If Anne Arundel is successful in negotiating with the Navy, organic produce at area stores and markets have a better chance of being grown locally.
The county is working out a deal to become a long-term leaseholder of the 850-acre U.S. Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills, home to the state?s largest single plot of organic farmland. The farm once provided milk for the Naval Academy.
“It is the last large piece of agricultural farm land in [the western] county,” said Marian Fry, co-partner of Maryland Sunrise Farms LLC, which operates the property. “There is more demand for sustainable local organics in Maryland.”
Locally, most organic produce outside of farmers markets comes from other states because the 80 certified Maryland farms cannot keep up with the demand, said Mike Klein, spokesman for Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association.
“It?s one of the fastest?growing sectors of the food economy,” Klein said.
Nationally, organic food products are a $17 billion industry, which is 3 percent of total food and beverage sales and steadily growing, said Holly Givens, public affairs adviser for the Organic Trade Association.
Though the number of organic farms in Maryland is growing, it is still a relatively small number, officials said. Nonprofits are helping farmers convert, as it takes three years to earn organic certification and can be a costly investment, said Karen Fedore, marketing specialist with the state Department of Agriculture.
FAST FACTS
“Organic” refers to produce that has not been chemically treated and livestock that has not received hormones, medication or steroids. The organic designation also requires cows and chickens to have open space to roam, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Nationally, organic food products are a $17 billion industry, which is 3 percent of total food and beverage sales and steadily growing, said Holly Givens, public affairs adviser for the Organic Trade Association.
