the growth of development/industrialization and population has greatly diminished the once undeniable connection between farming and where food comes from.
“We now see children who believe that milk comes from the grocery store.”
The pandemic is re-establishing that once strong connection and reinforcing the need to support our farmers and protect our land and food supply. During the COVID-19 pandemic, farming operations are considered essential because of their importance in ensuring the availability of food.
Given the current uncertainty about the continuity of the nation’s food supply chain, Montgomery County is very fortunate to have such a robust agricultural industry and amazing farmers willing and able to adapt to the current challenges to support our local food supply.
In what specific ways are farmers contributing to food security in our communities? The Farmers are contributing to food security in the following ways:
continuing to operate at the 22 farmers’ markets located throughout the County
adapting their business models to offer online ordering with touchless curbside pick-up and/or delivery
working with each other to develop collaborative solutions to meet the growing needs
partnering with organizations such as the Montgomery County Food Council and its Food Security Task Force to provide food to Downcounty facilities in need
Please give us a few examples of ways the farm community is helping the entire community.
The Farm at Our House (Marc Grossman)
Delivers the food remaining from the Silver Spring Farmers Market to Shepherds Table—2,000 pounds in 2019 and also donates food to the Our House Organization—300 pounds in 2019. He will be doing the same this year—the harvesting of this growing season will begin in a couple weeks.
Provides hands on agricultural training to the residents of Our House
Windridge Vineyards (Robert Butz)
Windridge Vineyards is working with other local alcohol producers to make hand sanitizer to fulfill the supply shortage. The partnership includes local Vashan Compounding Pharmacy in Gaithersburg, that takes the alcohol and creates the sanitizer. The other distillers and vintners providing the alcohol include: Twin Valley Distillers in Rockville, MISCellaneous Distillery in Mt. Airy, and Black Ankle Vineyards in Mt. Airy.
Metro Microgreens (Mark Ross)
Metro Microgreens is providing free home delivery of microgreens to anyone within a 30 mile radius of Rockville, MD for those who choose not to go to a farmers market, store or leave their home.
Providing free microgreens to anyone who has lost their job or been furloughed—delivery is also free.
Donating their product to those in need without questions and delivering directly to them. No standing in line.
Lewis Orchard (Linda Lewis)
Lewis Orchard is working with the Food Security Task Force led by the Montgomery County Food Council to determine the best way to integrate local farms into our food assistance response efforts that are currently underway.
What is the MARBIDCO grant and how can farmers access it? This is a program offered by the Office of Agriculture in partnership with the Maryland Agriculture Resource Based Industry Development Corp. (MARBIDCO). This Agricultural Cost Share Reimbursement (ACRE) Program provides cost-share assistance to farmers for agricultural business projects that improve, expand and increase the profitability of the agricultural enterprise.
This program promotes economic development within the agricultural industry. With a minimal financial investment, this program is encouraging agricultural entrepreneurship and enabling existing agricultural enterprises/farming operations to expand their businesses, increase productivity and hire employees.
What are some alternatives to residents going into grocery stores? Some farmers are offering delivery services and curbside pickup. Many of the farmers were able to quickly pivot to ensure their farm products are available and accessible in spite of the social distancing and other measures needed during the pandemic. This environment continues to grow as the 2020 growing season gets into full swing.
They have re-vamped their websites to allow online order, developed safe, no contact curbside pick-up and/or delivery directly to the home. Some farms, like Butler’s Orchard, for example, are selling other essential products such as bread, coffee and water to their customers during this time. Residents should call or visit the individual farm websites for item specifics as well as days/times of the services offered.
Tell us about the Office of Agricultural and what your mission is within Montgomery County. The Office of Agriculture (OAG)’s mission is to support agriculture as a viable component of the County’s economic sector, through:
Preserving farmland as a resource for future agricultural production
Providing regulatory, marketing, and technical assistance to the County’s farmers
Supporting agricultural education and outreach
Serving as a liaison between the agricultural community and County government
Where can folks go to get more information about available food products from farmers and farmers' markets? County residents can visit the OAG website at Agricultural Services where they will find a Farm to Table page highlighting a variety of ways they can find and purchase fresh, healthy local food. There is also a new listing on the homepage with Farms that are now offering online ordering and no-contact curbside pickup or delivery. The list will expand as we enter the spring/summer growing season.
Michael Protas, One Acre Farm, harvesting for his CSA
Carrots from a local farm in MoCo
Greens from Metro Microgreens' certified, natural 'grow' room
For the first time in my memory, middle class people are thinking about food security after finding empty aisles at the grocery store. We are happy to help fill the gap with safe and healthy produce that is accessible to members of our community and have come to realize that small farms are critical to ensuring a diversified agricultural sector needed to ensure food security for all.
