Garrett County
Food Access & Infrastructure Initiative
Connecting rural communities across Garrett County with access to high-quality & locally grown foods + developing local systems to ensure long-term solutions to food insecurities in Western Maryland
About This Campaign
We’re pleased to introduce you to our community of collaboration!
Partnerships are the key to successful initiatives, and this is no exception! The Population Health, Innovation & Informatics unit within the Garrett County Health Department received a funding award in 2022 to create a food security subcommittee within our Health Planning Council to ensure issues related to food security are included as a community priority. In addition, the funding (SPINE) allowed GCHD to improve access to fresh local produce in remote areas of the county.
A formalized partnership was created with the Western Maryland Food Council, adopting the Garrett County chapter as the subcommittee for the Health Planning Council in 2022. An Action Group titled, Food Council is the centralized community engagement hub influencing Garrett County’s Community Health Improvement Plan. https://mygarrettcounty.com/groups/social-determinants-of-health/ All are encouraged to join and participate in the decisions around food security that impact many of our friends and neighbors!
Garrett Growers is the farmer cooperative supplying the produce and transportation to ensure our Veggies On The Move initiative is fully stocked and available in both Kitzmiller and Friendsville once a week. Our local library system graciously allows us to stand the markets up at their locations in each community, while our local DHS guides community members through the SNAP benefit process.
A TREMENDOUS Thank You To All Of Our Partners!
Garrett County Health Department, Western Maryland Food Council, Garrett Growers, Garrett County Government,
Garrett County | University of Maryland Extension, Ruth Enlow Libraries of Garrett County, + Our Fantastic Garrett County Community!
Community Farmer’s Markets
Veggies On The Move w/ Garrett Grower’s
Local Data & Tracking
Garrett County Food Council Action Group on My Garrett County
Garrett County Food Access Brochure
Compiled by the Western Maryland Food Council, Garrett County Chapter
Media & Promotions
Posted on Go! Garrett County + Shared By Community Partners
Community Market Tonight!
Fresh, local produce becomes more convenient in Garrett County; catch your veggies on the move this evening at the Meadows! This stand-up market in Mountain Lake Park supports our local farms and gives you access to fresh food with the option to double SNAP benefits!...
ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK!
Locally grown produce will be available in Friendsville, MD, on Tuesday and the Meadows on Wednesday evenings to make healthy foods more accessible. Through our current SPINE grant and partnerships, which includes Garrett Growers, Western Maryland Food...
Sweet Treats Using Local Honey
This time of year, fresh fruit is abundant and delicious! Try and skip the refined sugar; a great place to start is skipping a soda or opting for a cup of tea with honey instead of loads of refined sugar. Even being mindful of our sugar intake is a good place to...
Have Fun In The Kitchen!
This video, in particular, made me laugh several times! I can certainly relate to smoothie fails and trying to be an encouraging taste tester when it's not as good as you were hoping! Smoothies are one of the best ways to get little ones in the kitchen; at my house,...
Foundations For Healthy Cooking From Southern High School Students – Watch As They Prepare Tasty Seared Chicken Breast With Chef Scardina
We've all had experiences with tire-like texture and chicken. The method these fabulous humans shared with us guarantees a flavorful, juicy bird! Protein fibers become elastic without moisture, so follow the tips and enjoy what you eat with gratitude. In the comments...
Tips for Perfectly Grilled Vegetables!
This week the temperature is looking pretty good for grilling outdoors and enjoying delicious vegetables. I'll be the first to admit I have been "steaming" peppers, not grilling them, for years! Who else is glad we had the opportunity to learn to skin the peppers...
Refreshing Apple Jicama Slaw & Other Fantastic Vegetable Recipes From Southern High Students
Get close to the pan that's set to medium/high heat, and be patient; each mushroom needs space to cook! Following these simple steps during cooking helped my mushrooms become edible! Thanks, Chef! The extra step of caramelizing the butternut squash made this dish...
Student Winner!
The Garrett County Health Department had the opportunity to participate in a Health Fair for students at Southern High School on Wednesday, April 19th, in the Auxiliary Gym during the 3rd Period. Over 200 students participated in the event, and many of those students...
Chicken & Vegetable Stock
Chef and the students demonstrate that making our own stock is something that we can absolutely do in our own kitchens! It's so much healthier because there is no added sodium. Low sodium helps keep our blood pressure within normal ranges and helps our hearts stay...
Essential Seasonings & Flavor Building With SGHS
Chef Rob Scardina and the students are taking their time to explain different ways to season our food so that it tastes better and is healthier for us! Starting with ground pepper, they invite us to skip the store-bought type and grind our own. There is a massive...
World Cuisine @ Southern High School
Three students who are studying abroad are currently attending Chef's class, Aruzhan Amangeldi (Kazakhstan), Julie Blumentrath (Germany), and Nuria Cano (Spain). They have been teaching us about common dishes from their countries and would like to share one with all...
Local Food Featured In Fun Collab!
Food is a symbol of a community; sharing meals provides connection and moments of joy between friends and family. High school students enrolled in the Foods Program at Southern Garrett High School led by Chef Rob Scardina have formally joined the effort to address...
Check Out What’s New This Week At The Pop-Up Farmers Market!
This week at the pop-up markets, we have a surprise guest, purple potatoes! Our collaboration with Garrett Growers, the Western Maryland Food Council's Garrett Chapter, Garrett County Government, and the University of Maryland Extension Office enabled pop-up markets...
FREE Yoga Event + Community Market (Veggies On The Move!) Tonight (8/24)
Our calendar is filling up quickly as our community continues to support and engage with GC In Motion and the Go! Garrett County Summer of Fitness & Fun! We're so excited about all of the activities happening in Garrett County this week, and here's two...
Explore These 8 FREE Events Happening in Garrett County This Week!
Thank you all for continuing to participate in the Summer of Fitness & Fun campaign, and for bringing your friends! ? The turnout at local events has been FANTASTIC! and we've got even more great events for you to enjoy! Here's what you can look forward to this...
Explore These 13 FREE Events Happening in Garrett County This Week!
Thank you all for continuing to participate in the Summer of Fitness & Fun campaign, and for bringing your friends! ? The turnout at local events has been FANTASTIC! and we've got even more great events for you to enjoy! Here's what you can look forward to this...
Check Out These 12 FREE Events Happening In Garrett County This Week!
Thank you all for continuing to participate in the Summer of Fitness & Fun campaign, and for bringing your friends! ? The turnout at local events has been FANTASTIC! and we've got even more great events for you to enjoy! Here's what you can look forward to this...
Friendsville Farmers Market TONIGHT (7/25)! – Fresh Produce Delivered To Remote Communities (Veggies On The Move!)
The Population Health, Innovation, and Informatics Unit within the Garrett County Health Department received a specific funding award to focus on infrastructure and access. For this special project, we are working closely with Willie Lantz, Melissa Bolyard, and Cheryl...
WOAH! Check Out These 12!! FREE Events Happening in Garrett County This Week!
Thank you all for continuing to participate in the Summer of Fitness & Fun campaign, and for bringing your friends! ? The turnout at local events has been FANTASTIC! and we've got even more great events for you to enjoy! Here's what you can look forward to this...
FREE Yoga Event + Community Market w/ UNLIMITED SNAP MATCH (Veggies On The Move!) Tonight (7/20)
Our calendar is filling up quickly as our community continues to support and engage with GC In Motion and the Go! Garrett County Summer of Fitness & Fun! We're so excited about all of the activities happening in Garrett County this week, and here's two...
There’s A LOT Happening In Garrett County Today (7/13)!
Our calendar is filling up quickly as our community continues to support and engage with GC In Motion and the Go! Garrett County Summer of Fitness & Fun! We're so excited about all of the activities happening in Garrett County this week, and here's two...
Veggies On The Move!
The Population Health, Innovation, and Informatics Unit within the Garrett County Health Department received another funding award!!!! For this special project, we are working closely with Willie Lantz and Melissa Bolyard as representatives of the Western Maryland...