Our experience with Baltimore County is telling. The county is third in agriculture revenue.
1. The County spent tens of thousands on a report that defined opportunities to support the alcohol production sector.
Result? No meaningful strategy, funding, or promotion of the county’s wineries, distilleries, or farm breweries.
2. The County Executive’s Chief of Staff in November, punted on queries regarding HOW Baltimore County was operationalizing Governor Wes Moore’s July 28, 2025 Executive Order on agritourism which identified agritourism and value-added manufacturing as primary economic development engines for the state.
Who did they punt to? DEWD - which houses the tourism office and agriculture. Agriculture lost.
3. The Baltimore County Agriculture Advisory Board formed in 2024 under former County Executive Johnny Olszewski represents every ag sector except one: seafood and aquaculture.
The current County Executive appointed additional representatives upon Johnny Olszewski’s departure.
When queried why the aquaculture and seafood industry was not represented on the board?
The response: deliberate choice not to allow the industry a seat on Advisory Board, but stated the industry was represented by DEWD - downstream tourism marketing apparently is supposed to serve the thriving seafood sector with crab postcards and brochures. Not policy. Not funding.
Our experience with Baltimore County is telling. The county is third in agriculture revenue.
1. The County spent tens of thousands on a report that defined opportunities to support the alcohol production sector.
Result? No meaningful strategy, funding, or promotion of the county’s wineries, distilleries, or farm breweries.
2. The County Executive’s Chief of Staff in November, punted on queries regarding HOW Baltimore County was operationalizing Governor Wes Moore’s July 28, 2025 Executive Order on agritourism which identified agritourism and value-added manufacturing as primary economic development engines for the state.
Who did they punt to? DEWD - which houses the tourism office and agriculture. Agriculture lost.
3. The Baltimore County Agriculture Advisory Board formed in 2024 under former County Executive Johnny Olszewski represents every ag sector except one: seafood and aquaculture.
The current County Executive appointed additional representatives upon Johnny Olszewski’s departure.
When queried why the aquaculture and seafood industry was not represented on the board?
The response: deliberate choice not to allow the industry a seat on Advisory Board, but stated the industry was represented by DEWD - downstream tourism marketing apparently is supposed to serve the thriving seafood sector with crab postcards and brochures. Not policy. Not funding.
https://www.avenuenews.com/news/regional/
Hey Barry didn’t she just qualify for public financing and got the Baltimore Co. Progressive Dems endorsement?