From small family farms to modern aquaculture operations. From microbreweries to major bakeries. From artisanal cheese makers to the world’s leading spice maker. Agribusiness in Maryland is booming. And with a robust intermodal transportation network and abundant natural resources, it’s easy to see why.
A Robust Food Sector
Maryland helps some of the biggest names in the food industry produce, process and distribute food across the globe. Maryland’s large international population drives demand for authentic, international foods. H Mart, Tata Beverages, and United Foods International are among the global companies finding success here.
Several homegrown food companies have called Maryland home for decades, even centuries! McCormick, J.O. Spice, Perdue Farms, and the Chesapeake Coffee Roasters have deep roots here. Maryland also gives fertile ground for food startups in the food sector: Hungry Harvest, Gotham Greens and HEX Ferments are just a few of our modern makers.
Location + Infrastructure
In Maryland, a powerhouse port and connected roadways puts raw materials at your fingertips more quickly. And when it’s time to ship out your commodities, Maryland’s location and infrastructure helps you do it more efficiently, putting customers in the Northeast, South and Midwest just a drive away.
Aquaculture and seafood companies leverage Maryland’s prime geography and waterways — the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries — to provide some of the world’s best and most bountiful seafood.
Equestrian
In Maryland, find more horses per square mile (7.5) than any other the state. We are also home to five international competition venues. Among them, find Pimlico Race Course, host of the Preakness Stakes, and the Fair Hill Special Event Arena host of the Maryland 5 Star.
Maryland is home to more than 42,000 dairy cows spread across 340 farms throughout the state. In 2020, Maryland’s dairy industry produced over 878 million pounds of milk and generated more than $150 million in sales.
Poultry
Maryland’s Eastern Shore, home to national leader Perdue, has a completely integrated poultry industry, complete with farmers, chicken houses, processing facilities, and distribution partners.
Forestry
From Southern Maryland’s Poplar trees, to the Eastern Shore’s Southern Pine, to Western Maryland’s hardwoods, companies are leveraging Maryland’s forestry assets and tapping into state-led programs to fuel their success.
See Where Maryland Shines
Everyone knows Maryland for crabs, but that’s just part of our story. Get to know some of the state’s top agribusiness sub sectors.
“This is just the beginning of craft beverages in Maryland. It used to be one of our state’s preeminent industries – Maryland was the cradle of distilling – and now we’re reigniting that.”
Jaime Windon Owner/Co-Founder Windon Distilling Co
You’re in Good Company
From some of the biggest names in food production and distribution, to emerging companies rethinking food, get to know some of Maryland’s leaders in agribusiness.
