Market News Archive for 2003

New Farmers' Markets Opening in 2003

We have gotten reports of a few new markets opening in 2003.

Corinna. Bob Hughes ( parge@tdstelme.net ) from the Corinna Economic Development Association says he is looking to organize a farmers' market in Corinna. The location they are looking at is the corner of Rtes 222 & 7 in the center of town. There is superfund site cleanup money from the removal of the old tannery to help revitalize the downtown area and he sees a farmers' market as part of that plan. Contact him for further details.

Wells. Janet Weaver ( info@mudmeadowfarm.com, 646-5926) of Mud Meadow Farm is a member of the Kennebunk Farmers' Market, but she lives in Wells. Wells has been working on its Comprehensive Plan, one part of which suggests that a farmers' market should be started in the town. Hearing of this, Janet went to the polls last November and got over 200 signatures requesting that a market be started in town. With such backing, she and several other farmers began looking for a site. Contact Janet for more info.

[26-May-03] We have an update on the new Wells Farmers' Market. Thanks to Janet Weaver's hard work, the market is now open Thursdays 3-7 pm in the Town Hall parking lot, Route 109 (Sanford Rd) in Wells. Our email address is info@wellsfarmersmarket.org, website is www.wellsfarmersmarket.org.

Winslow. Mike Comer ( mcomer@johnnyseeds/com, 861-3972), general manager of the new Johnny's Selected Seeds warehouse and retail store at 955 Benton Ave. in Winslow, is excited about the idea of having a farmers' market in the Johnny's parking lot. There are 75+ people working there and the new retail store brings in more traffic. Contact Mike at Johnny's for more info. A mid-March mailing to Johnny's customers within a 30-50 mile radius of Winslow announced a farmers' market organizational meeting to be held at the warehouse conference room. A mid-week afternoon market is most likely, but all such questions will be worked out at the meeting on 25-Mar-03 at 6:30pm at the Johnny's warehouse.

By mid April, the market has had two meetings and has adopted a set of rules, has seven members, has elected officers, and will be open Thurdays from 2-6 pm from 15-May to 30-Oct. A third meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm on 30-Apr-03 at the Johnny's warehouse.

South Berwick. This via email from Stacey Scontras: The South Berwick Farmers' Market is currently looking for Growers and Vendors to provide locally produced foods and goods for the 2003 season. This will be an outdoor market held at the Community Center in South Berwick, every Saturday morning 9­11:30am, rain or shine, late­May October.
Vegetables (including certified organic), baked goods, herbs, vinegars, fresh flowers, garlic, plants, fruits, meats, eggs, dairy products, honey, and some hand made products.
Applications for participation must be received by March 31st to be considered for the 2003 Season. If you know of a grower or vendor that may be interested please have them call or email Stacey Scontras at 207­384­2093 scontras@attbi.com or Taintor Davis Child at 207-384-5699 flwrchild@ime.net

At the Spring Growth Farmers' Market Workshop conference (28-Mar-03), several more new markets were mentioned as in the planning stages. As soon as we know more details we will posted them here. Not all of them may materialize, but it's good to hear that markets are trying to bust out all over.

Belfast. The Farmers' Market at Reny's may be the name of this newly formed market created when the original Belfast Farmers' Market split in two.

Kingfield.

Farmington. (A second market.)

Houlton. A second Houlton market, downtown at market square, will be opening this year. About ten members will be selling there, including a baker and seafood vendor. They are looking for new members, hoping for about 20 altogether. The first meeting concentrated on getting commitments from growers, adopting market rules and a budget, and electing officers. A second organizational meeting was held on 6-May-03. For more information contact Market Secretary Gail Mailman at 532-4058.

Norridgewock. The Norridgewock Chamber of Commerce is offering a site on Route 2 for a farmers' market. The area is across from Riverside Memorial School and west of the Route 2 cemetary. The opeing day is set for Friday, June 6, 2003, from 1 - 6 pm. The hope is that this farmers' market will remain open every Friday from June through November, and then beginning May, 2004. There will be no vendor fee for the first year.

The farmers and other vendors will be responsible for their own set-up, produce, products and advertising. All produce and products, such as wool or yarn, must be home grown and locally produced.

If you think you would be interested in this endeavor, please fill out an application (available from Norridgewock Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 32, Norridgewock 04957). For more information, contact Kay Laney at 474-2026 or allankay@skow.net

The purpose of this farmers' market is to help the farmers sell their produce or products locally thus eliminating the middleman and to promote the Town of Norridgewock.
[--from a mailing received 13-May-03]

Palermo. The Branch Mills Grange Farmers' Market will be opening on the last Saturday in May. Arlyne Wenzowitz (993-6277) blueheron@gwi.net is coordinating the market, which has already had it's first organizational meeting with 5 members attending. They are still looking for members who can offer eggs, meats, baked goods or crafts. The only requirement is that everything be Maine made or grown by the seller or the seller's immediate family, and that a member have all the State permits required to sell an item. The market location will be on Route 3 in the Frontier Market parking lot. The market season will be Saturdays 9am to 1pm from 24-May-03 to 25-Oct-03. Arlyne is a member of the Branch Mills Grange, which will help out with some of the startup costs for the market, such as advertising. It will cost members $20 to join the market and $3 a day to set up. For guidelines for the market see link at left.

Searsport. The Searsport Farmers' Market will be held on Fridays from 2-6 at the Public Safety Building. We're looking for vendors of just about everything, especially early in the season -- vegetables, eggs, dairy, baked goods, honey... attached are our rules thus far (a work in progress) and registration form. We'll be meeting one last time before the market opens -- 1 May at 6pm at the Public Safety Building. The market will open probably the next week. Info or questions call Tammy Hartke at 323-0609 or email her at Tammy_Hartke@umit.maine.edu.

The Searsport Farmers' Market is moving to the Methodist Church parking lot, on Route 1 in Searsport, starting June 27. As for the market itself: it's been slow but steady, and this move will give us more visibility -- and buffer us from the vagueries of town politics. Now that we've got a good sized group out selling, we can beef up our signage a bit more too. Ah, the growth cycle of a new market...

Turner.

Waldoboro.

Woolwich. The Woolwich Farmers' Market will open for its first season Friday, May 30th at Nequassett Park in Woolwich. Currently, market days will be Fridays from 8:30 to 1:00, May-November. The market hopes to have a dozen or more members by the end of May. Spaces are still available for home gardeners, local fishermen, crafters of garden and farm related products, potters, artists, bakers, quilters and seasonal products. Food vendors are also sought.

The Woolwich Farmers' Market is being organized as a community event. Children are invited to participate in market day projects that will teach about farm life, farm animals, gardening and art. After shopping for the finest quality products from local producers families can relax and enjoy some lunch in the park.

It is the goal of the Woolwich Farmers' Market to be a weekly community event as well as a place where friends and neighbors can support and learn of the many talents of local farmers, gardeners, artists and craftspeople.

For more information or an application for membership, please contact Kelly Corbett at 442-7298. We look forward to seeing you at the Woolwich Farmers' Market!
--from their press release. Currently (28-Apr-03) has 8 members.

York. Carrie Eisner of the York Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the start of new a Saturday morning (9am to Noon) farmers' market. Farmer dues are $45.

The Belfast Farmers' Market is looking for new members. They also list the types of products they are most eager to see, and have a downloadable application in pdf format. The Belfast Market has also revised their by-laws (see links at left) to prevent the sort of difficulty that occurred over this past winter when several members broke off to form another market at the original Reny's parking lot site, while the original market moved downtown.

The Belfast and Camden Farmers' Markets have each added a form at their websites where folks can leave their email address to get periodic market news and specials via email. Camden is even giving away a tote bag to a lucky subscriber.

The Pittsfield Farmers' Market will be having its first Winter Market on Thursdays in November and December, 2003, at the Universalist Church, from 2-6pm.

The Fairfield Farmers' Market is negotiating with the Town of Fairfield for the type and location of a farmers' market shelter building to be finished for the 2004 market season.

The Bath Farmers' Market has been written into Bath's comprehensive plan as being important for the maintenance of the downtown area as a community focal point.