On June 8, 2021, the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, in cooperation with the Maryland Farm Bureau, the Montgomery Office of Agriculture, and Montgomery Soil Conservation District, conducted the first in a 5-part Farm Side Chat series directed at our legislative community to educate and inform about the real issues facing farmers in an increasingly difficult economic environment as well as address import topics that not only impact farmers but the rest of our community.
The first Farm Side Chat focused on food resiliency, what farmers are doing, and what still needs to be done to address access to food in food insecure communities. We are thankful to our legislators and their staffs that attended to continue this very important dialogue and to our host farm of Butler’s Orchard in Germantown.
Tyler Butler discusses Butler’s Orchard’s gleaning program, associated with the Maryland Farm to Food Bank.
Ben Butler discusses some of the challenges associated with a pick-your-own operation and integrating a successful gleaning program.
Delegates David Fraser-Hildalgo and Lorig Charkoudian, champions of food insecurity legislation, listen to farmers discussing the challenges with growing tabletop foods and getting food to those in food insecure communities.
Delegate Lorig Charkoudian discussing the challenges with building food resiliency and her efforts in establishing a Food Resiliency Council with the legislation that was passed in this year’s legislative session.
Also in attendance: Lindsay Smith of the Washington Council of Governments and Heather Bruskin of the Montgomery Food Council