Inequities within Harco Food Shed

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According to MSU, a food shed is the geographic region that produces the food for a specific population, encompassing the entire journey from production to consumption. Similar to a watershed, it tracks the flow of food from farms, through transportation routes and markets, to the consumer's table, often used to analyze local, sustainable food systems First, let's understand food Insecurity in Harford County, MD.

While Harford County is often recognized as a strong, middle- to upper-income community, recent data shows that thousands of our neighbors are quietly struggling to put food on the table.

According to 2023 data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, 11.8% of Harford County residents are food insecure. That means nearly 1 in 9 people in our community do not have consistent, reliable access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy life. 30,880 individuals — families, children, seniors, veterans, and working adults. This is somewhat shocking to me since we have a large agricultural presence.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

One of the most eye-opening findings is this:

• 55% of food-insecure individuals have incomes above SNAP eligibility levels.

• 45% fall below 200% of the federal poverty level, making them more likely to qualify for assistance programs.

This means that more than half of those struggling with hunger may not qualify for federal nutrition assistance — despite clearly needing support. These are often working families earning too much to receive benefits, but not enough to comfortably afford rising housing, childcare, healthcare, and grocery costs.

The average cost of a meal in Harford County is $3.90, which may seem modest at first glance. However, when multiplied across three meals per day for an entire household, food expenses quickly become a major financial burden — especially for families living paycheck to paycheck.

Income Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Harford County’s overall economic profile is strong:

• The median household income is approximately $112,000, significantly higher than the national average.

• Many households earn over $100,000 annually.

• The county’s poverty rate is estimated at around 7%.

On paper, these figures suggest prosperity. But averages can be misleading.

Within our county exists a wide range of income levels — from high-earning households to families making under $50,000 per year. Rising living costs and expenses quickly push working families into financial strain.

Food insecurity doesn’t only affect those in deep poverty. It often impacts:

• Dual-income households stretched thin by childcare

• Seniors on fixed incomes

• Families facing medical bills

• Households recovering from job loss or reduced hours

Why This Matters

Food insecurity is more than just hunger. It is linked to:

• Poorer health outcomes

• Developmental challenges for children

• Increased stress and mental health strain

• Lower academic and workplace performance

When nearly 31,000 people in our county are affected, this becomes a community issue — not just an individual one.

If you are anything like me, you may be asking- how does our county have this issue with a large agricultural presence? Allow me to explain!

Harco's Agricultural Strength — And the Food Access Paradox

The county has 65,954 acres of farmland, including over 44,000 acres of cropland and more than 8,600 acres of pastureland. More than 66,000 acres have been permanently preserved to protect farming from residential development, ensuring long-term food production capacity. Great, fantastic, wonderful! On the surface, these figures suggest a strong local food system with both economic and environmental sustainability. Yet despite this agricultural abundance, local food production does not automatically translate into affordable food access. Much of the county’s agricultural output enters regional distribution channels, and locally grown products often reflect market pricing that may not be accessible to lower- or middle-income families. This is not a shortage-of-food problem. The county’s farmland represents tremendous potential, but ensuring equitable access requires continued collaboration between farmers, nonprofits, policymakers, and community organizations to bridge the affordability gap and connect local production with families who need it most.

Preserved farmland ensures land remains agricultural — but food access depends on:

• Transportation

• Grocery store proximity

• Food pantry capacity

• Distribution logistics

• SNAP/WIC acceptance at markets

A community can have abundant farmland but still experience:

• Transportation barriers

• Limited affordable grocery access

• Gaps in distribution to vulnerable populations

Here are some ideas that may help bridge this gap! We need to strategically connect existing agricultural resources to households facing income constraints. The opportunity lies in:

• Financial bridges

• Institutional partnerships

• Incentive programs

• Community-driven coordination
  

  1. Mobile Farm Markets that serve needed areas.

  2. Establish local delivery hubs in areas that need to be served.

  3. Consider creating a Community Food Fund. Supported by local businesses, healthcare systems, faith communities, and agricultural stakeholders.

  4. My last recommendation, named: Little Sprouts, Local Roots, would be a farm to childcare + school integration strategy. Now, hear me out! Little Sprouts, Local Roots would be a public health intervention, an economic development strategy, a childhood education enhancement, and a food insecurity mitigation tool. I am not going to spill the beans on all of my ideas; however, here is the financial snapshot. If a center or school serves:

  • 75 children

  • 2 meals + 1 snack daily

  • 250 operating days/year

  That’s over 56,000 meal servings annually.

  
  

  If 50–100 children receive locally sourced meals daily, that becomes:

  • A reliable revenue stream for farms.

  • A measurable food access intervention.

  Even shifting 20–30% of ingredients to local sources could inject tens of thousands of dollars into the local farm economy.

If you made it to the bottom, I thank you for taking the time to read this blog post! If you wish to learn more about my models, please reach out!