Lincolnville Business Group is happy to announce our Farmers' Market, beginning on June 3rd and running every Tuesday morning from 9am until noon.

We are looking for members. We are trying first to open it up to Lincolnville Farmers and other producers first, but then we'll open it up to others. We have a great location in the parking lot of the Whale's tooth pub which sits between US1 and Penobscot Bay. A link to Google maps with our location is on the web site. On our site we also have a set of rules and an application. The site I warn is still in it's infancy. It will begin to develop a lot more in the near future.

Joseph Corrado

NEW BOWDOINHAM FARMERS' MARKET LOOKING FOR MORE MEMBERS

Good Afternoon

On Monday March 31st we will be holding a meeting at the Coombs Municipal Building (Town Offices on School Street) at 6:30pm to present the market rules and by-laws and to vote in the members of the executive board. The 2008 market application will also handed out. Applications will be due by April 15. The fee for a full membership will be $100 for the 2008 season. Half memberships may be available. Any area farmer or producer is encouraged to attend.

The Market will be located at the Merrymeeting Grange at 27 Main Street in the heart of the village. The first day of the market will be June 20 and it will continue through November 1. The hours of the market will be Fridays 3 pm - 7 pm and Saturdays 8 am - 12 noon.

The by-laws and rules that we will be discussing on the 31st are attached and cover all of the details of the market. If you have any questions prior to the meeting, feel free to contact me. Feel free to pass this e-mail onto others who may be interested.

I hope to see you on the 31st.
Thanks,
Tony Cox,
Director of Community and Economic Development
Town of Bowdoinham
13 School St
Bowdoinham, Maine 04008
666-5531 ext 104
tcox@bowdoinham.com
www.bowdoinham.com

HARRISON FARMERS' MARKET LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

If you grow produce or create foods such as breads, jams & jellies or grow produce, plants or herbs and would like to participate in our market, please contact us about how you can become a member. We are looking for new members. Interested parties can contact us via email. Website: www.harrisonfarmersmarket.com, email: harrisonfarmersmarket@yahoo.com. The market is open Mondays 9 - 1 and Fridays 2 - 6 from May 26 thru August 25, 2008. The 2008 Market Rules and the Market Application can be found on the Market Rules and Bylaws page on this website.

GARDINER FARMERS' MARKET ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING SET

Hello to all!
There seems to be enough interest from farmers to move forward on the idea of establishing a Farmers Market in downtown Gardiner this year. An informational meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 4, 6-7:30pm at the Gardiner City Hall, 6 Church St. I will be asking to have this posted on the Market websites. If there is anyone you know personally who may be interested, please do pass this on. I would like to have some idea of how many are planning to attend so a quick e-mail back would be great. Also, if you are interested but cannot attend the meeting and wish to comment on day/time/location, please e-mail as well. I will present several outdoor locations, days/times and would to hear from the farmers themselves about what works best.
Thanks for all of your interest and feedback.

Linda Edgerton (formerly Matychowiak), CMSM
Downtown Manager
Gardiner Main Street, 287 Water Street, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 194, Gardiner, ME 04345
(207)582-3100
(207)590-2627
FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN at www.gardinermainst.org!

GARDINER WANTS A FARMERS' MARKET!

Our recent business survey indicated a great deal of interest in having a farmer's market downtown. We have several possible sites for an outdoor seasonal market OR the potential for a year-round indoor market in a great downtown storefront.

Gardiner' s downtown HAS...

• beautiful commercial buildings
• a newly expanded waterfront with 500' of boardwalk
• the Kennebec River Rail Trail connection
• and has more than 30,000 vehicles traveling through it EVERY DAY.

All we need now is a FARMER'S MARKET...

We'd like to hear your thoughts on both ideas. Please call Gardiner Main Street at 582-3100 or e-mail gardinermainst@aol.com for more information.

Farmers Market Vendors, Managers and Others -
Please join people from around the state for updates on market activities and to discuss farmers' market issues of interest.
Date: Thursday, January 17
Time: 10:15 - 12:30 (those who want to continue talking can stay for another hour or so)
Place: Augusta Civic Center - Maine Agricultural Trades Show - Piscataquis Room

Russ Libby and I will be facilitating this informal session which will start off with brief introductions from those present and 2007 highlights from markets around the state. Topics of discussion will be those of most interest to attendees, but will include updates on food stamp electronic benefits (EBT), and changes to the WIC programs. Other discussion topics could include: winter markets, market assessments, promotion, organizational issues, conflict resolution, interest in a full-day farmers' market forum, or ...

If any of the topics above are of particular interest to you or if you have suggestions about other topics you would like to see on the agenda, please respond to this note and we will try to fit it in. Also, if you have market information you think might be of interest to others in print form (flyers, surveys, articles etc.), feel free to bring them along - plan for 40+ attendees. Please let me know ahead if you need space for materials or a display and we will arrange for tables as needed.

The full Maine Agricultural Trades Show Program can be found on-line at: http://www.getrealmaine.com/visit/trades_show.html.

Best wishes.
- Deanne

Deanne Herman
Maine Department of Agriculture
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207-287-7561
deanne.herman@maine.gov
www.getrealmaine.com

Openings At Brunswick Farmers' Market. (4-Dec-07)

There are two openings for vendors at Brunswick's farmers' market. Space is open to farmers, bakers, butchers, craftspeople, and others. Market runs Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May through the first week in November. Interested vendors should contact Pete Karonis at 729-1872 by the end of the year.

A Gorham Farmers' Market? This email arrived today, 27-Nov-07. The town would like the market to run from at least late June to late August, which is the season for their summer events series, but are open to it running longer. A town-owned site on Route 25 is the planned location:

HI

I would like to start a farmer's market in downtown Gorham Maine on the summer afternoon/evenings we hold our concerts ....

As an organizer do I need to request any kind of food permits from vendors, Tax ID's etc/

IS there an app I can look at for reference?

thanks for your time!

Gail Platts
Administrative Assistant
Gorham Parks & Recreation
recreation@gorham.me.us
75 South Street, Suite 1
Gorham, ME 04038
(207) 222-1630 (phone)
(207) 839-7752 (fax)

This press release arrived today, 27-Nov-07:

New magazine focuses on marketing methods for independent farmers

Farmers' Markets Today is a new magazine with information to help farmers and farmers markets be more successful and profitable in selling their products direct to customers. The magazine shares stories about what growers, artisans and farmers markets are doing to promote their businesses, reach new customers and develop value-added products. Also featured are guest columnists and resources for tools, products and equipment.

Farmers' Markets Today premiered June 2007 and will be published 10 times per year. Free subscriptions are available to managers of farmers markets, market vendors and direct market farmers who sell through CSAs, u-pick farms or farm stands, or directly to restaurants, grocers, co-ops, institutions or other organizations.

To sign up for a subscription or for more information, call 1-800-959-3276, visit www.farmersmarketstoday.com or send an e-mail to info@scissortailproductionsllc.com.

FARMERS WANTED! This email arrived on 2-Nov-07:

Hi all,

This is just a quick email to let you know we are having a meeting of the Harrison Farmers Market on Monday, November 12th at 10:00 a.m. at the Harrison Fire Station Community Room. We would like to invite you all and any other farmers who may be interested in learning about our farmers market. The 2008 market will run from May 26th to August 25th, each Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We are a growing market, looking for new members for the 2008 season.

If you are interested but unable to make the meeting on the 12th, please let me know and I will send you notification of a future meeting.

Thanks, and we would love to see you at the meeting!

Cindy Creps, Secretary, Harrison Farmers Market
Meadow Ridge Perennial Farm
316 Back Street,Hebron, ME 04238
(207) 966-2126 or (207) 577-1216
Meadowridgeper@aol.com

FARMERS WANTED! This email arrived on 30-Sept-07:

I am currently trying to obtain information with regards to persons who may be interested in coming to Millinocket to participate in a farmers' market that is being considered. I am not looking for any set commitment from sellers, only an idea of how much interest there may be in such a venture.

We have an area off from the main road into and through town which is called, Peddlers' Hill. For as long as I can remember people have sold produce and other products at this site. We are considering an upgrade to improve this area for such activities and add public restrooms and a picnic area which will have a great view of Mt. Katahdin. This road is the one that leads to Baxter State Park and the mountain and is well traveled. I believe it could be a great opportunity for sellers. As far as I know, the nearest farmers' market is in Orono.

If you could suggest where I might be able to find the information I seek, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you for any assistance that you may be able to provide.

Sincerely,
Kathy Gagnon
Co-Chair, Millinocket Community Action Committee
5 Pleasant Street
Millinocket, Me 04462

New Maine Farmers' Market book! This email arrived today, 17 Feb 2007:

Greetings,

My husband Paul, myself and our friend Emelie Tolley are writing a book to be published next winter on "The Farmers Markets of Maine"°. We will be spending this year visiting the markets, photographing, interviewing and writing. It will be intense and since we want to be as inclusive as possible we rely on your feedback.

Our intent is to make the Farmers Markets and farm stands as seductive to the Maine residents and visitors as they are to us. We want to educate our readers to your impact and importance to the sustainability of our land our environment and our ultimate good health. We want to do this in a way that is exciting, obligatory and irresistible through photographs, interesting text and interviews with farmers and chefs.

If you have any feedback for us, we are grateful for it and welcome your input. There may be farmers we are not familiar with, particular niches that we have missed or restaurants that use local produce, to the extent that is possible, that we have not yet discovered in our travels. Because we live in the mid coast region and may not know your area well but want to visit and include all of the markets, we count on your feedback. We would love copies of any photos you may have that show the spirit of your particular market and the surrounding areas.

We have used the guide book from the Dept of Agriculture for reference so if you have any changes as to their information for your particular market please advise us of this.

We thank you in advance for your participation and for the humble and great work that each of you do day after day.

Sharon, Paul Mrozinski and Emelie Tolley

For more info: sharon@marstonhouse.com

The Augusta Farmers Market is looking for all kinds of vendors -- flowers, seedlings, cheeses, vegetables, berries, meats, jams & jellies, pickles, breads, etc. We are in the process of offering a complete market approach to Community Supported Agriculture---yes, right there at our Augusta Market. What an opportunity for the farmers and the workers of Augusta to connect!! (State workers---Hospitals) If you want to be a part of this market or just want to find out more.....then email Market Master Terry Johnston at broacres@peoplepc.com   - Rec'd 10-Feb-07

USDA RELEASES NEW FARMERS MARKET STATISTICS

WASHINGTON, Dec 5, 2006 · The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the number of farmers markets increased more than 7 percent between 2005 and 2006, preliminary results of a survey indicate.

The new numbers are based on an update of the National Farmers Market Directory by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the preliminary results of the 2006 USDA National Farmers Market Survey, conducted by AMS in partnership with Michigan State University.

"These statistics show farmers markets continue to be an increasing source of income for our nation's farmers," said AMS Administrator Lloyd Day. "Their popularity with consumers is growing, and buyers enjoy fresh, locally grown products."

The updated directory lists 4,385 farmers markets currently operating in the United States, representing a 7 percent increase from 4,093 farmers markets in 2005. As a result of the strong growth in the number of farmers markets, total sales volumes are estimated at about $1 billion for 2005, significantly larger than the estimated sales volume of $888 million in 2000.

Average sales at individual farmers markets in 2005 totaled about $245,000; average annual sales per vendor totaled $7,108. Marketing opportunities at farmers markets were sufficiently favorable in 2005 that, on average, 25 percent of vendors from surveyed farmers markets relied on these markets as their sole source of farm-based income.

With the help of such USDA programs as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, farmers markets also provide low-income people with increased access to fresh foods. Fifty-nine percent of surveyed managers indicate their market accepted WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to $17,696 in annual revenue per market site in 2005. Forty-four percent of surveyed managers report their market accepted Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to $15,654 in annual revenue per market site in 2005.

The revised version of the National Farmers Market Directory can be accessed on-line at http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm. AMS is also developing a final research report based on the 2006 USDA National Farmers Market Survey expected to be available in spring 2007.

Version: 17-Jan-08.