IN THE NEWS

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

2010

June 3, 2010 (Thursday), Explore Howard, Community garden to grow produce for Food Bank

Two of the county's three community gardens have been expanded to provide more plots for residents' use and also to grow fresh produce for the Howard County Food Bank. Forty-seven new plots have been added to the Long Reach garden and 57 have been added to the Elkhorn garden, both located in east Columbia. Five of the new plots will be used to grow vegetables for clients of the county Food Bank, operated by Howard County's Community Action Council. More

March 2, 2010 (Wednesday), Delmarva Farmer, Forum participants look to agriculture’s future

Bay regulations topped the list of issues affecting the agricultural industry during the Governor’s 2010 Agricultural Forum, where about 200 representatives of agriculture gathered to chart out a plan to deal with short and long-term issues facing family farms.

To see the full article contact The Authority.

2009

July 20, 2009 (Saturday), Lancaster Farming, Youth in Ag Career Development Program Wins Award

The Youth in Agriculture Career Development program has recently won the “Team Communication Educational Piece” award given by the Maryland Association of Extension 4-H Agents.  In conjunction with the program receiving this award and also receiving much praise, this program has been nominated for a regional award.

To see the full article contact The Authority.

July 17, 2009 (Friday), The Gazette, Buy Local Challenge is on

Next week, the challenge begins. It's the Buy Local Challenge, and hundreds of people have already signed up to answer it.
It started in Southern Maryland, and is spreading to other parts of the state, dovetailing a national "locavore" trend as consumers attempt to buy food that's produced closer to where they live. More

July 16, 2009 (Thursday), Howard County Times, County Residents urged to ‘Buy Local’

Local produce will be in the spotlight this month through the statewide Buy Local Challenge. Beginning July 16, the Howard County Economic Development Authority is encouraging county residents to eat locally grown food in an effort to promote healthy eating and boost local merchants. The goal of the nine-day program is for participants to eat one locally grown product each day. More

July 7, 2009 (Tuesday), Delmarva Farmer, Farm-City to host golf tourney to benefit ag

COLUMBIA, Md. – The Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Agricultural Marketing Program has announced Farm-City’s first golf tournament supporting the agriculture industry.

To see the full article contact The Authority.

July 2, 2009 (Thursday), Howard County Times, Agriculture preservation a competitive proposition in struggling economy

During the housing boom, it was hard to convince landowners to put their properties into the county's agricultural land preservation program. But with development slowing down across the county, more property owners are considering the program, which pays up to $40,000 an acre in exchange for a permanent agricultural easement. More


April 5, 2009 (Sunday), Baltimore Sun, Farm Fresh

Bonnie Sorak can’t wait to sample a romanesco this summer. The Ellicott City resident and her family are vegans and eat only plant products, but she recently heard of the pale-green vegetable that’s a cross between broccoli and cauliflower. As a tantalizing as the prospect of tasting the unusual cruciferous vegetable is the satisfaction of knowing it will be just one of an array of farm products that will be delivered to her at peak freshness all season long.

To see the full article contact The Authority.

March 28, 2009 (Saturday), Lancaster Farming, Forum Reflects Range of Interests for Farm Women

Farm women’s to-do lists are often overflowing with details, and they are concerned with a range of issues from health care and business planning to balancing it all. The Central Maryland Women in Agriculture Forum held March 5 at the Howard County Fairgrounds offered attendees educational and networking opportunities that addressed these board concerns.

To see the full article contact The Authority.

2008

November 14, 2008 (Friday), Howard County Times, At Pong’s Orchard, the unexpected is ordinary

Six papayas grow in a cluster at the top of an eight-foot-tall tree in Al Pong's open garage, where they are ripened by the sun but shielded from autumn's chilly winds and early frost. Soon, the tropical tree will be moved indoors to a warmer temperature. More

May 19, 2008 (Monday), Frederick News-Post, pg. B7, Farmers take product one step further through Extension program

Farmers spend years and often lifetimes perfecting what they produce. Now, a program is available for farmers who want to take that product one step further. More

March 18, 2008 (Tuesday), The Delmarva Farmer, pg. 22, Roots of Maryland women's ag forum started 25 years ago

A Maryland Women’s Ag Forum was held at the Howard County Fairgrounds March 12. I’m not sure how many have been held, but I do know I was part of the first one that was held more than 25 years ago, and I have been to every one since. The whole thing came about when a group of us went to the National Ag Women’s Forum in Washington, D.C. More

March 18, 2008 (Tuesday), The Delmarva Farmer, Forum focuses on change, next-generation farmers

Change is the watchword for future farmers, according to the speakers at the Central Maryland Women In Agriculture Forum held at the Howard County Fairgrounds on March 12, and the way in which an enterprise is marketed can spell the difference between success and failure. More

2007

July 25, 2007 (Wednesday), Howard Sun (The Baltimore Sun), pgs. 3G, Farm family makes its stand - Nearly 50 years later, Harbin Farms still means fresh produce in Ellicott City

The Ellicott City produce stand is flanked by a rustic barn and hand-painted signs, and shadowed by tall trees. Many Howard County residents can recognize the stand, but few know the history behind it. .  More

July 25, 2007 (Wednesday), Howard Sun (The Baltimore Sun), pgs. 1G & 4G, Markets offer tasts fresh from the farm - Four times a week, farmers bring their best to a location near you

While Carol Carrico of Ellicott City was looking for garlic, fresh fruit and chocolate croissants at the farmers' market at the east Columbia library last week, Columbia farmer David Shaw caught her eye with a container of brightly colored snapdragon blossoms.  More

July 13, 2007 (Wednesday), Howard Sun (The Baltimore Sun), Health Notes - Calendar

Smoking-cessation // Howard County Health Department, in partnership with Howard County Economic Development Authority, is offering information on second-hand smoke and how to quit smoking at farmers' markets this month. More

June 13, 2007 (Wednesday), The Baltimore Sun, Farming, a new look - Some work the land, using traditional methods; others are working to give agriculture a new face

When Helen Tuel left her job as a dental hygienist in the early 1980s, she decided to become a farmer. Instead of raising livestock or growing crops, she decided to try a now-popular alternative called agritourism. More

May 24, 2007 (Thursday), Howard County Times, pg. 38, Local farmers markets sprout up in spring

May brings lettuce, potatoes and the beginning of the strawberry crop. Come June, there will be cucumbers, peaches and squash. July and August bring raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupes. Patrons visiting Howard County's farmers markets throughout the harvest will find a cornucopia of locally grown produce that changes with the calendar. More