The Montgomery County Food Council is an independent council formed and led by individual community members and representatives of local businesses, government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions that broadly represent the food system both substantively and geographically.
Our mission is to bring together a diverse representation of stakeholders in a public and private partnership to improve the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of Montgomery County, Maryland through the creation of a robust, local, sustainable food system.
Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant food system in Montgomery County that consciously produces, distributes, and recycles food, making it accessible to all residents while promoting the health of the local food economy, its consumers, and the environment.
The backbone of our work is our four Working Groups: Food Recovery and Access, Food Economy, Food Education, and Environmental Impact. We are an active participant in urban and rural policy and process change, leading the way to a more healthful and sustainable community by bringing together producers, retailers, consumers, and educators in a coordinated effort to address the broad range of issues surrounding food and food sourcing in our county. The Food Council engages constituents with the local food system through job opportunities, volunteer projects, and purchasing practices, and educates Montgomery County residents and institutions to promote a greater awareness of the entire food cycle: where food comes from, where it ends up, and its social, environmental, and economic impacts.
On December 20, 2010, eighty-six Maryland stakeholders held a three-hour community conversation at Montgomery County’s Agricultural History Farm Park. It was a diverse gathering of concerned residents and local leaders who sat down together and discussed the outline of a bold vision for a Sustainable Community Food System Initiative for Montgomery County. The stakeholders included experienced and new farmers, county government officials, nonprofit leaders, community activists, and business entrepreneurs from companies large and small.
It was determined that the appropriate next step was to create a Food Policy Council for Montgomery County.
Subsequent follow-up meetings were convened to establish an advisory board, finalize the Office of the County Executive funding to create the Food Council, and hire a Coordinator.
The Montgomery County Food Council was officially launched in February 2012. Its 25 current Council Members broadly represent the food system both substantively and geographically, and include chef restaurateurs, food entrepreneurs, and representatives of local government, non-profits, and business. As of September, 2018 the Food Council is an independent 501(c) 3, non-profit organization.
Jan 30-March 20
Montgomery County Master Gardeners are offering three free gardening presentations in Spanish via Zoom!
Mar 2
First Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11am via Zoom.
Mar 2
The UMD AGNR Sustainable Food Systems Lecture Series is kicking off on Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:00 PM with "Building a Localized Waste-free Food System One Apply at a Time".
Mar 6
A SNEEK-PEEK AT HOW KOINER FARM STARTS ITS CROPS - AND TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN SEEDLINGS AT HOME. SATURDAY, MARCH 6TH, 5:00-5:30PM ON ZOOM
Mar 8
Every other Monday, 1:00 to 2:00 or 2:30pm. Please register in advance.
Mar 17
Third Wednesday of each month, 9-10:30am via Zoom.
Mar 22-23
Register now for a Basic Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training, open exclusively to Montgomery County farmers!
Mar 23
4th Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11am via Zoom.
Mar 25, Apr 1, Apr 8
Western Maryland Food Council presents "Growing a Healthy Food System in a Pandemic World" virtual conference, 1-3:30PM March 25th, April 1, April 8.
April 27, July 27th, Oct 26th
The Food Education Working Group (FEdWG) would like to cordially invite you to our Gardening Grant showcase that we will be taking place over the course of four (4) FEdWG meetings in 2021.