Montgomery County, Maryland celebrates its agricultural heritage by promoting local farms and inviting visitors to explore agricultural enterprises during the 2023 Farm Tour & Harvest Sale on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23.
Montgomery County was among the first counties in the nation to develop no-till conservation farming, and there are currently 558 farms and 350 horticulture enterprises in Montgomery County, which employ more than 10,000 people.
This year, the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture has partnered with 21 farms, orchards and vineyards to host special events on July 22 and 23. County residents and visitors of any age are welcome!
The Agriculture Reserve or “Ag Reserve” is heralded as one of the best examples of land conservation policies in the country, the Agricultural Reserve encompasses 93,000 acres, almost a third of the county’s land resources. Visit farms in the Agricultural Reserve in the spring for pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, tart cherries, blackberries, red raspberries, and tomatoes. In the fall, families head out to the pumpkin patch, and during the holidays, they cut fresh trees. View more about the Ag Reserve with this video:
A trip to Butlers Orchard will afford you a tractor driven farm tour and a fresh farm-to-table lunch, while one to Button Farm Living Historical Center will teach you tales of 19th century plantation life and give you a chance to admire their adorable animals.
Venture to Camp Olympia to watch a variety of demonstrations and enjoy a pony ride and spend some at Madison Fields where you can make horse treats and pony painting.
Live music and fresh food await you at Red Wiggler Community Farm, while educational exhibits and adorable animals are in store for you at King Barn Dairy MOOseum.
Homestead Farm and Lewis Orchard are the places to go if you’re hoping to pick your own produce, while Kingsbury Orchard’s market offers a wide variety of already-picked peaches, apples, cherries and Asian pears.
R.B. Savage & Sons Farm also has an on-farm market full of fresh produce, locally hand-crafted items and farm-raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb and goat, and Rock Hill Orchard offers ice cream, an exciting look at their milking process, visits to the farm’s calves and more.
After spending a day at one or two – or more – of these unforgettable locations, grab some drinks at one of following local breweries, wineries or cideries, all which offer picturesque scenery to accompany their refreshing beverages.
Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues or alone, taking advantage of the agricultural scene in Montgomery County during this year’s Farm Tour & Heritage Sale is sure to be rewarding.
View the official 2023 Farm Tour Brochure here.
Download the Visit MoCo Adventure Planner app to make a personalized itinerary in just a few clicks, and check-in at each location with a digital passport. All visitors who check-in at a farm will be entered into a giveaway.
Search “Visit MoCo” in the App Store or Google Play for a free download.
Looking for another way to get outdoors and explore? Check out the Best Places to Boat in Montgomery County!
