CARAT Food System Assessment

We're excited to announce our food system assessment has started!  Check out information about it here.  

Our History

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In 2015, a team from Western Maryland was awarded a grant from the Town Creek Foundation to form the Western Maryland Food Council (WMFC). This project is an effort to develop the local food system in Western Maryland, and it follows on several years of work by people in Garrett County, University of Maryland Extension, Garrett County Economic Development, Frostburg Grows, Frostburg State University, Western Maryland RC&D and others.  

​Town Creek Foundation (TCF) supports the development of food councils in Maryland to help achieve goals of systemic change for sustainability, improved quality of the Chesapeake Bay, and efforts to address climate change. TCF supports sustainable agriculture and local food as a means to contribute in positive ways to all of these goals.  This strategic plan will guide the formation of the Western Maryland Food Council.  Grant funds for the WMFC are administered by Appalachian Farm & Food Alliance (AFFA).  

Learn more about us here. 

Our Goals

  1. Increase local food production and the number of growers
  2. Develop markets and distribution channels for local food
  3. Provide a clearinghouse for information and help coordinate efforts by networking
  4. Address food policy and help inform food policy via the statewide network of all food councils
  5. Address hunger and help improve food security and affordability
  6. Promote sustainable agriculture and permaculture
  7. Increase agriculture and environmental efforts
  8. Promote civic engagement and ethics in the food system
  9. Increase education and awareness of western Maryland residents regarding the benefits of locally produced fresh foods

Calendar

Events/Meetings of the WMFC, AFFA, and watch for the FSRC (Maryland Food System Resiliency Council) meetings, held bimonthly on the first Thursday online.