The Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Jessup, MD, is operated by the Maryland Food Center Authority, and is directed by a 12-member executive board that is appointed by the governor of Maryland.

The approximate 400-acre Maryland Food Center is home to such companies as Giant Food, SYSCO Food Services of Baltimore, T.A. Baltimore South, Merchants Terminal, BTS Distribution Centers, Terminal Corp. and the Maryland wholesale produce and seafood markets. There are approximately 3,500 Marylanders employed at the FoodRose Harrell, market manager for the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market Center. Virtually every category of fruit, vegetables and seafood are processed, packaged and distributed through the Maryland Food Center into the Mid-Atlantic region.

The MWPM currently houses 29 tenants. They include produce merchandisers and hauling companies. Rose Harrell, market manager, said that the MFCA invests significant funds each year into the facility.

“This past year the MFCA completed a $780,000 roof-replacement project on both market buildings,” she said. “We are continuing to install security cameras throughout the market. With owning and operating two wholesale markets, the MFCA has to understand and monitor regulations affecting both the produce and seafood industries.

“The access systems, along with security cameras monitoring the docks and parking areas, provide us with different levels of security,” she continued. “With the Federal Department of Agriculture Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010, some of our tenants are looking to be ahead of the game when the final regulations come out by implementing new internal controls for food safety and sanitary conditions.”

Over the last couple years, several tenants have outgrown the market and moved their operations off of the market site.

“But they have maintained a close relationship with the market and continue to do business there,” said Ms. Harrell. “This has allowed other tenants to expand their business and take over vacant units as well as new companies moving into the market. Most recently, R&C International, Nick’s Produce, Supreme Foods and Mobjack Trucking moved into the market.”

The Jessup Market, she added, is doing well and is always 100-percent occupied. “And we maintain a wait list for [space on] the market,” she said. “The MFCA continues to provide improvements that keep the market a welcoming place for people to come and buy fresh produce.”

The MWPM has supported the Capital Area Food Bank for more than 20 years. Ms. Harrell said the market provides a small area for the bank to collect and record the product it receives. The organization distributes millions of pounds of food each year to the community through more than 750 member feeding programs and educates thousands of local residents on hunger, poverty and nutrition issues. It provides food for the hungry in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia. The MFCA and the Market tenants are pleased to be able to assist in feeding those who are in need.

“This past year another non-profit organization, The Baltimore Station, has also been receiving donated product from market tenants,” said Ms. Harrell. “The organization is a rehabilitation facility that serves mostly veterans.”

As the owner of the MWPM, the MFCA continues to promote the market with involvements in the community with visits to elementary schools, health expositions and other various community-outreach programs.

“These activities promote the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Ms. Harrell. “We are partners with Produce for Better Health and United Fresh, which enables us to keep current on all aspects of the produce industry. The Jessup Market has become very diverse over the last several years with almost half of the tenants being of Asian and Hispanic ethnicity. With the increased diversity of the surrounding communities, these tenants have helped bring new customers to the market.”