PRINCESS ANNE — The School of Agriculture & Natural Sciences at UMES is utilizing a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to develop a cooperative farmers’ market which would be located on campus.

A portion of the $172,270 grant awarded in 2016 would be used to provide technical assistance, membership enhancement and training for members of this cooperative, which would include representatives from the town and university.
Other stakeholders would be small farmers and business owners who would be invited to training workshops. One project in mind is the construction of a fisheries training facility on the UMES farm. Technical assistance would include how to become fish growers.

Last year meetings were held for Somerset, Wicomico, Dorchester and Accomack county residents to teach them how to sell to consumers farm goods ranging from fruits and vegetables to sheep and goats to yellow perch and tilapia. Lessons included how to prepare a business plan and securing funding.

Arthur L. Allen, director of the UMES Geospatial Technologies & Chesapeake Water Quality Centers, is the project leader. For more information contact him at alallen@umes.edu.