Farmers Markets You Attend

[Leslie]

Are you attending a farmers market in your area and if so which one? What foods are in, in your region?

I'm a member of the Cumberland Farmers Market and participate in the Falmouth, Yarnouth and Cumberland locations. Strawberries, kale and lettuces are in.

[Robin]

The market in Calais is small but has locally produced foods and flowers.

Beet greens, lettuces, turnip, spinach, bok choi, tatsoi, endive and a few other greens are in now. Peas will be ready in a few weeks.

[Leslie]

Hi Robin,

When did your market open? Do you see more people buying locally this year over years past?

[Robin]

We sell from the farm. We do have more people buying locally. A lot of people have been in to buy seedlings because they're either learning to grow their own or growing more of their own food than before. I'm an enthusiastic eat local supporter so this is very encouraging.

[Amy Bradstreet]

We primarily attend the Saco Farmer's Market, but we occasionally make it up to Portland. We've been getting chard, spinach, green onion, radishes, lettuce, asparagus, and beets. We also just picked strawberries from Doles Orchard in Limington.

Amy in Old Orchard Beach
http://onbradstreet.blogspot.com/

[Del Ketcham]

We are starting in Wiscasset a local food distribution system that will get fresh fruits and vegetables into the hands of less fortunate people. Cooperative efffort on the part of Morris farm, Ames Hardware, local food bank, a church or two and some local farmers and private gardeners. Already have sent fresh produce and tomato plants to the Food Bank at St Phillips Church.

Hope this effort will provide educational endeavors and perhaps develop into a local food system that will reach all in our society. Will keep you informed as to progress.

Any in the Wiscasset area interested, send email to [e-mail]

Peace,

Del Ketcham

[Leslie]

Hi Del,

What a great project. I know some of the CSA's down this way are taking part in similar projects, though they are often individual efforts. It's nice to hear you are doing this as a cooperative effort.

All Best,
Leslie

[Manon]

I attend the Crsytal Spring Framer's Market, as well as the Bowdoinham one (brand new).
The CSFM has an astonishing variety of products, from mussels to cheese to veggies to fabulous breads. the Bowdoinham one is fairly new, and offers seedlings, greens, and has a kids table.

[Leslie]

What kinds of things are at the kids table?

[Tom Roberts]

Tom from Snakeroot Organic Farm here. We have 5 acres of MOFGA certified organic vegetable, herb and perennial production in Pittsfield. We market about 95% of our production at the farmers' markets we attend, and demand was so good last year (and our production so poor due to the rainy season) that we all but ran out by early November. We have a debit-type CSA plan which integrates nicely with our farmers' markets. It had 60 members last year who bought 80 one-hundred-dollar shares. We also accept Farmers' Market WIC checks and participate in the Me Dept of Ag's Senior Farm Share program.

We are members of the Waterville, Pittsfield, Orono, Newport and Unity Farmers Markets, which means that from early May to late October we are at market four days a week, sending two or three vans out to different markets on some days. Four of us operate the farm, the original "old couple" and the "new couple" we are transitioning our farm to. More on all of this can be found at our website.

Although the Waterville and Orono markets continue all winter on a monthly and semi-monthly basis respectively, we don't attend during the height of the winter since most of our stuff can't handle the cold. We do plan on bringing in greenhouse greens and overwintered produce to the last of those winter markets in April.

And on a vaguely related topic . . .
What do folks think of starting a "Farmers' Market" group here at Eat Maine Foods? I don't want to start one without knowing there would be a fair amount of interest in having one. I'm thinking it could be used to discuss farmers' market issues that come up for veteran attendees and newbies alike. Lemme know whatcha think.

[Shannon Grauer]

Sound like a good idea, it would be nice to learn from those that have broken the ground ahead of us....

[Tom Roberts]

It's done! I started a group specifically for Maine farmers' markets. I invite everyone who attends a market to add their info there. I started by copying my post above as the start of that discussion.