Farm Food Safety | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: August 10, 2022

Turning Out Your Product: From Food Safety to Marketing, There's a Lot You'll Need to Know

Authors: Ginger S. Myers

This report breaks down the necessary steps to develop your product and bring it to market in accordance with Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's regulations and recommendations. The author discusses the legal aspects of operating a specialty food processing business in Maryland, including obtaining the necessary license and complying with regulations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. The 30-page report also provides detailed information on the many requirements for business operation, including proper labeling, obtaining UPC codes, working with a co-packer, and acquiring the correct equipment.

Updated: August 10, 2022

Food Safety Plans and Compliance for Beginning Farmers

Building a good food safety plan is a top priority for a new and beginning farm business. Food safe is incredibly important for every farm, regardless of size, methods of production, or marketing outlets. It is a common misconception that food safety and the need to implement the practices necessary to mitigate contamination of fresh produce are problems of scale, concerns only for larger farms.

Boxes lined up for a farmers market table of bright vegetables like zucchinis, and red peppers, and green peppers

Updated: August 10, 2022

Food Safety Resources for Beginning Farmers

Provides guiding principles for beginning farmers working with food safety regulations and important topics to explore in food safety.

Updated: November 2, 2021

ALEI Food Safety Program

Agriculture is the largest commercial industry in Maryland contributing over $8 billion dollars to the state’s economy. The Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI) began in 2013 in response to a realization that Maryland’s farm families need more information about the laws that impact their operations. ALEI is comprised of legal specialists and other extension specialists who help farmers understand and comply with state, federal, and local laws and regulations. ALEI legal specialists stay up-to-date on legal issues and educate growers and producers on relevant laws as well as available resources.

Updated: May 7, 2021

Oysters and Corn: Learning from Agriculture

Authors: Donald Webster - Donald Meritt

There has been much concern regarding the precipitous decline in Mid Atlantic oyster production, with various groups attempting to place blame and espouse causes. However, it is instructive to veer away from traditional arguments to compare oysters with traditional agricultural crops for a different view of the problem and a vision for potential solutions. Comparing production of oysters with other crops allows us to examine how those have been managed over time to increase production. The United States today is considered a world leader in food production. Taking lessons from that development and applying them to oysters could help guide the restoration of the industry that once flourished.