The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently established the Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program and office to encourage state agencies, including public four-year universities, to achieve an overall goal of purchasing 20% of their food from certified local farm enterprises.

Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program and Certified Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Fund - Establishment - HB 1488/SB 985

What is a certified local farm enterprise?
A certified local farm enterprise is a farm that has a nutrient management plan with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
 
For Farmers

How can my farm become a certified local farm enterprise?

1. ​Register.   Please access the online application on Maryland One.  
   
2. ​​Farm verification.   MDA will verify that you have a nutrient management plan.
3. Certification. You will receive notification that your farm is certified once your nutrient management plan is verified. Your contact information, list of products, and certification number will be placed in the certified local farm enterprises public directory for state agencies to access. MDA will ask you to update your directory information once a year. 

What is the cost to become a Certified Local Farm Enterprise?
There is no cost to become a Certified Local Farm Enterprise.

For State Agencies
State agencies (including public four-year universities) have an overall goal of purchasing 20% of their food from certified local farm enterprises.

Certified Local Farm Enterprise Directory​

Click here​ to access the online Directory.

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