Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance celebrated Maryland Buy Local Challenge Week at Anne Arundel Medical Center on Wednesday by sampling local sustainable Roseda Farm Beef burgers being served at the Southport Eatery. Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment invited the Secretary to highlight the commitment to local food purchasing undertaken by more than 36 hospitals around the state participating in the Buy Local Challenge. “We applaud Maryland hospitals for their strong participation in the Buy Local Challenge. Including local, seasonal foods in our meals is easier than ever and buying local food helps our farmers, our environment, economy, and the health of our families,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.

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Secretary Hance also tasted gazpacho made with local tomatoes and other produce. He stopped for this picture at the sampling table with (right to left) local author Rita Calvert, who was promoting her book on grilling The Grassfed Gourmet Fires It Up; event organizer Louise Mitchell, sustainable foods program manager for Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment; Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Earl “Buddy” Hance; farmer Pam Stegall Roberts of Calvert Farm; and Mary Ellen Tuma, food and nutrition services director at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

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