ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the arrival of the Farmer’s Fridge at the Howard County Circuit Court in Ellicott City and the Ascend One building in Columbia. Photos of the event can be viewed in the County's Flickr album.
Howard County was one of four winners, nationwide, of the 2021 Culture of Health Prize awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The prestigious prize recognizes innovative communities for working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity.
The introduction of Farmer’s Fridge here is especially significant as we continue our work to create a culture of health throughout Howard County. We have worked hard to establish innovative healthy food partnerships and programs—including our County’s Roving Radish program, which recently just partnered with our schools to provide students and families with free, fresh produce. By increasing access to healthy food, we empower individuals to make better choices and help combat diet-related diseases. This initiative furthers our goal of improving nutrition and fostering a healthier lifestyle for everyone in our community.
Farmer’s Fridge is a vending machine that offers fresh, handmade meals and snacks, packaged in jars. Menu items include pineapple coconut chia pudding, apple pecan salad, Thai noodle bowl and chipotle turkey sandwich, among many other healthy choices. There are currently more than 1,000 Farmer’s Fridge locations in the United States, located inside airports, hospitals, office buildings and universities. Farmer’s Fridge launched 10 years ago and has grown into a multi-city operation serving thousands of customers a day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 1 in 4 adults in Maryland eat enough fruits and vegetables for the recommended daily intake. The Fridges inside the Circuit Court and Ascend One building will provide busy employees, courthouse visitors and other community members with fresh, healthy food items at the tip of their fingers. Through the Farmer’s Fridge mobile application, people can browse the menu, order and reserve their meal.
The introduction of Farmer’s Fridge to these locations is just the latest Howard County initiative to bring more healthy foods to residents. The County’s popular and successful Roving Radish program recently just partnered with Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to provide students and families with free, fresh produce.
To learn more about Farmer’s Fridge, please visit: www.farmersfridge.com.