HOULTON, Maine — Those driving through downtown Houlton Thursday afternoon may have wondered what all the excitement was about as people gathered around a pop-up tent.
The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce held its annual Strawberry Shortcake Sale, which serves as a fundraiser for the Chamber, in Market Square, selling a massive number of strawberry shortcakes.
Jane Torres, executive director for the Chamber, said supplies ran out several times as the number of walk-up customers was unusually high this year. By the end of the event, a whopping 480 dishes were sold, compared to just 250 last year.
Normally the bulk of the Chambers’ orders come via a signup sheet, with the tasty dishes delivered to area businesses. And while those orders still were plentiful at 260, the number of walkup customers was higher than anticipated.
“We were really thrown off this year as people just started coming up and ordering,” Torres said. “We used to do this sale out of the basement of the County Co-Op and Farm Store, but we decided to move it out here to Market Square and people loved it. People love seeing the downtown bustling with activity.”
Using local food items whenever possible, the strawberry shortcakes also feature homemade whipped cream using Torres’ personal recipe that includes a hint of vanilla for an extra touch.
Torres said the Chamber plans to sell shortcakes again Friday evening as part of the downtown “Midnight Madness” celebration, with help from several volunteers.
HOULTON, Maine — July 2, 2021 — Sara Williams Flewelling prepares a strawberry shortcake in Market Square Thursday afternoon as part of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce’s annual sale. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
