FORT FAIRFIELD — Residents of Fort Fairfield are working in conjunction with the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce to re-establish a marketplace for local produce and products. An effort is now underway to create a weekly farmers’ market on Main Street that would become a meeting place for residents and farmers, allowing townspeople and visitors alike to buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables and homemade goods like jams, relishes, pickles and more.
“The local food movement has been sweeping across our country and our state for some time now, and where better to establish a strong connection between our farmers and folks’ tables than right here in the agricultural capital of Maine, Aroostook County,” stated Tim Goff, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.
“We have an abundance of farmers growing high quality products throughout our community and beyond, plus many backyard growers who produce more than they could ever consume in their own garden,” he added. “We believe establishing a weekly market downtown will provide a wonderful opportunity for our local food producers to sell their products, and for customers to get the freshest, high-quality items available.”
A grassroots coalition of farmers, residents and business leaders has come together to explore developing a market in the heart of downtown that would be held midweek so as not to compete with established markets in nearby communities. The group is seeking input from interested farmers and growers, with a goal of finding as many local producers committed to participating in the market as possible in order to help make the market diverse and sustainable.
“As gardeners and growers ourselves, we know now is the time of year many people are flipping through seed catalogues and planning for spring,” stated organizer Lori Risner, “so we are hoping to plant a seed with folks to gauge their interest and support for a farmers’ market here in town.”
While planning is ongoing, the group is currently considering holding the farmers’ market on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 6 p.m. in a vacant, town-owned lot adjacent to Katahdin Trust Bank.
Anyone interested in learning more or becoming involved is encouraged to contact Risner at 472-0690 or by emailing fortsfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
