Maryland Farm & Harvest: Episode 511

Premiere air date: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 7pm on MPT-HD

Program preview

Episode Description

• Black Locust Hops in Baltimore County raises a crop that’s still relatively rare by Maryland standards. Hops, used to flavor beer, prefer dry conditions, not the wet, humid weather characteristic of the Mid Atlantic. But as the demand for locally-brewed beer increases, so has the interest in local hops. But is there hope for Maryland hops?
• Consumers are choosing organic chicken more than ever at the grocery store, and the impact is being felt on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Known for its booming poultry industry, the number of organic chickens raised in the region increased from 3.5 million in 2015 to just over 8 million in 2016. Andy Krastel of Krastel Farms in Kent County shows us how he raises his organic chickens. And grain farmer Bill Mason of Mason’s Heritage Farm in Queen Anne’s County explains why organic chicken’s growing popularity means an increased demand for organic grain.
• Did you know a cow isn’t technically a cow until it’s given birth? Until that point, it’s called a heifer. If you’re confused, dairy farmer Crystal Dell of MD-Delight Dairy in Carroll County explains what it takes to raise a calf—and how a cow becomes a cow.
• The Local Buy: The Half-Smoke—half beef, half pork—is a Washington, D.C. specialty. Al Spoler learns how they’re made at Manger Packing Corporation in Baltimore City, before tasting one of its most popular versions at the famed Ben’s Chili Bowl on U-Street in D.C. For more information about Ben’s Chili Bowl, visit http://benschilibowl.com/.
• Then & Now: Milk Delivery