Vendors opened May 14 at the Aroostook Centre Mall
The Presque Isle Farmers’ Market opened May 14 in the Aroostook Centre Mall parking lot.
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Contributed photo/Anne Chase Gloria and Mark Goughan of Goughan’s Farms unload and display a truckload of fresh corn during last season at Presque Isle’s Farmers’ Market, near the Aroostook Centre Mall. |
For almost two decades the market has been in the mall parking lot, but it was originally located in Caribou. Finding the exactly right location there became a problem and the group moved to its present location.
Natalia Bragg of Knot II Bragg Farm in Wade and Goughan Farms of Caribou are the only founding members left.
The Presque Isle Farmers’ Market is an independent organization, governed by a set of officers, with its own bylaws. Vendors are all members with voting privileges and each pays an annual membership fee of $50. Products are all local or “value added” locally produced items.
Gail Maynard, of Orchard Hill Farm in Woodland, president of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market, said recently that exciting changes are coming this season.
The biggest change, explained Patti Crooks, general manager of the Aroostook Centre Mall, is the location. The market will be a hundred feet or so from the previous site. It will be in an indoor-outdoor location at the entrance to what used to be the Sears men’s clothing retail space. There is electricity, proximity to bathrooms and an escape from bad weather. On the outside will be eye-catching hunter green and sunflower yellow columns and a colorful banner to announce the location. It is possible that there will be a “munchies” food truck and picnic tables. Maybe a seafood truck will be there.
The vendors at the Farmers’ Market look forward to market day. Replying to a survey, they all mentioned that the market is a place for them to show that there is a real face behind a product. Customers can ask questions, get recipes, learn growing tips, meet the farm family.
“Food at the market is ‘in season’ and successfully grown right here in The County,” Anne Chase of Ashland’s Delphinium Farms said. “I want customers to have a healthy, local affordable choice of vegetables and pork products that don’t have to travel 3,000 miles to get here,” added Deena Parks of Chops Ahoy Farm in Woodland..
The same survey revealed a lot of market trivia. Did you know that Goughan Farms signs up 400 seniors for the Maine Senior Share program that gives out $50 worth of free fresh vegetables? Or that the most popular product sold by Knot II Bragg Farm is an 1895 product “Old Log Drivers Arthritic Formula?” Did you realize there are three Goughan children plus one spouse, plus three grandchildren working on their farm in Caribou. Or that Parks covers her Asian greens with row covers to keep away the flea beetles, an organic solution to the problem.
New to the market this summer will be asparagus from Phil and Jackie Doak and home-roasted coffee by the cup from Storibord owner, Ben Nason. Randel and Pam Argella, recent arrivals from Missouri, will be at a new booth, featuring an interesting collection of onion starts, as well as heirloom tomatoes and eggplants. Hopefully, Tim O’Meara, 10, will be back selling his carrots and radishes.
Customers can help the farmers in little ways. They can bring back containers; bring plastic shopping bags; have small bills and lots of change; tell your friends; spread the word. Lettuce and onions and peas will be waiting each Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The coffee will be brewing.
