At peak right now: Oysters, Ramps. Head to a farmers market or your CSA to find them fresh.
Somewhere in a field in Frederick County or down on the Eastern Shore, there is a row of curved metal hoops pushed into the soil and covered with a single layer of greenhouse plastic, and inside that tunnel right now, spinach is growing. Not struggling, not surviving in some marginal way, but actually putting out new leaves and staying crisp through the cold. Most people who shop at farmers markets in summer have no idea this is happening in January.
The tunnels are not heated. That's the part that surprises people when they learn about it. There's no propane burner, no electrical system, nothing running overnight to keep the temperature up. What the plastic does is moderate. On a day when it's 28 degrees outside, the inside of a hoophouse might reach 45 or even 50 degrees if the sun is hitting it well. At night it drops back down close to ambient, but the soil holds some warmth and the plants are sheltered from wind, which does a lot of the damage in an exposed field. Spinach, certain lettuces, claytonia, mache, arugula, and kale all handle this range without flinching. These are crops that were bred over centuries for cold climates, and a Maryland winter is not particularly extreme by their standards.
Farmers have been running hoophouses in Maryland for a long time, but the practice expanded noticeably in the late 2000s after USDA made low-interest financing available through its Natural Resources Conservation Service program. A lot of small farms used that to put up their first tunnel, sometimes two or three. The investment pays off because it extends the growing season on both ends, not just winter but early spring and late fall too, when outdoor beds would still be too wet or too cold to produce reliably. A farm like One Straw Farm in White Hall has used hoophouse production to run CSA shares year-round, and they're not unusual in that. Several farms in Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties do the same thing. The greens that come out of those tunnels in January are cut to order, washed with cold water, and often at market within 24 hours of harvest.
The texture is different from what you find in a plastic clamshell at the grocery store. Hoophouse spinach in winter is dense and a little squeaky, the kind of leaf that holds up under a warm dressing without going immediately limp. Lettuce varieties grown for winter, like Winter Density or North Pole butterhead, have tighter heads than summer varieties and a slightly mineral flavor from slow cold growth. If you haven't been to a winter farmers market in your county recently, it's worth checking whether one still runs through January or February. Many do, and the vendor table with muddy hands and a cooler of greens is probably selling something that was cut that morning less than an hour's drive from where you're standing.
A few producers worth knowing about this week.
Through the Forest Farm tends about half an acre in Clarksville, coaxing fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers from Howard County soil using organic practices. Their CSA program is the heart of the operation, and the 2026 season is already open for registration , running a bit longer than last year, with the Spring share kicking off March 28 and transitioning to the summer share on May 23. Signing up early locks in your spot and helps the farm plan seeds and supplies for the season ahead.
Running every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Hollywood Shopping Center in College Park, this Prince George's County market has been connecting northern College Park residents with local vegetables, meats, and eggs since 2013. More than a decade in, it still draws a loyal, returning crowd and a solid lineup of vendors. Find it at 9801 Rhode Island Avenue, rain or shine.
Based in Westminster, Gene's Greens runs a customizable CSA program that lets subscribers choose from seasonal fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, and artisan goods rather than receiving a fixed box. The farm grows with soil health in mind and directs a portion of its produce toward community food donations. If you want more control over your weekly share than a traditional CSA offers, this Carroll County operation is worth a look.
Sandy Spring Gardens in Ashton grows more than 50 types of vegetables without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, with a focus on soil health as the foundation for flavor and nutrition. The farm harvests daily to capture vegetables at peak freshness, and sells exclusively to its local Montgomery County community , a deliberate choice rooted in the belief that truly knowing your source is the best assurance of clean food. Their 2025 CSA memberships are open now.
Deshi Bazar has been a fixture on North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg since 2010, offering premium Halal cuts of beef, goat, lamb, chicken, turkey, and quail alongside a full South Asian grocery selection that spans basmati rice, fresh curry leaves, and spices sourced for Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani cooking. Custom butchering and Qurbani services set it apart from standard grocery options, and the shop is open daily from 10am to 9pm.
Visit website →B K Miller Meats & Liquor has been a fixture in Clinton since 1913, making it one of the longest-running meat markets in Prince George's County. The shop carries fresh chicken wings, crab legs, and freezer specials, and its staff loyalty is striking , several crew members have worked there for over two decades, including one employee with 62 years of service. For shoppers in the area, it's the kind of counter where institutional knowledge comes with every order.
Many Rocks Farm is a 40 acre family owned and operated farm dedicated to the breeding of quality, performance-tested meat goats. We use Kiko, Boer, and some dairy breeds in our commercial production h
Operating out of Forest Hill in Harford County since 1982, KCC Natural Farms raises layers and broilers without hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products. Beyond standard chicken eggs, they offer pheasant and quail eggs , a find for cooks looking to work with something less common. Their freeze-dried products are also available for wholesale and private label, but the farm's roots remain in small-scale, all-natural poultry and egg production.
Falling Branch Brewery sits on a 100-acre farm in Street that has been in the same family since 1924, now in its fourth generation. What began as a swine operation under great-grandfather Calvin has grown to include an award-winning taproom open Thursday through Sunday, with a rotating food truck on site. The setting in northern Howard County makes it a natural stop for anyone looking to spend an afternoon with a pint and some genuine farm history underfoot.
Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery sits along Wicomico Creek just south of Salisbury in Eden, where the waterside setting informed both the winery's name (Bordeleau means "the water's edge") and its approach to growing grapes. The operation hand-harvests its fruit and draws a loose comparison to the climate conditions of Bordeaux, producing red, white, off-dry, and sweet wines available through the tasting room and select retail. If you're exploring the Eastern Shore's wine scene, this Wicomico County spot is a reasonable anchor for a day trip.
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