Garrett County Harvests Innovation: "Buy Local" Tools Are Farm-Friendly, Tech-Savvy

October 11, 2013

Garrett County is harvesting new agricultural resources, and they’re anything but garden variety. The Garrett County Department of Economic Development is excited to promote local food initiatives that educate consumers and stimulate the economy.

“Garrett County is home to over 600 farms growing foods, feeds, fibers and other farm products that are high in quality,” said Economic Development Director Michael Koch. “And our farmers’ ingenuity is paying off. Last year, they produced over $20 million in sales.”

Seventy of these farms are center stage on the new Garrett Farms website (http://www.garrettfarms.org). The site, funded in part by a USDA and the Maryland Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Grant, features an index of local farms, profiles of the offerings at each farm, and events promoting the Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Live Well effort within the County. Whether consumers seek homegrown preserves, pumpkins, or pork, the site is a smorgasbord of all things local.

Garrett County’s Local Food & Farm Guide is another resource designed to connect farmers and consumers. Made possible in part by the same Specialty Crop Grant, the guide allows users without internet access to search for local farms and foods in a hard copy booklet, available at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center in McHenry and the University of Maryland Extension Office in Mt. Lake Park.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1519820#ixzz2jIxQeAzz

Posted on 10/11/2013 in garrett county # economic development