Agriculture - Prince George's County Planning Department

History

Early settlers began farming along the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers in Southern Maryland, the oldest region of the state, more than 300 years ago, before the County of Prince George’s was established. The decline of tobacco—prompted by the Maryland Tobacco Buyout program instituted in 1998—wounded the economic engine in Southern Maryland at the same time that the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area was becoming a fast-growing population center. In recent years, rural farmers have transitioned into more contemporary farming practices and are exploring niche markets that can be supported with lower initial costs for production materials and land. Urban farmers are growing in number, and the need for healthy food sources close to our population centers has never been higher.¹

Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee (ARAC)

The Planning Department has a representative on the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee, which is defined in the County Council Act CB-7-2012 and “organized to serve as a link between the farming community and local government.” To learn more about the goals of the ARAC, visit https://pgccouncil.us/600/Agricultural-Resources-Advisory-Committe.

Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture is increasingly recognized as an important strategy for strengthening food security in urban areas.² By producing more local, fresh foods, communities can improve overall health, promote healthier eating habits, and reduce reliance on outside food sources.³ In Prince George’s County, there is growing interest in protecting farms and gardens within the growth boundary while also supporting educational initiatives, such as those led by the University of Maryland Extension. The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council, an independent local food policy council, further advances these goals by working to improve public health and community well-being through support for the economic viability of local food production, processing, and distribution enterprises.