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Orono Farmers' Market
2010 Member Directory

Updated with current member info each year in April.
This year's new members are marked in RED.

For Past Market Members, go here.

2010 Steering Committee
  • Chair: Mark Guzzi
  • Secretary:
    Michelle Neville
  • Treasurer:
    Jennifer Maeverde
  • Asst. Treasurer:
    Linda Bowden
  • Market Manager -Sat: Hanne Tierney
  • Market Manager - Tue: Mark Guzzi
  • At Large #1: Kendra Michaud (membership coordinator)
  • At Large #2: Caitlin Hunter
  • At Large #3: Paula Roberts (newsletter)

Appleton Creamery

Caitlin and Brad Hunter, 780 Gurney Town Road, Appleton, Maine 04862, info@appletoncreamery.com,   www.appletoncreamery.com

Appleton Creamery is a small-scale family farm on 6 acres. Our herd of 45 alpine dairy goats have access to five wooded acres and are never confined, and are milked from March to December. We buy in sheep milk from EllsFarm in Union and cow milk from Grassland Farm in Skowhegan. Milk is processed daily and hand crafted into many varieties of award-winning fresh and aged cheeses, yogurt, and butter using traditional methods. We also offer goat's milk fudge and goat's milk soap.

We will be at market Saturdays only all season, and at the winter market from December through April.


Berry Brook Joined the market in 2008.

Kristen McGovern, PO Box 314, Orono ME 04473, ph. 299-4577, Kristen.McGovern@umit.maine.edu

Our 20 acres of certified organic blueberries is just off Route 9 on the Haynes Brook Road in Amherst. It is named for the two brooks running through the blueberry fields. This year, about 6 acres are ready for production. I plan to sell quarts and pints of fresh blueberries as well as bulk by the pound. We take orders for pickup or delivery of larger quantities.

Attending market in August on Saturdays and Tuesdays.


Bread Box Bakery

Becky Alley, PO Box 121, East Orland 04431, ph. 469-0015.

Bread Box Bakery is a small in-home bakery. I do sourdough breads, focacias, Italian breads, hearth breads and possibly some sweet items like pies, muffins and cinnamon rolls. I also attend the Belfast, Brewer and Bar Harbor Farmers' Markets.


Clarke's Garden Patch

Katie & Ralph Clarke, 750 Greenfield Road, Greenbush ME 04418, 827-6272.

Over an acre of mixed vegetables, primarily lettuce, radish, kohlrabi, green & wax beans, peppers, carrots and beets. Mixed cut flowers and gladiolus.

We will be at market on Saturdays from June to September, and on Tuesdays in August.


Cornerstone Farm

Hanne, Dan, Edie and Sam Tierney, 74 Dogtown Rd., Palmyra ME 04965, ph. 487-5945, cell: 416-2676, email: hanne@cornerstonefarm.us,   www.cornerstonefarm.us

Cornerstone Farm is a small family farm. We raise and sell pastured pork and free-range chicken eggs. Our animals are not fed antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. We have designed our farm to allow our animals to live a life that is specific to their species. Cornerstone Farm uses a deep bedding farrowing system to allow the sows (mother pigs) to express their instincts in caring for their young. We then raise our pigs on forages which we have grown for them. Cornerstone Farm has been awarded a SARE grant for 2009 to do feeding trails on feeding our hogs our forage mix. We will keep everyone up to date on how it turns out. At our tent you will find a full range of steaks, roasts, chops, ribs, 6 types of sausage and ground pork as well as nitrate free bacon. We also sell our fresh roasted coffee, always roasted on our farm less than 24 hours before market and we always use fair-trade and organic beans. We will also have knitted goods. During the summer you might catch our 7 year old daughter selling her veggies, that she has planted, transplanted, cared for, harvested, and prepared for market almost entirely by herself! We can't wait to see you there.

We will be at market Saturdays only all season and at the winter market.

You can also find us at the Waterville, Bath, and Portland summer farmers markets as well as the Waterville, Bath, and Brunswick winter farmers' markets.


Daily Bread Joined the market in 2008.

Donna Mionis, 30 Sunny Acres Drive, Levant ME 04456, ph. 884-8224, email: donnasdailybread@yahoo.com

We are small, family run bakery, on our beautiful little farm here in Levant. Our specialty is making high quality yeast breads in a wide variety of flavors. Whenever possible we use locally grown ingredients for some very unique flavors like spinach and cheddar, blueberry, and garlic dill to name but a few.

We look forward to baking for you this season each Tuesday as well as the Winter Market beginning in December. We also attend the Brewer, Hermon, Stonington, Bluehill, Augusta, Winter Harbor and the down town Bangor Artisans' Market.

We look forward to baking for you this season each Tuesday as well as the Winter Market beginning in December. We also attend the Brewer, Hermon, Stonington, Bluehill, Augusta, Winter Harbor and the down town Bangor Artisans' Market.


Evermay Nursery

Richard May, 84 Beechwood Ave, Old Town, ME 04468, 827-0522, rmay821101@aol.com, www.evermaynursery.com.

We grow a spring crop of flower and vegetable seedlings in two small greenhouses. We also grow about 500 different unusual perennial plants, many of which are alpine plants or woodland plants. The perennials are grown in containers on less than an acre. We specialize in growing unusual perennial plants such as primroses and rock garden plants and have high quality annual flower and vegetable seedlings and hanging baskets.

At market Saturdays in May & June, and Tuesdays and Saturdays in July.


Fire Flour Bakery
and Fail Better Farm

Kendra Michaud and Clayton Carter, 41 Puls Lane, Montville ME 04941, ph. 342-2770, Kendra@kendramichaud.com, www.kendramichaud.com, goodfood@failbetterfarm.com, www.failbetterfarm.com

Our artisan sourdough breads are baked in a hand-made, wood-fired oven. We produce 60-70 loaves of bread a day. Our authentic cream scones are light and fluffy and full of flavor.

Of course, all of our delicious baked goods are hand made with all natural and organic ingredients. In addition to the bakery, our one acre of market gardens and 4,000 sq.ft. greenhouse produce certified organic vegetables of the highest quality and freshness, including our famous "Seasonal Salad" mix and rainbow carrots. We also have 30 hens for eggs.

We'll be at market Saturdays only, from May into November.


Far East Cuisine Catering Service

Bich Nga & Steven Burrill, 185 Coles Corner Road, Winterport ME 04496, ph. 223-4150, FarEastCuisine@aol.com

Serving individuals, families and parties for all occasions. Ready to eat spring rolls and entrés. This year we will feature more vegetarian and vegan products, while continuing our regular products.

At market on Saturdays only throughout the season, and at the winter markets from December through April.


Feel Good Farm Joined the market in 2009.

Jenn Steingass & Scott Hoxie, 16 Fisher Road, Unity 04988, 948-5505
email: halfmoonstream@yahoo.com

We grow one acre of mixed chemical free vegetables and cut flowers in Thorndike. We really enjoyed offering fresh bouquets last year, and have decided to focus even more on flowers this year.

We plan to attend market early June to October on Saturdays and late June to October on Tuesdays.


Fire Fly Farm Joined the market in 2009.

Billi Barker, 526 Dexter Rd, Saint Albans, ME 04971, ph. 938-3906
email: fireflymaine@yahoo.com
website: www.enchantedkitchen.org.

Natural and organic farm, bakery, caterer and personal chef. Artisan, hand kneaded breads, cakes, pies and sweetie treats of all kinds and hummus. Whole grains are all organic, grown and ground in Maine from Aurora Mills. Medicinal tinctures from grown and wild crafted plants made with organic grain alcohol. CSA shares available.

I plan to attend market Saturdays only from May through November as well as the Winter Markets. I also attend the Skowhegan and Belfast Farmers' Markets.


Freedom Farm

Daniel Price & Ginger Dermott, 355 Greeley Rd., Freedom, Me., 04941. ph. 382-6007, freedomfarm@fairpoint.net,   www.FreedomFarmVeggies.com

We grow 8 acres of a wide variety of organically certified mixed vegetables, culinary herbs, and cut flowers. We grow our produce sustainably, without the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Our produce is available at farmers' markets, we sell to restaurants and we have a small CSA program. We take special orders for flower arrangements and larger quantities.

We will be at market on Saturdays from July through September and into October.


Freyenhagen Family Farm

James & Patricia Freyenhagen, 51 Wottons Mill Road, Union, ME 04862, ph. 785-4559.

Our farm is on 10 acres, with 1½ acres tilled. We process our maple products on the property, all sap is hauled in by trucks from leased trees at various locations. On a normal year, we produce 300-500 gallons of maple syrup. Syrup is packaged in containers ranging from 100ml to 1 gal. We also have maple cream. Maple products available year round. We will have various produce, wild blackberries and fiddleheads during their appropriate seasons.

At market Saturdays only from June to October. We also attend the Portland Farmers' Market.


Good Hike Joined the market in 2009.

Daniel Straine & Erin Howell, 339 Stillwater Ave., Old Town 04468, ph. 207-217-5181
email: goodhikebars@gmail.com

Good Hike bars strives to deliver a healthy local granola bar using as many local ingredients as possible. When we are out hiking, camping, biking or anything else fun, we like to eat something good, quick and healthy. We were tired of buying granola bars from some big company far away and wanted to create an affordable bar made right here in Maine.

Good Hike Bars are made with ingredients purchased from local Maine Farmers. They are all natural and really, really tasty. They are more affordable than the bars you will find in the store, packed with as much nutrition and they are made locally with local ingredients.

We are using minimal packaging on all of our bars in respect of the Earth. Our bars come in four delicious varieties, including one baked just for your dog. We will have samples at our stand each Tuesday and Saturday all spring and summer.

We look foreword to meeting you this summer!

We plan to be at market on Tuesday and Saturday all season long and attend the winter market as well.


Grassland Farm

Sarah & Garin Smith, 41 Grassland Lane, Skowhegan, ME 04976, ph. 474-6864, email: grasslandfarm@hotmail.com, website: www.GrasslandOrganicFarm.com

We are honored to preserve two hundred eighty-nine acres of beautiful farm land seated majestically atop a hill overlooking Weserrunsett Stream in Skowhegan. We milk a mixed herd of 40 cows including Linebacks, Jerseys, Holsteins, and Brown Swiss. We offer delicious, organic raw milk in half gallon, quart and pint returnable glass bottles. We are happy to offer for the first time this year pints of certified organic cream and half gallons of reduced fat milk in glass. We also raise certified organic beef on grass at our own farm. Our beef is USDA inspected and each cut is individually frozen, labeled and vacuum sealed. Bulk orders for beef quarters and sides are accepted for the fall with only a limited quantity available.

We will be at market Saturdays and Tuesdays all season and will be at the winter markets from December through April.

We also attend farmers' markets in Waterville, Skowhegan, and at Mill Park in Augusta.


High Lonesome Acres

Linda & Nelson Bowden, PO Box 147, Harmony ME 04942, ph. 270-0275, busylady1@localnet.com

We grow a wide variety of veggies, from lettuce to sweet corn, winter squash, potatoes and pumpkins. etc. We have about 80 laying hens for Farm Fresh Free Range Eggs. Honey from our bees. From our kitchen we do home made baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, home made sauces, pickled eggs, etc.

We also sell at the Pittsfield Farmers' Market, roadside on Main Street in Bingham, and the farmstand at our farm.

We plan to be at market on Tuesdays and Saturdays all season long, as well as at the Winter Market from December through April.


Kousky Farm

Millie & Dave Kousky, 880 Ledge Hill Road, Corinth, ME 04427, ph. 884-8888.

We grow 5 acres of high quality vegetables using all organic products. Thru the season we offer a full array of produce, from early tomatoes to beet greens, spinach, lettuce, peas beans, cukes, potatoes, onions, eggplants, peppers, melons and many more including our ever popular sweet potatoes.

We also attend the Penobscot Farmers' Market in Brewer.


Lobster Shack

Perley & Caty Frazier, 20 Jericho Way, Stonington, 04681, ph. 367-5059, Jericho8@myfairpoint.net

We trap wild Maine lobsters and crabs out of Stonington Harbor. We also purchase local clams, crabmeat, shrimp and fresh fish as available during season. The lobsters are caught using our lobster boat "Jericho III" and wire lobster traps which are made locally. You can call or email us with orders to be ready for pickup at the market.

We plan to be at market all season Saturdays only, and at the Winter Market from December through April.


Maine-ly Poultry

John Barnstein, PO Box 5, Warren ME 04864, ph. 273-2809, jbarnstein@aol.com

We are a family operated farm that raises broilers and turkeys on feed with no growth hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. Besides all cuts of fresh chicken we also offer homemade chicken pies, chicken sausage, chicken salad, smoked chicken, rotisserie chicken ground turkey, turkey cutlets and turkey jerkey. Fresh turkeys are usually available from mid October through the first of the year.

We also attend the Belfast, Rockland, Camden, Damariscotta, Boothbay and Bath, Boothbay and Brunswick Farmers' Markets.

We will be at market all season long on Saturdays only, including all of the Winter Markets.


Meadowsweet Farm

Sumner and Paula Roberts, 105 Stevens Rd., Swanville, ME 04915, ph. 338-1265, email: meadowsweetfarm@gmail.com, website: www.MeadowsweetFarm.us.

Meadowsweet Farm is a 120 acre farm where we raise sheep and beef cattle on pasture using a planned grazing system. Sheep and cattle are grass fed and grass finished, receiving no grain, hormones or antibiotics to promote growth. Our meat is sold frozen, by the cut; also available by pre-order in freezer packages. We offer CSA meat shares. Gardens managed organically since 1994. We have 3 horses, layer hens, barnyard bantams, Pilgrim geese and raise meat chickens in summer. We sell sheepskins and handspinning fleece, decorated eggs, felted items, feather bouquets and wool blankets. Farm visits are by appointment.

At market on Saturdays only from early May to mid-November, and at the winter markets all winter. We also attend the Belfast Farmers' Market


Mildel Farm

Delmar & Mildred Levesque and Cody Hopkins, 1348 Moosehead Trail, Plymouth ME 04969, ph. 257-2514, email: cjhopkins123@yahoo.com.

We are a 70 acre farm with four acres in apples, pears, plums and blueberries. We have a two acre farm pond, 45 acres of woods and 15 acres of hayfields. High bush blueberries, raspberries, asparagus and cider in season.

We will be at market on Tuesdays and Saturdays from late August to late October.


Olde Oak Farm

Scott Belanger & Jennifer Maeverde, 276 Booker Hill Road, Maxfield ME 04453, 732-7719, oldeoakfarm@gmail.com,
visit us on Facebook.

On our new 100 acre farm our herd of 30+ Nubians have lots of room to roam and browse. Happy goats make happy milk! All of our fresh & aged cheeses are hand crafted in small batches with careful attention to detail. We use fresh, local, seasonal ingredients from our milk and the organic Jersey Cow milk of our partner farm, Clovercrest, to the fruit and herbs supplied from the other vendors at the market. The goats love visitors so everyday is Open Creamery Day at Olde Oak Farm!!!

At market Tuesdays & Saturdays all season and at the winter market Dec-April. We also attend the Brewer, Herman and Skowhegan Farmers' Markets and the downtown Bangor Artisan's Market.


Peacemeal Farm

Mark Guzzi & Marcia Ferry, 25 Peacemeal Lane, Dixmont 04932. ph. 257-4103, peacemeal@midmaine.com.

We grow a wide variety of MOFGA-certified organic veggies including peas, beans, tomatoes, melons, squash, garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes and much more. We will have seedlings in the spring for your garden and produce for winter storage in the fall. Now accepting Food Stamps and WIC checks.

We'll be at market on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the season. We also attend the Camden, Belfast and Waterville Farmers' Markets.


RipleyFarm Joined the market in 2009.

Gene & Mary Margaret Ripley, 62 Merrills Mills Road, Dover-Foxcroft, 04426.

We grow a wide selection of mixed vegetables and herbs, including numerous heirloom varieties on two acres of land. We are MOFGA certified organic. Please ask us about bulk orders for preserving or storage.

We plan to be at market on Saturdays from June through October, and also attend the Skowhegan Farmers' Market.


Schartner Farms

Herb Schartner, PO Box 82, Route 220, Thorndike 04986, cell 930-9042, schartner@uninets.net

We are a small fruit & vegetable farm producing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, sweet corn, ornamental corn, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, potatoes, winter and summer squash, zucchini, pumpkins, gourds, green beans, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and apricots. We process home-made jams, jellies, pickles, and salsa. Our farm stand is open in Sept. & Oct. apples. We also attend other farmers markets.

We will be at market on Saturdays and Tuesdays from June to November.


Smith Farm Joined the market in 2009.

Rachael Katz & Sam Hazlehurst, 105 Troy Center Road, Troy 04987, ph. 323-8653, samuel.hazlehurst@gmail.com

We use our two teams of Percheron draft horses to raise mixed vegetables, grass-fed beef, free range chicken and eggs, herbs, flowers, sauerkraut, kim chi and apples. It's a grand old farm, first settled around 1830 and still a major work in progress. We employ organic practices and strive to enrich the land.

Rachel's an accomplished knitter and spinner; Sam does a variety of woodworking and horse logging. Some of the fruits of these winter labors will be for sale at market.

We will attending market on Saturdays only from July through December and also attend the Downtown Waterville Farmers' Market.


Smith's Smokehouse

Libby & Andrew Smith, PO Box 817, 7 East Main St., Monroe ME 04951, ph. 525-7735, email LibbySmithSmokehouse@gmail.com, website: www.LogSmokehouse.net.

We have one USDA processing plant and three smokehouses. We make our own food as well as products for other people. Smiths smokehouse is featured on the food network. We have a fine selection of smoked cheeses, hams, salami, salmon, snack stick & jerky and chicken. Our motto BEHIND THE TIMES speaks for itself. Open for tours by appointment.

We will be at market on Saturdays in May and June, and again from September through November.


Snakeroot Organic Farm

Tom Roberts & Lois Labbe
27 Organic Farm Road, Pittsfield 04967
ph. 487-5056
Tom@snakeroot.net, Lois@snakeroot.net
and on the web at: www.snakeroot.net/farm

Our 5 acres of MOFGA certified organic gardens provide shoppers with the finest vegetables and culinary herbs, as well as offering blooming lupines & other perennials in recycled plant pots. We offer many unusual items including garden seeds, grapes, fiddleheads, gobo, celeriac, and dried herbs and tomatoes. Visit our gardens and greenhouse anytime, or come to our annual guided farm tour on the second Sunday in July, noon to 4pm.

Ask about our CSA plan and about bulk purchases of tomatoes, basil, parsley, carrots, garlic, etc.

At market Tues. & Sat. all season, and at the winter markets in April. Also at the Pittsfield, Waterville, Unity, and Newport Farmers' Markets.


Stone Fox Farm Creamery Joined the market in 2010.

  • Kathy & Bruce Chamberlain, 77 Bartlett Hill Road, Monroe 04951, ph. 323-2850, stonefoxfarm@mainelywired.net

  • We produce ice cream in our small plant in Monroe, Maine. We use all natural milk, cream and sugar (no high fructose corn syrup). We use all natural flavorings and extracts, Maine fruit and maple syrup whenever possible. Our Carpigiani batch freezer was made in Bologna, Italy and makes about 2.5 gallons of ice cream in 10 minutes. Our blast freezer quickly chills the ice cream down to -20 degrees so ice crystals don't form. Our overrun is small (the amount of air whipped into the mix) resulting in a rich and creamy ice cream treat. We can be followed on Facebook as MobileCone.

  • We will be at market from early May to late October. We also attend the Orono, Rockland, Gardiner, Ellsworth, and Monroe Farmers' Markets.

Sunkhaze Wild Blueberry Farm

Steven & Shannon Lion, PO Box 53, Old Town ME 04468, 745-7583

We have been living for 35 years on our 350 acre farm on the Sunkhaze Stream in Township 32, growing 150 acres of blueberries and managing our pine woodlands. We fresh pack daily on the farm 5 and 10 lb boxes of blueberries for local sales. We bring in a fresh, quality product to the market.

We'll be attending the market on Tuesdays & Saturdays from late July to mid August.


Tangled Oak Farm

Michelle and Bill Neville, 1187 Back Brooks Road, Monroe 04951, ph. 525-3018, email: tangledoakfarm@yahoo.com
Facebook: Tangled Oak Farm

We are a small diversified family farm offering pasture-raised pork, grass fed beef, eggs and MOFGA certified organic produce.

We will be at market all season from early May through late October, as well as attending the Winter Market. We also attend the Waterville and Unity Farmers' Markets.


Vine and Branch Farm

Mark & Linda McBrine & Family, 2123 Union St. Bangor ME 04401, ph. 945-6651, VineAndBranchFarm@yahoo.com

Our farm is a diversified 50-acre family farm raising natural pasture-based livestock and mixed vegetables. We also lease 120 acres of pasture and hayland for our grassfed beef cattle, pastured pigs and free-range poultry.

Our vegetable gardens are fed only organic soil amendments, and the grain we use is free of antibiotics and added hormones.

Vine and Branch Farm products include: pastured chickens (broilers, roasters, boneless breast and leg quarters), turkeys, grassfed beef (steaks, roasts, lean ground and stew meat), pastured pork (ribs, roasts, chops, nitrate free hams, bacon and sausage -- hot italian, sweet and breakfast), lamb, free-range eggs, and mixed vegetables. Orders taken for sides or whole beef, lamb and pork. Ask about our CSA plans for a mixed vegetable share or a combination vegetable and meat share. At market Tuesdays and Saturdays all season.


The Wickett Farm

Mark Wickett & Vickey Willey, 1235 Kirkland Road, Old Town ME 04468, ph. 827-0304, wickett0304@aol.com

The Wickett Farm sits on 75 acres of hayfields, gardens, and a one-acre trout pond. In our two acres of gardens we grow an assortment of veggies, such as tomatoes, cukes, onions, beans, snow peas, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet greens, lettuce, potatoes, squash, zucchini, carrots, corn, pumpkins, squash, and a few herbs. We also have a variety of fruit trees—apples, pears, plums, cherry and kiwi vines.

We'll be at market on Tuesdays and Saturdays from July through October.


Worcester's Wild Blueberries

Everett & Lee Worcester, 356 Lyford Road, Orneville, ME 04463, 943-5501 or 943-8804, RE503@aol.com, www.wildblueberryproducts.com/

Every year our 35-40 acres of wild lowbush blueberries are havested to provide our valued customers with a clean, tasty, healthy and truly Maine product. We pride ourselves in producing pint and quart boxes of berries that are clean, fresh and ready to use "out of the box". We also offer 5+ quart freezer-ready boxes of berries of the same high quality. From our kitchen we produce blueberry jam, jelly, syrup, chutney, a blueberry juice drink, vinaigrette, and pie filling. Sugar-free jam and syrup are also available. We also offer delicious wild blueberry blossom honey which honey lovers will find especialy tasty.

We are also members of the Bangor/Brewer and Waterville Farmers' Markets.

Our fresh berries are available wholesale and retail on Tuesdays and Saturdays from mid-July through September. All our kitchen products are available year-round and we attend the Winter Market.


 

Going to market . . .

is a rich experience in meeting and greeting produce and people. One can see and taste whats in season and learn to prepare the seasons local best with respect.

Farmers universally love to share recipes, so shoppers should be unafraid to ask what to do with one foodstuff or another.

Today the thrill of outdoor markets is sweeping American towns and cities from Santa Monica to Orono.

 

Everyone Bring One

Do you know just one person who would enjoy the benefits of shopping at the Orono Farmers Market? We would love to welcome your friend as our newest shopper!

 

 

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What is a Farmers' Market?

In todays rush for one-stop convenience shopping and year-round availability of foods from the global marketplace, our communities all too often have lost touch with the productivity of our local small farms. And the small scale grower has lost the connection with markets of appropriate scale. The Orono Farmers Market offers a solution where 100% of the money shoppers spend goes directly to the local farmer.

Not just one shop

The Farmers' Market is a collection of independent growers each with their own standards of quality, display, selection, price and friendliness. They have joined together in a Farmers' Market Association to assure the shopping public of regular hours, high quality, and wide selection, and to thereby attract more customers than any one of them could do alone.

Many regular shoppers eventually settle on their favorite two or three farmers to do most of their business with because they feel these farmers best meet their needs.

Different kinds of farmers

Since there are so many different kind of farmers at the Farmers' Market, they may never all be at the market at once. For example strawberry growers and blueberry growers are almost never at the market at the same time because the seasons of their crops do not overlap. On the other hand, our bakers and many of our farmers have a year round season -- such as chicken, maple syrup, or honey -- which are offered all season.

Walk the market

When first visiting the market -- and occassionally thereafter -- walk the market to see who is there and what is being offered. Even the farmers themselves do this to see how their own stands compare with those of other farmers. Your favorite farmer may not always be earliest with whats just starting to come into season, or may not grow that specialty item you've been searching for. Most farmers respect the "comparison shopper", and are not at all offended if you dont buy everything at their stand.

Talk to the farmers

They are generally well versed in what they do, and dont mind taking a minute to give gardening advice, discuss recipes, tell you when another farmer can be expected at market, or when strawberry season starts. This varies their routine at market, and spices up your day, as well, we hope.

Eat better -- Eat in season

There is a natural variety to meals that comes with eating the luscious just-picked local produce as it comes into season. The ancient clockwork of the growing season is skillfully fine tuned by clever growers using both modern and ancient methods of season extension for a longer harvest season.