Aside from fruits and vegetables, some farmers will be selling eggs, meat, cheeses, jams and juices.

LEWISTON – Right now, Lewiston is one of the only cities in Maine without a farmers market.

That’s about to change.

For the past five months, Sean Gambrel, a AmeriCorps volunteer, has been working with a group of local farmers to bring an outdoor market to Kennedy Park this summer.

So far, Gambrel said, five farms have paid the $120 annual fee to participate, and he expects at least another five to sign on.

Opening day is scheduled for June 7. If all goes as planned, the market will be open Mondays from 2 to 6 p.m. until Nov. 1.

“I saw this as something that the town could definitely use,” said Gambrel, who chose to spearhead the project as part of his stint with AmeriCorps. “I started talking to people, and everyone who I talked to said, That’s great.'”

The market is only open to Maine farmers. Those signed up include Jillson’s Farm in Sabattus, Sparrow Farm in Gardiner and Pleasant Pond Orchard in Richmond.

The other two vendors are groups involved with community farming programs.

Members of Lots-to-Gardens, a program in which inner-city families and kids turn downtown property into vibrant vegetable and flower gardens, have signed up.

They will be joined by Somali and Hispanic farmers involved with the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project. Under this program, local immigrants have bought a plot of land in Richmond to grow fruits and vegetables used in their native recipes.

Aside from fruits and vegetables, some farmers will be selling eggs, meat, cheeses, jams, juices and homemade foods, Gambrel said.

As an AmeriCorps volunteer, Gambrel is working as a community development specialist with Coastal Enterprises, an agency that focuses on helping low-income families and improving their neighborhoods.

Although he came up with idea for the market, he gives all of the credit to the farmers.

“They are very excited,” he said. “It’s really been them who have led the effort.”

The farmers decided to go to Kennedy Park on Mondays, so they would not compete with the farmers market held Saturdays outside of the Auburn Mall.

Similar outdoor markets are held in Portland and Bangor.

Local officials are thrilled about the project, according to City Administrator Jim Bennett. Earlier this week, the City Council approved a change to the city’s business licensing ordinance to allow the vendors to sell their goods in the park.

Gambrel is also hoping it will be possible for the vendors to accept food stamps.

“We see that as very important in the downtown,” he said.

[email protected]