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MARYLAND MANUAL 313 The Greater Baltimore Consolidated Wholesale Food Market Au- thority, created by Chapter 146, Acts of 1967, is to establish, operate and maintain a consolidated food center within the Greater Baltimore Region. By Chapter 475, Acts of 1972, the Authority assumed the liabilities and operation of the Baltimore Wholesale Produce Market operated by the former New Marsh Wholesale Produce Market Authority. The Authority consists of two ex officio members and eight mem- bers appointed to five year terms by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One or more terms expire each year and any member may be reappointed. One member must be a resident of Howard County. The Authority selects its own officers and staff. The original Act also created an Advisory Council which consists of eleven members from the food industry who assist in making major decisions affecting the project. The Authority has acquired a 398 acre site at the intersection of U. S. Route I and Maryland Route 175 in Howard County near Jessup for the development of the Mary- land Wholesale Food Center. This center will provide better quality food products to the consumers of Maryland more efficiently and at less cost. As of July 1, 1973, commitments for construction of 1,360,000 square feet of food warehousing space had been signed. Of this amount, 410,000 square feet is already constructed and operating. Of 326 salable acres, 106 have been sold for $2.65 million as of July 1,1973. It is estimated that approximately $85 million will be invested in food distribution facilities by the completion of the project. The State's total investment of $9 million will be completely repaid over a period of years. The original Act provided an initial $4 million in State general obligation bonds for land acquisition and development. An additional $5 million in construction funds was provided by Chapter 409, Acts of 1969. The goal of the Authority is to construct a modern, efficient food distribution center to accommodate most of the food firms doing business in the scattered market areas of Baltimore. The Inner Har- bor renewal program in Baltimore City will displace the majority of these firms and is the influencing factor in the Authority's attempt to consolidate all wholesale food operations in one location. This con- solidation effort is based upon the recommendations of the U. S. Department of Agriculture after a two-year investigation of Balti- more's antiquated, inefficient, and unsanitary markets. The 40 year old concept of a modern Baltimore consolidated food market has already been successfully adopted by most of the larger metropolitan areas of the country. Phase I of the Authority project is completely developed and opera- tional with roads, water, sewer, rail and utility lines. During July of 1973, 26 wholesale produce firms from the Baltimore metropolitan area signed Agreements to Lease 61 units in the produce complex planned for construction in the food center by November 1, 1974. This archievement, combined with the previous Authority land sales to Giant Food, Inc., Distribution Centers, Inc. and Smelkinson Brothers Corporation, assures that the Maryland Wholesale Food Center will be both operationally and financially successful. The Food Market Authority, based on action by the Board of Public Works on June 25, 1973, will close the Baltimore Wholesale Produce Market in Baltimore City upon the opening of the new produce com- plex in the Maryland Wholesale Food Center. The Baltimore Whole- sale Produce Market facility, by deed, will revert to the City of Balti- more to be used for purposes other than a produce market. |
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Maryland Manual, 1973-74
| Volume 176, Page 313 View pdf image (33K) |
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