Maryland Food & Beverage Manufacturing Training Program Overview

Maryland MEP is proud to launch a new initiative dedicated to advancing the growth and long-term sustainability of Maryland’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.

The Maryland Food & Beverage Manufacturing Training Program was created to address industry challenges directly—building a stronger workforce, encouraging collaboration among peers, and deliver technical training specific to this industry sector’s needs. This new program will bring together established and emerging manufacturers, startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners through educational events, facility tours, and specialized programming. Maryland MEP plans to provide training, share best practices, reduce risk and barriers to entry, and foster opportunities for new businesses and economic growth.

Food and beverage manufacturing is the largest manufacturing cluster in Maryland, with over 7,000 manufacturers employing more than 20,000 workers. The sector has seen nearly 20% growth in the past decade—outpacing the national average of 8.9%. Beyond these numbers, countless farmers, food producers, entrepreneurs, and startups are creating or aspiring to create food and beverage products but are not yet classified as manufacturers. This represents a significant opportunity to spark and support economic growth by creating new businesses and providing resources for existing businesses to scale, improve, and thrive.