A public instrumentality of the State, the Maryland Food Center Authority operates the Wholesale Produce Market, the Maryland Market Center, the Rock Hall Clam House, and other food-related developments in Maryland. The Authority leases warehouse, office, storage and dock space to food distribution businesses and local watermen.
Operations of the Authority are funded by entrance and registration fees, service fees, and rental income generated from the operation of its food markets. The agency receives no State General Funds.
The Authority has twelve members. Eight are named to five-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Four serve ex officio (Code Economic Development Article, secs. 10-201 through 10-229).
In Jessup (Howard County), the Maryland Food Center is immediately adjacent to Interstate 95, at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Maryland Route 175. Railroad access is available in the Center, which is less than 20 minutes from shippers through the Port of Baltimore or BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
MARYLAND MARKET CENTER
The Maryland Market Center originated as the Maryland Wholesale Seafood Market, which opened after the Baltimore Fish Market closed in 1984. The Market adopted its current name in 2018, following renovation of the facility.
Food distribution businesses use the Center's over 112,000 square feet of packing, refrigeration and distribution space.
MARYLAND WHOLESALE PRODUCE MARKET
In 1976, the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market began operation.
To privately-owned firms engaged in the wholesale distribution of fresh produce, the Maryland Food Center Authority leases space in the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market. The Market is a critical link in the daily supply of produce to restaurants, chain grocers, hotels, wholesale food processors, and consumer buying groups.
The Market distributes a vast volume of produce, including exotic varieties and items, which otherwise would not be available unless purchased in large quantities. Covering 330,000 square feet of terminal space, the Market's two buildings make available daily most types of produce grown in the United States and throughout the world.
The Clam House is now home to maritime businesses and local watermen who rent the seven available boat slips and is 100% occupied.
The Maryland Food Center Authority's responsibility for leasing office, storage and dock space to food services and distribution is carried out by Real Estate and Finance. This division also is responsible for Records Management.
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MARYLAND FOOD CENTER
Supporting the State's supply of food, the Maryland Food Center is a 400-acre hub of privately-owned food distribution businesses and ancillary industries. The Center includes the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market, the Maryland Market Center, a Cross Dock Facility, and a tractor trailer parking facility. Businesses enjoy economies of scale since most services related to their industry are readily available and located within the Maryland Food Center, which allows for efficiency and reduced risk when fulfilling orders due to the availability of products at multiple vendors.
7901 Oceano Ave., Jessup, MD 20794
7460–7480 Conowingo Ave., Jessup, MD 20794
ROCK HALL CLAM HOUSE
The Rock Hall Clam House in Kent County was acquired by the Maryland Food Center Authority in 1990 and operated as the Rock Hall Seafood Processing Plant until 1997. It ceased operations in January 2004. In cooperation with the Town of Rock Hall and the Rock Hall community, the Plant renovated by the Maryland Food Center Authority and rededicated as the Rock Hall Clam House in November 2013.
REAL ESTATE & FINANCE
Real Estate and Finance originated as Finance and Leasing and received its current name in 2018.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT
Since October 1, 2017, the Maryland Food Center Authority has had a program for the continual, economical and efficient management of its records. The Authority's Records Officer develops and oversees the program, and serves as liaison to the Records Management Division of the Department of General Services, and to the State Archives (Chapter 539, Acts of 2017; Code State Government Article, secs. 10-608 through 10-611).
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