Farmers’ Markets of Maine
Every summer and fall, Maine’s farmers grow all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables, including corn, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, and much more. With more rural properties per capita than nearly anywhere else in the United States, Maine has ample land for growing produce. No matter where you go in the state, you’re bound to find a farmers’ market nearby.
Photo by Jennifer Dickert
Here are some of the best spots to take a stroll when you’re craving some fresh fruit or vegetables — it’s not just a chance to pick the best of the bunch; you’ll also have the opportunity to meet the people who grew your food face to face. If you’d like to buy some food straight from the earth, here are some farmers’ markets where you’ll find the freshest of the season.
Portland Farmers’ Market
As one of the state’s largest farmers’ markets, the Portland Farmers’ Market features fresh produce and other items from more than 20 local farms in the Southern Maine area. You’ll find strawberries, fresh herbs, cider, maple syrup, flowers, and all kinds of other great products. The Portland market is open from early May to mid-November, and is located at Monument Square on Saturdays from 7 to 12.
Brunswick Farmers’ Market
The twice-weekly Brunswick Farmers’ Market includes food items from 19 different vendors. Here, you’ll find the usual fruit and vegetables, along with more unique goods like lamb, beef, cheese, and lobster. The market is open Tuesday and Friday from 8 AM to 3 PM between May and November.
Naples Farmers’ Market
The Lakes region town of Naples, about 45 minutes outside of Portland, hosts a weekly farmers’ market with an eclectic variety of foods and other products, including goat cheese and meat, pork, lamb, baked goods, farm-fresh eggs, honey, maple syrup, and many fruits and vegetables. The market takes place every Thursday from 9 AM to 1 PM on the village green between late May and early October.
Rockland Farmers’ Market
One of Maine’s most scenic farmers’ markets is held at the beautiful Rockland Public Landing, in the mid-coast town of Rockland. Here, you can watch the ships sail out of the harbor as you stroll through the marketplace, checking out the wonderful selection of naturally grown meat products, plants, blueberry syrup, cheeses, and just-picked fruit and vegetables. The Rockland Farmers’ Market takes place Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM from May to October.
These are just a few of Maine’s many exceptional farmers’ markets — no matter where you are, you’re bound to find one nearby. For more details on local farmers’ markets, as well as farm stands that are usually open every day, visit this site for details:
http://www.getrealmaine.com/buy/farmers_markets.html
Sure, you can always go to the nearest Shaw’s or Hannaford’s — but when there’s so much fresh food coming straight from the local farms, why bother? It’s important to keep Maine’s small farms and businesses alive, even as supermarkets pop up in small towns all across the state. By buying local from farmers’ markets and farm stands, you’ll be helping the people of Maine, as well as buying the freshest food around — a win-win situation for sure.
Written by Kathy Hawkins on August 8, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Shopping, Food
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