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The Farmstand:
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
GETS FRESH
Ginger S. Myers
Agriculture Economic
Development Specialist
Howard County Economic
Development Authority
Here’s the business plan. Four Howard
County farmers and a baker are looking for a
new market outlet during the prime-growing
season for their produce, flowers, herbs, honey,
fruit, and artisan breads.
They jointly form a marketing partnership,
the Howard County Growers, LLP, to help
support their small, family-owned and operat
ed businesses. The farmer-partnership will pro-
vide a convenient weekly delivery of their
freshest, best quality produce and bread to
subscribers who recognize not only the value
and great taste of sustainably grown food,
but also that supporting local farmers helps
improve the quality of life for everyone here.
Does the plan work? Potential subscribers
through Howard County and the neighbor
ing USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research
Center hold the answer to that question.
The Howard County Growers offer a
unique opportunity for their subscribers to
pick up fresh produce, once a week for 16
weeks beginning in June and ending in Sep
tember, at one of four locations—Triadel
phia Lake View Farm, Glenelg; Mt. Pisgah
AME Church, Columbia; The Howard
County Government Complex, Ellicott City;
and the Beltsville Agricultural Research
Center in Beltsville, Md.
The market baskets will include a bounti
ful selection of seasonable vegetables, fruit,
herbs, and flowers with updates from the
farms and recipes to match the weekly
abundance. The subscription price is $2B
per week.
The price was determined by a number of
factors, including what the farmers need to
earn to remain economically viable, the
quantity and diversity of the produce pro
vided, and the fair market value for such
items.
What are the advantages of subscribing to
this service? Ginger Myers, agriculture eco
nomic development specialist with the How
ard County Economic Development Au
thority, said, “This service provides both
convenience and a chance for the customer
to meet the person who grows their food.
The pickup sites were selected for their
With a focus on show horse success,
Lancaster Farming's Boarder & Trainer for
March 15 includes ways to improve horse health
using a new treadmill developed at the Marion
DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in
Leesburg, va Also scheduled for that issue
highlights of the steeplechase m Leesburg, va ,
the work of farriers, and lots more'
Direc
Market
Tips
proximity to busy folks who may not have the
time to get to a Farmers Market.”
She continues, “Subscribers for this service
not only get the freshest, best tasting products,
but also the satisfaction that their food dollars
are going directly to local family farmers.
For enrollment packages and informational
fliers detailing how the subscription works and
what to expect in your weekly delivery, contact
Carrie Minard, Howard County Growers Man
ager, 15155 Triadelphia Mill Road, Glenelg,
MD 21737 (410) 489-0139. Or contact Ginger
S. Myers, Howard County Economic Develop
ment Authority, (410) 313-6500.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 8, 2003, Grower & Marketer-E9
2003 Beginning
Beekeeping Seminar Set
MONTOURSVILLE (Ly
coming Co.) A date has
been set for the 2003 Begin
ning Beekeeping Seminar in
Lycoming County.
The seminar will be Satur
day, March 22, from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. at Penn State Coopera
tive Extension in Montour
sville.
Each seminar will include
the following presentations:
“Equipment I Need for a Suc
cessful Start” by Darryl Re
buck, president, Lycoming
Beekeepers Association; “Get
ting Started” by J.
Lee Miller, Penn State exten
sion agent; “Management
Through the Season” by Den
nis van Englesdorf, chief api
ary inspector, Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture;
and sessions titled “Harvest
ing Your Crop” and “Bee Bi
ology.”
The early registration fee by
March 14 is $l5 and includes
lunch and a book, “The Fun
damentals of Beekeeping.”
Your check, made payable to
“Penn State Cooperative Ex-
tension,” must accompany
your reservation. Registration
after March 14 or at the event
will be $2O.
To request a registration
form and brochure, contact
Tom Murphy, Penn State Co
operative Extension, 542 Co.
Farm Rd., Suite 206, Mon
toursville, PA 17754, (570)
433-3040, fax (570) 433-4331,
e-mail LycomingExt@psu.
edu, or download a registra
tion form from our Website:
http://lycoming.extension.
psu.edu and click on the “ag
riculture” button.
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