Montgomery County committee hears state and local plans to standardize agritourism rules, add signage and marketing

Natalie Fanny Gonzales, chair of the Montgomery County Council Economic Development Committee, opened a work session Wednesday to brief the council and stakeholders on state and county work on agritourism and “value‑added” agriculture. The session featured updates from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Department of Commerce, Montgomery County Planning, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture and Visit Montgomery.

County and state officials said the presentations were informational; no votes or formal policy actions were taken at the session. The discussion focused on three near-term products: a Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) guidance document expected in September 2025, a Maryland Department of Commerce study ordered by House Bill 1228 and local implementation steps including a $25,000 wayfinding grant administered through the county Office of Agriculture.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture presented a statewide guidance draft aimed at “establish[ing] a baseline understanding of the complexities of regulating agricultural enterprises as they expand toward consumer‑facing and value‑added functions.” Audrey Broomfield, representing the department, said the work grew from roundtable discussions across counties and that the guidance will not itself make formal state or local policy changes but will identify “topics, challenges, and opportunities” for regulators and stakeholders. “With an expected publication date in September 2025, the statewide guidance and…