SOUTHERN MARYLAND, Md. – The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland is inviting eligible farms to apply for participation in SMADC’s application to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland Food and Agricultural Resiliency Mechanism Grant Application (MFARM). This initiative aims to enhance the region’s food economy and support community food access.
Farm applications, along with letters of support, must be submitted to SMADC by April 6 at 5 p.m., ahead of the grant’s early April deadline. To qualify, participating farms must be enrolled in the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Certified Local Farm and Fish Program. Farms not currently registered can sign up online through the MDA website.
SMADC is applying for this grant and requires letters of support from participating farms. By submitting an application and a letter of support, farmers express their interest in participating in the Southern Maryland Food Access Program if SMADC is awarded the grant. If granted, the funding will support local farmers by purchasing their products for distribution to food-insecure community members. This initiative includes the Free Fridge program and the Community School Food Box Distribution program, both of which provide no-barrier access to free food.
SMADC aims to expand these programs across all five Southern Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s. These efforts not only stimulate farm income but also contribute to reducing hunger and food waste in the community.
Farmers should be aware that pricing for goods is determined by the Baltimore Terminal Market and may vary throughout the grant’s duration. While submitting an application and letter of support qualifies farms for consideration, it does not guarantee participation in the program.
Interested farms can find the MFARM Grant Interest Form at https://www.cognitoforms.com/Smadc/SMADCMFARMGrantInterestForm.
Submission Deadline: All applications and letters of support must be submitted to SMADC by April 6 at 5 p.m.
For additional information, please contact the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission @ info@smadc.com