Additional information about this initiative

Montgomery County is home to over 100 food producing farms and 80 packaged food and beverage businesses. The growth and expansion of these establishments is critical to long-term food system resilience as well as economic and social mobility within our community. The current lack of local food processing infrastructure, specifically commercial kitchen and co-packing space, limits our diverse entrepreneurs from accessing new retail customers and disproportionately impacts businesses wishing to enter or expand wholesale markets. Investment in food processing infrastructure would boost the economic sustainability of local food production while creating jobs, reducing the environmental impact of food distribution, and potentially attract food businesses from around the region to access facilities in our County. However, as documented in the recently released DC Central Food Processing Facility Assessment, 2018 MCEDC Co-packer study, and numerous other reports and studies, there is a significant lack of food processing infrastructure in the entire DMV region. An investment in food processing infrastructure would boost the economic sustainability of local food production while creating jobs, reducing the environmental impact of food distribution, and potentially attract food businesses from around the region to access facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical nature of increasing local food production for greater self-sufficiency and recent Maryland legislation has created new opportunities for local food producers to access new markets, though these goals will be difficult to meet without greater investment in aggregation and processing infrastructure.

Contact Ester@mocofoodcouncil.org with questions!

Upcoming Events

feb 2-april 6

Beginning Farmer Training Course

10-week course, meeting every Thursday evening from 7:00pm-8:30pm from February 2 through April 6, 2023.

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Mar 28-29

Montgomery County Energy Summit

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Mar 29

Montgomery County Food Council Happy Hour

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April 10 - 15

Food Waste Prevention Week

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Apr 11

Food Waste Prevention Week: Food Safety Training (consumer perspective)

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Apr 20

Increased Local Food Procurement Policy Priority Working Group, 10 -11:30am

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Apr 26

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Apr 26

Equitable Land Access Equitable Land Access April Site Visit at CHEER Garden

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Apr 27

Gardening Subcommittee

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May 2

Equitable Land Access Working Group Meeting

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May 8

Food Security Community Call

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May 15

Recovered Food Safety Training (Provider perspective)

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May 24

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Jun 12

Food Security Community Call

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Jun 15

Increased Local Food Procurement Policy Priority Working Group

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Jun 22

Gardening Subcommittee

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Jun 28

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Jul 10

Food Security Community Call

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Jul 11

Equitable Land Access Working Group Meeting

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Jul 26

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Aug 14

Food Security Community Call

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Aug 17

Increased Local Food Procurement

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Aug 23

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Aug 24

Gardening Subcommittee Meeting

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Sep 5

Equitable Land Access Working Group Meeting

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Sep 11

Food Security Community Call

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Sep 27

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Oct 10

Food Security Community Call

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Oct 19

Increased Local Food Procurement

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Oct 25

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Oct 26

Gardening Subcommittee

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Nov 13

Food Security Community Call

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Nov 22

Food System Advocacy Community Call

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Dec 11

Food Security Community Call

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