No Local Businesses on 'True Blue' Certification List

Not one Edgewater or Davidsonville business appeared on the list of Maryland’s True Blue campaign, a program that promotes and identifies local businesses that use genuine Maryland blue crabs in their dishes.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) , which is a way to promote businesses that use locally sourced crab meat.

Businesses throughout the state had to apply in order to receive "True Blue" certification, but none from Edgewater or Davidsonville either applied or received approval.

Steve Vilnit, the program's coordinator, said every business that has applied to the program has been granted acceptance. 

"It wouldn't make sense to apply if you weren't selling Maryland crabs," he said. 

Patch called several local businesses that serve crabs and found out most of them either don't use Maryland crabs exclusively, or simply didn't know about the program.

A manager at in Riva said they are aware of the program, but that their crabs come from Louisiana and other areas around the country. He said the number of crabs available from local waters isn't enough to meet the demand for Mike's two locations.

A manager at said they get their crabs from two providers from Maryland, but that he was unaware of the True Blue campaign.

Patch was unable to contact managers from the —a business widely applauded for having one of the best crabcakes in the state.  doesn't sell crabs as a lone dish, but said they get their crab meat from Sysco, a North American food marketer and distributor. 

Those who participate in the program will now use a special logo in marketing or advertisements for their dishes—a blue crab insignia, certified by the state.  

Recently, DNR released a list of 95 businesses that qualified for the program, showing that various businesses in Annapolis, Broadneck and Odenton were labeled as "True Blue." 

"Only a small number of restaurants in Maryland reliably make their crab cakes from local crabmeat and the state does not require restaurants to identify the specific source of the meat," according to the True Blue campaign's website. "It's time to stand behind our crab cakes and crab meat and proudly support this local luxury."

Vilnit, a fisherman and DNR director of fisheries marketing, that he hopes the True Blue program draws residents to businesses that use "real Maryland crab." 

Are you surprised that no local businesses earned a True Blue Certification?

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Broadneck Patch editor D. Frank Smith contributed to this article.