The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will host the Maryland’s Best Expo on Wednesday, January 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Returning for its 18th year, after being cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-10 pandemic, the Maryland’s Best Expo provides an opportunity for Maryland farmers, seafood producers, and processors to connect with buyers from grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, food distributors, and other venues.
The 2020 Maryland’s Best Expo attracted more than 300 attendees. Participants included farmers, producers, watermen, aquaculturists, processors, grocery store retailers, restaurants, schools, chefs and more.
This year’s event will be held in the “N Room” at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis. Registration is required. The deadline to sign up is January 5, 2022. There is a $25 fee for a table display space. There is no fee for buyers, but they must register. For more information on the expo or to register, visit the Maryland’s Best website.
You should attend this event if you are:
- A Maryland grower, watermen, seafood company, or processor interested in finding new markets for your products;
- A buyer from a grocery store, restaurant, hospital, school, or other venue looking to purchase Maryland grown or produced products; or
- A service provider in agriculture or local food (such as a UME county extension agent, food writer, etc.).
The types of local products that buyers will typically find are:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats (such as poultry, beef, and bison)
- Dairy products (cow, sheep and goats milk/cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and butter)
- Seafood (such as crabmeat, oysters, blue catfish and rockfish)
- Craft Beverages (beer, wine, spirits, juices, kombucha, coffee, etc.)
- Specialty products (including hemp products, sauces, baked goods, chocolate, soups, flour, etc.)