As we move into the holiday season, many shoppers value shopping locally. In addition to the items you’re buying as gifts, there are plenty of local farms in Southern Maryland offering fresh and healthy meats and produce to put on your table. You’ll be getting healthier meats from grass-fed and pasture-raised animals, and you’ll be supporting local farms and growers, many of which are family-owned businesses. Here are a few local farms I’d highly recommend visiting at any time of the year:

Sassafras Farm

Location: 4991 Huntingtown Rd., Huntingtown, MD

 

If you’re looking for fresh local beef in Southern Maryland, check out Sassafras Farm in Huntingtown. They’ve been around since 1962 and specialize in USDA certified Angus beef. Their herd is raised without hormones or antibiotics, so you know you’re getting a healthy product. Each order is USDA processed and vacuum sealed, and they offer local delivery and free shipping.

 

Hancock Family Farms

Location: 10440 Hancock Farm Place, LaPlata, MD

 

For a broad range of fresh meats and produce, visit Hancock Family Farms in LaPlata. You can visit this family-owned farm every Saturday from 9:00AM-2:00PM. You’ll find everything from naturally-raised meats, like smoked applewood bacon and ribeye steak, to delicious seasonal produce. They’re committed to raising livestock in a humane way and ensure their meats are antibiotic and hormone free. Plenty of local families enjoyed their fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner, and they’re offering pre-orders for their Christmas Prime rib roast this coming weekend.

 

Swann Farms

Location: 7740 Swann Lane, Owings, MD

 

For the freshest in-season produce, Swann Farms in Owings is a must-visit. They’re a sixth generation wholesale produce farm, supplying fruits and vegetables to the Southern Maryland, Washington D.C., and Baltimore areas. They’re known for their expansive U-Pick strawberry field, where you can spend an afternoon on their beautiful property picking ripe local berries when in season. Visitors can even pack a picnic to enjoy by the river in the warmer weather. From May through the beginning of October, Swann Farms has a stand at the North Beach Farmers Market where you can collect your goods. They currently have a stock of Douglas Fir Christmas trees, so head over to pick yours up and enjoy their festive holiday barn.

 

Cabin Creek Heritage Farm

Location: 18235 Clagett Landing Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD

 

Cabin Creek Heritage Farm began with a family of first-generation farmers. This Upper Marlboro farm is committed to humane and clean farm practices. They raise their animals in a woodland and pasture-based sustainable fashion without the use of pesticides, steroids, antibiotics, or hormones. You can pick up a CSA share here or visit their farm market open year-round. Their current hours are Saturdays 9:00AM-2:00PM. You can plan a longer visit and take a self-guided walking tour on their farm to learn about sustainable farming and see their many animals, including their woodland-raised Berkshire pigs, pasture-raised chickens and rabbits, and meadow lamb.

 

 

If you like to support your local Southern Maryland businesses, buying food from local farms is a great way to go. So, in addition to hitting the small local shops this holiday season, you can head over to one of these superb farms to get some delicious food for your holiday celebrations.