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Maryland Department of Agriculture

Certified Local Farm & Fish Program

About the Certified Local Farm and Fish Program

The State of Maryland created the Certified Local Farm and Fish Program to encourage state agencies, including public four-year universities, to achieve an overall goal of purchasing 20% of their food from providers listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory.  

Each procurement agency shall structure its food procurement procedures to achieve an overall goal of 20% of the unit’s total dollar value of all such procurement contracts made from Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Providers either through prime vendors, subcontractors or direct. 

History

This program was established in 2020 by House Bill 1488 - PDF, codified in Md. Code Ann. Agriculture Article, §2-103; State Finance and Procurement Article, §§14-701—14-707, Annotated Code of Maryland. 

In 2023, House Bill 63 - PDF changed the program's name to include certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Providers in the overall percentage goal. In 2024, Senate Bill 290 - PDF changed the annual deadline for Waiver Reports.

For state agencies

Overall goal

State agencies (including public four-year universities) have an overall goal of purchasing 20% of their food (either through prime vendors, subcontractors, or direct) from  providers listed in the Certified Local Farm and Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider Directory.  

Mandatory report

All Maryland State Agencies/Universities that purchase food are required to submit their individual Reports to and Waiver Requests to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) on or before September 30 of each year (COMAR 15.01.19).

2025 Report Form - XLSX - 277.11 KB​​​

2025 Report Training Video

For more information, please contact [email protected]

For farmers & seafood dealers

What is a certified local farm?

A certified local farm is a farm that has a nutrient management plan or meets the nutrient management requirements, i.e. apiarists or aquaculturists, with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

What is a certified chesapeake invasive species provider?

A Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider is a seafood dealer that is licensed as a Tidal Fish Dealer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 

How can my farm/dealer become a Certified Local Farm or Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider?

  1. Register: Please access the online application on Maryland OneStop (OneStop End User Guide  - PDF). 
  2. Verification: MDA will verify that your farm has a nutrient management plan or your dealer is licensed as a Tidal Fish Dealer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
  3. Certification: You will receive notification that your farm/dealer is certified once your nutrient management plan or your dealer's license is verified. Your contact information, list of products, and certification number will be placed in the online directory upon receiving certification. The directory will be used by Maryland state agencies, universities and other institutions interested in buying from businesses listed in the Maryland Certified Local Farm and Fish Directory.
  4. Update: MDA will ask you to update your directory information once a year.

What is the cost to become a Certified Local Farm or Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider?  

​There is no cost to become a Certified Local Farm or Certified Chesapeake Invasive Species Provider.

Annual reports