Farmer-to-consumer food plan taking root
More local producers join Roving Radish as initiative enters its third year
Near the Howard-Carroll line, farmers at Love Dove Farms and Gravel Springs Farms are helping close the farm-to-table gap through the Roving Radish, a local food initiative that delivers kits of produce, meat and other ingredients to seven locations throughout Howard County.
The program, launched by former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman two years ago and continued under current County Executive Allan Kittleman, is entering its third season with new locations and expanded services as it continues to cultivate relationships with farmers in both counties.
Paul Sorenson, owner of Gravel Springs Farms in Union Bridge, joined the program this year at the recommendation of his Howard neighbor, John Dove, of Love Dove in Woodbine, who has been a regular contributor since the program's inception.
“The program is kind of a no-brainer,” said Sorenson, whose farm is one of five new farms joining the program this year. “We get a fair price for our product and a fair price for our customer.”
Every week from the beginning of June until late November, Roving Radish sells meal kits to Howard County residents, with discounted prices for those in need. Meal kits, which include two meals for a family of four, are sold for $28 and at a discounted price of $12, according to the program's website.
At least 15 farms have signed on this year, according to James Zoller, the county's Roving Radish manager.
“These smaller to midsize farms are growing produce and protein. It's important that we keep them around,” said Zoller. “We've done a good job in preserving farmland, but we haven't really addressed preserving farming as an industry by creating markets that will work for them.”
As interest in the program grows, the number of kits the Roving Radish sells per week will increase from 145 last year to 200 this year, according to Zoller.
This year, the program also added two distribution locations, at the Ascend One building in Columbia and at the George Howard Building, the county's government center in Ellicott City.
“Every single year, we have sold out the volume we were able to produce each week. If we could produce more kits, we would sell all of them,” said James Caldwell, director of the county's Office of Community Sustainability.
The relationship with the county has helped the participating farms attract more customers, even outside the meal kits. “Those who buy into the meal program sometimes seek out our farm at farmers' markets after loving our veggies or re-creating a meal,” said Dove.
Roving Radish also plans to bring restaurants to the table. The program will launch a website to give restaurants the option of ordering produce from the local farms, and Roving Radish will deliver products to restaurants on Tuesdays and Thursdays, said Zoller.
“This is our next big push. We have to find new markets for our farmers,” said Zoller.
The goal is to make the program as self-sufficient as possible, he said. The program relies heavily on volunteers who package and prepare kits for distribution, giving the community a “defined stake” in the program, said Zoller.
For Zoller, finding a sustainable niche for farmers is personal. The Howard resident grew up on Valley Haven Farm, a 75-acre farm in Ellicott City that once spread across 175 acres.
“Farming is a way of life, and it's becoming a hard way of life. It's important for us to keep the heritage that is still there. We have to make that connection stay alive.”
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