Montgomery County First in Region to Join COG Local Food Procurement Challenge

The Montgomery County Council introduced a resolution on March 10, 2026, to make the county the first jurisdiction in the Washington metro region to join the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Local Food Procurement Challenge. The challenge calls on local jurisdictions to use existing purchasing power to invest more intentionally in local and regional food systems, with each jurisdiction designating a Local Food Investment point person to coordinate internally. Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who chairs the COG Farm Policy Committee, led the effort.