Maryland farmers market wins $4k pitch prize to expand food access on the Eastern Shore

A farmers market on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is getting a funding boost aimed at expanding access to fresh food.

Alicia Iesha Boyd won the $4,000 top prize at the third annual Upper Shore STRT1UP Roadshow, a pitch competition backed by regional economic development groups. She plans to split the fund between two endeavors: adding EBT and SNAP payment options to her market at the Ruthsburg Community Center in Queen Anne’s County and building out her own hydroponic setup to grow plants indoors beyond typical seasonal limits.

For residents in a region where food insecurity remains stubbornly high — some of Maryland’s highest rates of food insecurity are found in the western part of the state and on the Eastern Shore — the upgrade could make locally grown food more accessible. But the market is meant to do more than just sell produce, Boyd said. Through partnerships with local high schools and community colleges, students will gain food service experience while connecting to the Shore’s agricultural roots.

“I also want it to be a community-building opportunity,” Boyd told Technical.ly.

After all, the business also began as a community endeavor. The market grew out of Boyd’s existing venture, Humble Hearts Catering. After more than seven years running the business and sourcing ingredients directly from local farmers, she began looking for a more consistent way to support them.

“Small farms often lack consistent local sales outlets,” Boyd said. “I’m hoping to help change that.”

Entrepreneurs across 3 counties

Boyd was one of 10 participants in the competition, which drew entrepreneurs from Queen Anne’s, Cecil and Kent counties. 

The event also featured a visit from the Startup Maryland van, part of a regional initiative launched through the Startup America Partnership to support local founders. After presenting onstage, participants recorded pitches inside the van for Startup Maryland’s YouTube channel, which hosts hundreds of similar videos from across the state.

DeSales Ward took second place, earning $1,500 for her eco-conscious lawn care service. Former teacher Liz Gilbert won $500 for Brackish Books, a mobile bookstore she hopes to grow into a brick-and-mortar shop.

Mike Binko, founder of Startup Maryland, said he was struck by how the Upper Shore Regional Council, which helped organize the event, brought entrepreneurs together from across the region.

“It’s often challenging to work across ecosystems, but the Upper Shore has really made it happen,” Binko said, “and they’re making it stick.”