Agriculture in Caroline County

Value-added agriculture belongs in Caroline County.

We’ve been an agricultural community for more than 300 years. This legacy, combined with our proximity to major markets, makes Caroline County a leader in the farm-to-table movement.

Top 3 Reasons

you belong here

Agriculture is the largest industry in the region, so you’ll find a wealth of resources and support services nearby.

Favorable zoning policies and tax rates on agricultural land make Caroline County an incredibly affordable place to build a farm-based business.

Produce grown in Caroline County is locally sourced for three major metro markets, each within 100 miles. We’re within 200 miles from three additional major markets!

resources & incentives

Caroline County is at the center of a multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry on the Delmarva peninsula. Our local economy is geared toward agriculture. You’ll have your choice of suppliers for inputs, equipment, logistics, and other services. There are also extensive training and educational resources such as the University of Maryland Extension, Chesapeake Harvest, and Shore Gourmet.

Thanks to the Agricultural Use Assessment, farmland is assessed at a very low rate averaging around $300 per acre. This provides agriculture with a significantly lower real property tax bill than any other industry in Maryland. Also, Caroline County does not charge a personal property tax, so none of your equipment will be taxed. This lets you invest more of your hard-earned money into growing your business.

Agriculture Industry

ambassadors

Caroline County is the place to be for value-added agriculture! But don’t just take our word for it. We invite you to contact our agricultural industry ambassadors for a candid conversation about their experiences farming in Caroline County.

Rick & Wenfei Uva

Owners
Seaberry Farm | Email Wenfei

Seaberry Farm has become one of the largest cut flower and woody branch suppliers on the East coast. They employ approximately 10 people at their farm just outside Federalsburg.

Kurt Fuchs

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit  |  Email Kurt

Kurt has worked with dozens of farmers throughout Delmarva. He’s a Caroline County native and grew up on his family’s farm just outside Ridgely.

Agriculture

success stories

After 16 years of studying and working at Cornell University, Drs. Richard and Wenfei Uva moved to Caroline County to pursue their dream of starting a farm. With Richard’s doctorate in horticulture and Wenfei’s doctorate in horticultural business management and marketing, the couple was well prepared to launch Seaberry Farm just outside Federalsburg.

Seaberry Farm is best known for its woody cut branches that are used in large, high-end floral arrangements. This specialty has made Seaberry Farm a leading supplier to the high-end floral market. Floral arrangements are also available from the farm direct-to-consumers for weddings and other events. Finally, the farm produces a variety of seasonal fruits, including the beach plum, a tasty and nutritious “super food”.

Seaberry Farm leveraged the Caroline County Small Business Loan Program to help their business grow. They used the loan to acquire a large industrial cooler that keeps floral arrangements and fruit fresh. This equipment was critical in enabling the business to scale up.
Want to know more? Rick and Wenfei are two of our agricultural industry ambassadors. Feel free to contact them with any questions you may have about building an agricultural business in Caroline County!

Outstanding Dreams Farms is one of several thriving alpaca farms located in Caroline County. Proprietors Phil and Vickie Liske decided early on that they wanted to open their farm to the public. Their pride and affection for their animals is clear, and they love welcoming visitors of all ages to the farm. To help promote their farm as an agritourism destination, Phil and Vickie have worked extensively with the Caroline County Office of Tourism.

The Tourism Office has helped promote Outstanding Dreams through their newsletter, social media, and by booking bus tours to the farm. The farm’s signature event is its annual Alpaca Festival, which consistently brings more than 1,400 visitors to the farm.

Outstanding Dreams has also established a successful Farm Store on site that features a variety of products made from alpaca fleece. By working with the Office of Tourism, Outstanding Dreams has been able to increase traffic to the Farm Store and create an important additional revenue stream.

After serving in the military for five years, Bob Miller returned to his family’s dairy farm in American Corner in Caroline County. His family has practiced responsible farming techniques for many years, and Bob sought to build on this expertise while diversifying the farm. In 2009, Bob launched Nice Farms Creamery. Nice Farms specializes in cream-line milk and yogurt products that are produced right on their dairy farm.

Bob was able to secure a loan through the Caroline County Small Business Loan Program to help open Nice Farms. The loan paid for processing and packaging equipment in the creamery. Caroline County Economic Development also helped connect Bob with many other resources that help small and ag-based businesses.

The non-homogenized, grass-fed dairy products produced by Nice Farms Creamery meet the ever-increasing consumer demand for healthier, more natural foods. This has resulted in steady growth for Nice Farms since they opened. Nice Farms’ product line has expanded to include butter and home-churned ice cream.

In addition to onsite sales at the creamery, Nice Farms products are now available at many farmers markets and natural food stores throughout the region.