Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Regional Agriculture Initiative and Regional Food Systems Program provide information on the current and historical state of agriculture in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and create regional networks to link farmers, food and farm technical assistance providers, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and consumers. A committee of staff-level regional agricultural representatives meets several times each year to discuss pressing agricultural issues affected by a rapidly developing region. A Local Food Distribution Work Group brings together technical assistance providers like these, as well as other public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders, to examine infrastructure and other barriers to building a more resilient, prosperous, and equitable food system for the region. COG collects and disseminates unique information on regional agriculture. Since 2012, it has published What Our Region Grows with the assistance of its Regional Agricultural Work Group. COG has also developed a regional list of farmers offering Community Supported Agriculture shares.
Montgomery County Food Council – The Montgomery County Food Council is an independent council formed and led by individual community members and representatives of local businesses, government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions that broadly represent the food system both substantively and geographically. Our mission is to bring together a diverse representation of stakeholders in a public and private partnership to improve the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of Montgomery County, Maryland through the creation of a robust, local, sustainable food system.
Prince George’s County Food Equity Council – The mission of the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council is to significantly improve public health and community well-being of all who live, work, study, worship and play in the County. It will develop and support policies, approaches, procedures, practices and initiatives to create systemic change to the local food system, promoting health, economic opportunity, food security, and well-being, especially among communities that have been negatively impacted by the current food system.
What Our Region Grows – This report provides a ‘snapshot’ of the state of the region’s agriculture, as well as the general food production and demand, and economic contributions. Product demand data, which is largely based on estimates from the U.S. Food Market Estimator, is included for area counties.
Building a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable District food system 