February 26, 2025 (Owings Mills, RD) — Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) original series Maryland Farm & Harvest, currently in its 12th season, will feature farms and locations in Montgomery, Talbot, and Queen Anne’s counties during an episode premiering on Tuesday, March 11. A preview can be found on the series’ webpage at mpt.org/farm.
Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream. Episodes are also available to view live and on demand using the free PBS app and MPT’s online video player.
The popular weekly series takes viewers on a journey across the Free State, telling engaging and enlightening stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow agriculture in Maryland, the state’s number one commercial industry.
Joanne Clendining, who has earned two Emmy® awards from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her work on Maryland Farm & Harvest, serves as series host. She is joined by Al Spoler, host of “The Local Buy” segments, and by a variety of local chefs who serve as guest hosts of the series’ “Farm to Skillet” segments.
With introductions filmed in Carroll County, the March 11 episode features the following stories:
- 4-H Families: King Family, Crowning Glory Farm (Queen Anne’s County) – For the King family of King Crowning Glory Farm in Church Hill, 4-H is a way of life that ties generations together. At their small family farm, siblings Brennan, Lydia, and Stephen train for the 4-H lamb showmanship and market competition at the Queen Anne’s County Fair, while father Kenny King serves as mentor and stand-in show judge. When Stephen wins the county-level competition, all three siblings advance to the state finals at the Maryland State Fair. Viewers will learn the fate of the Kings and other 4-H families introduced this season during the Season 12 finale on April 1.
- Chesapeake Mushrooms (Talbot County) – You may have heard of the milkman, but do you know the mushroom man? Over just a few years, Eddie Ford has grown Chesapeake Mushrooms in Easton from a small operation out of his home to one that requires multiple shipping containers and serves a growing clientele. Viewers follow Eddie as he delivers fresh mushrooms to clients throughout the Eastern Shore, from family homes to fine dining establishments such as the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michael’s and Osteria Alfredo in Easton.
- The Local Buy: Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard (Montgomery County) – At Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Dickerson, master winemaker Manolo Gomez walks segment host Al Spoler through the intricacies of crafting fine wine and the importance of terroir – or “taste of place” – in appreciating regional varieties. Gomez has managed the 22-acre vineyard for more than 10 years, and he explains how Maryland’s quick-changing weather conditions – while difficult for some grape varieties – provide an excellent growing environment for Cabernet Franc grapes. After touring the vineyard and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the fermentation process, Al tastes a Cabernet Franc with flavors that are unique not only to Maryland but to Sugarloaf Mountain. More information about Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard will be available at mpt.org/farm.
More than 19 million viewers have watched Maryland Farm & Harvest on the statewide public TV network since its debut in 2013. The series has traveled to more than 500 farms, fisheries, and other agriculture-related locations during its 11-plus season run, covering every Maryland county, as well as Baltimore City and Washington, D.C.
Encore broadcasts of Maryland Farm & Harvest air on MPT-HD on Thursdays at 11 p.m. and on Sundays at 6 a.m. Episodes also air on MPT2/Create® on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Past episodes can be viewed on the free PBS app and MPT’s online video player, while episode segments are available on the series’ YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/MarylandFarmHarvest/featured.
Audiences are invited to engage with the series on social media @MarylandFarmHarvest on Facebook and @mdfarmtv on Instagram.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.
Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board. Additional funding is provided by Maryland’s Best; MARBIDCO; a grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Program; Farm Credit; Maryland Soybean Board; Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts; Maryland Farm Bureau; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and by the citizens of Baltimore County.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member offering entertaining and educational content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices via its online video player and the free PBS app. A state agency operating under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, MPT also produces local, regional, and national programming and frequently earns regional Emmy® awards for its work. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through its Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources covering a wide range of topics. More information is available at mpt.org.
