Maryland’s Best will kick off Maryland Farmers Market Week at the Reisterstown Farmers Market on Aug 2. Gov. Wes Moore declared Aug. 2-8, 2026 as Maryland Farmers Market Week. “We love having a dedicated week to celebrate the farmers, community partners and food access organizations t hat make Maryland’s farmers markets thrive,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. “While fresh, local food is always the highlight, farmers markets are also gathering places that bring communities together and connect people with the farmers who feed them.” The Reisterstown Farmers Market will take place Aug. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of Franklin Middle School. The event will feature a chef competition in which competitors will shop for ingredients from the farmers market. They must use at least five Maryland-ingredients in their dish, including at least one protein. The dishes will be assessed by a blind panel of judges, including Harrison Palmer, chief of staff for the Maryland Department of Agriculture; Fox45 BMORE Lifestyle Host Tiffany “Lady T” Watson; and Chef Matthew Lego of Leo Annapolis, Maryland’s Best 2026 Chef Partner of the Year. The winner will earn a “Golden Ticket,” allowing them to compete at the World Food Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana this October. “We are incredibly excited to be hosting this year’s competition at the Reisterstown Farmers Market and highlight our wonderful farmers, food producers and vendors who make our local food community so special,” said Samantha Kahan, manager of the Reisterstown Farmers Market. “This event brings farm to table to life, showcasing the freshest local ingredients being grown right here in our community. We look forward to celebrating our chefs, vendors, customers and the vibrant local food community we are building together!” The Reisterstown Farmers Market is one of many across Maryland that participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, a federally-funded nutrition benefit program that is administered by Maryland’s agriculture department. Through the program, SNAP and WIC recipients as well as low-resource older adults can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs from farmers markets and farm stands. Another MDA-administered program, Maryland Market Money, provides a dollar-for-dollar match for purchases made using federal nutrition benefits at participating Maryland farmers markets, farm stands and farms that offer community supported agriculture. There are more than 100 farmers markets throughout Maryland. To find a farmers market near you, visit marylandsbest.net and enter your ZIP code. ...read more read less