Press Releases - County Council

Montgomery County Council and Committee Meetings on Nov. 12, 2025

For Immediate Release: Monday, November 10, 2025

Council will vote to meet in a proposed closed session; joint ECON and PHP Committee briefing on value-added agriculture and agritourism from Maryland Department of Agriculture representatives

The Montgomery County Council will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to vote to meet in closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee or official over whom it has jurisdiction under Section 3-305(b)(1) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code. The topics are the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee or official over whom it has jurisdiction.

The joint Economic Development (ECON) and Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to receive a briefing on value-added agriculture and agritourism with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Councilmember Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles.

The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson, Councilmember Fani-González and Vice President Will Jawando.

More detail on the agenda item is provided below.

Statewide Guidance and Analysis: Maryland’s Value-Added Agriculture and Agritourism

Briefing: The joint ECON and PHP Committee will receive a briefing from representatives of the Maryland Department of Agriculture on a report, Maryland’s Value-Added Agriculture and Agritourism, published in Oct. 2025. Value-added agriculture is a broad term encompassing many different aspects of enhancing on-farm products and experiences. The purpose of the briefing is to provide an overview of value-added processing functions and operations from a regulatory perspective. The report divides value-added agriculture into four categories: value-added processing, agritourism and food service, retail of value-added products and other on-farm activities. Additional information can be found in the Council staff report.

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The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Release ID: 25-378
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884