Governor Martin O’Malley (center), along with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (right), recognized Holly Emmons, food and nutrition services manager at Union Hospital of Cecil County (2nd right) with the Governor’s first Smart, Green and Growing Buy Local Agricultural Challenge Award at the Buy Local Cookout on Thursday, July 21, 2011 hosted by Governor Martin O’Malley to kick off the Buy Local Challenge.  Emmons is now purchasing 44 percent of her produce, dairy, meat and poultry directly from local sustainable farmers. This includes certified organic fruit and vegetables and local pastured meat, chicken and turkey which is served to patients, employees and to visitors who eat at the hospital. Maryland First Lady Katie O’Malley and Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Earl “Buddy” Hance are also pictured here (left).

Congratulations, Holly Emmons!