The ADC is a 15 body council appointed by the County Commissioners to administer programs to educate the general public on the importance of agriculture and encourage the continuation of farming in Chester County.

The ADC sponsors several important programs such as: producing the Chester County Produce Growers’ Guide; awarding a $1,000 educational grant to a high school senior; recognizing a Farmer of the Year and recipient for a Distinguished Service to Agricultural award, and sponsoring a teacher to attend PA Agriculture Awareness Foundation’s Agriculture in the Classroom workshop. In addition, the ADC has published two cookbooks, with the latest edition called The Bounty of Chester County-Heritage Edition available for sale that supports the scholarships and awards. The ADC provides guidance to township officials and farmers when establishing Agricultural Security Areas (ASA) and supports the ASA program thereafter.

Current ADC membership includes the following Officers: Duncan Allison, Chair; Claire Murray, Vice Chair; Robert Ray, Immediate Past Chair; Ann "Dixie" Abbott; Christopher Alonzo; William Cracas; David Garrison; Karl Herr; Robert Hewitt; Thomas McCaffrey; Suzanne Milshaw;  Marcia Solda; Karen Vollmecke; Thomas Walsh; and William Wells, Jr.

If interested in serving on the ADC, please send resume to Chester County Commissioners’ Office, 2 North High Street, PO Box 2747, West Chester,
PA 19380.

ADC Mission

The Chester County Agricultural Development Council’s purpose is to help Chester County farmers continue to farm while encouraging additional agricultural opportunities, create an environment to attract new farmers and agricultural activities, educate residents and municipal officials, and partner with others to help resolve problems and issues related to agriculture.