Food

Popular Farm Stand May Have To Close

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ― A popular farm stand that's operated for years in southern Anne Arundel County may have to close due to a zoning complaint.

A councilman tells Suzanne Collins if the law in question is enforced, it could shut down every farm stand in the county.

Dick and Jane's on Solomons Island Road south of Annapolis has taken children on hayrides for years, sold nursery stock, fruits, vegetables and pumpkins.

"I'm very concerned because we've been doing it for 16 years.  It's a business I want to retire with," said Dick Bishop.

But a single zoning complaint against Dick and Jane's revealed the Anne Arundel County law actually requires that farm stands only sell their own produce, no one else's.  Now a councilman is trying to change the law so all farm stands aren't shut down.

"So if you're a corn farmer and you can't sell tomatoes, melons, or cantaloupe or pumpkins.  It restricts the amount of revenue you have to have to sustain your agricultural business," said Councilman Edward Reilly.

Within a week of the news about Dick and Jane's, 400 customers signed a petition to keep it open.  The farm belonged to owner Jane Bishop's grandparents.  Hay is grown and the family runs the nursery, but fruits and vegetables come from other farmers.

"I'd hate for them to close down, because everything is fresh vegetables.  The corn is fantastic.  I have friends of mine coming from Washington," said Louise Gregory.

The person who complained says a farmer is supposed to be allowed to sell his own produce but this has become more of a commercial operation and she believes it hurts the character of this agricultural area.

The councilman says it's better to have agriculture business than housing developments and the farm stand owner says other families are concerned, too.

"From what I can see personally, there's nobody in compliance because even the wagons that pull out on the road aren't allowed to be on the road by written law," Bishop said.

Councilman Reilly says he'll introduce the bill to help Dick and Jane's this month, hoping they will be able to sell again in the spring.

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