PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Farmer’s Market is back for another season, with their first market of the summer held on Saturday, June 1.
The market featured a collection of local county vendors, including Confectionately Yours, Doak’s Maple Ridge Farm, Bub’s Gourmet Potato Chips, Great North Woods Herbs and Botanicals and more.
Visitors could purchase vegetarian and gluten-free desserts from Confectionately Yours and locally sourced produce.
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- Phil and Jackie Doak of Doak’s Maple Ridge Farm in Woodland. (Nina Mahaleris)
Great North Woods Herbs and Botanicals presented shoppers with a variety of herbal loose leaf teas. Owner Jan Greico of Perham launched her business about three years ago. Greico, who also makes her own lotions and balms, wants to educate people about the natural healing powers of tea.
Greico offered shoppers their own hot tea samples to let them experience her homemade creations.
Among Great North Woods, Phil and Jackie Doak set up shop at the market. The Doaks own and run Doak’s Maple Ridge Farm in Woodland. Calling themselves, “A Farm for all Seasons,” the Doaks presented their own maple products, jams and jellies, lamb cuts and fresh eggs.
The Doaks, a formerly retired couple, met at Woolworth’s department store in Caribou and lived in town for several years together. They said they opened a farm and greenhouse in Caribou, which they later sold to move to Woodland and start a second farm. Together they raise their own lamb, sheep and chickens to make products to sell in their store.
Shoppers also could buy local plants, flowers and seedlings from vendors.
Deena Albert Parks, chairperson of the Presque Isle Farmer’s Market, said that 21 vendors were present at Saturday’s market.
Shoppers aren’t limited to cash, either. “We accept SNAP/EBT [and] credit cards,” said Albert Parks. She also said that the market accepts Maine Harvest Bucks.
The Maine Harvest Bucks program allows SNAP recipients to earn money for buying local goods and produce that can be used to purchase more later on. Jimmy Debiasi, the Director of Programs at the Maine Federation of Farmers Markets, said that the program will match one dollar for each spent on goods and produce, which can be used at the farmers market.
The MHB program is available at more than 30 markets around the state.
The Maine Harvest Bucks program is only available to people who qualify for SNAP benefits.
According to Debiasi, a Maine Harvest Bucks representative will be at the market to talk about the program starting on June 15.
The Farmers Market will continue every Saturday morning through October from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, at the Riverside Pavilion.
