Guest feature: Sandy Wagerman is a research specialist forthe Frederick County Office of Economic Development. Follow Frederick County OED on Facebook and Twitter.

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) has launched a new agricultural website called HomegrownFrederick, which highlights the county's agriculture, tourism and growing subsectors. The county has also redesigned its existing DiscoverFrederickMD.com, which aims to help businesses start, locate, expand and discover Frederick County.

HomegrownFrederick was officially launched at a Frederick Keys Game in June in partnership with the Tourism Council of Frederick County. Despite a rain-out of the actual game, staff officially unveiled it on the field with Maryland Farm Bureau President Chuck Fry giving the opening remarks and many farmers and economic development partners were in attendance. A reschedule date of August 24th has been set for 7pm.

In 2014, OED partnered with Frederick Magazine to produce the Homegrown Frederick magazine. Because of itshuge success, OED now makes this an annual publication and worked with Frederick Magazine to be able to develop the website which compliments the Homegrown Frederick magazine.

HomegrownFrederick includes information on Frederick County's creameries, equine industry, Christmas tree farms, events like Family Festival at the Farm, a farmers market listing, a CSA directory, a directory of restaurants that support local farmers, agriculture events and more.

A section on Frederick County's rapidly growing craft beverages industry is displayed and users can search for wineries, breweries and distilleries. With the "farm-to-glass" movement on the rise nationally and locally, OED has used mapping technology for Frederick County's craft beverages industry to help make visiting these locations easier.

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