LEWISTON – Farmers are a patient lot. So despite mediocre sales in its first year, the Lewiston Farmers Market will be back again next spring.

“You have to grow the market, just like you grow the vegetables,” said Kate Brennan, whose Giant’s Belly Farm in Greene is one of the market’s participants.

Brennan is one of the half-dozen or so local farmers who load up their trucks with produce each week to sell in Kennedy Park on Monday afternoons. Yesterday, apples and pumpkins dominated the selections as the growing season is winding down. Next week is the final week of the market’s first season.

“I’d say the sales were steady overall,” said Kristina Chasse-Canney of Jillson’s Farm in Sabattus. “We’ll sit down and look at the numbers next week.”

Chasse-Canney predicts that all the farmers who participated this year will be back next, and hopefully a few others will join them. The market was initiated by Coastal Enterprises Inc. and the state Department of Agriculture as a way to bring fresh, locally grown food into a predominantly urban neighborhood.

“We’ll talk to the other farmers and see how we do, how this location works,” said Chasse-Canney.

There are 68 farmers’ markets scattered throughout Maine. Among the bigger and older markets, it’s not uncommon for some farmers to make between $2,000 and $3,000 a day in sales, said Deanne Herman, marketing manager for the Maine Department of Agriculture.

“But starting a market is definitely tough,” said Herman. “You have to change people’s habits about how they shop and spend their time.”

Larry Donahue has been selling the produce from his Pleasant Pond Orchard at the Bath farmers market for eight years. Although the Bath market is very busy, he said he was looking for another marketing outlet for his many varieties of apples, honey and baked goods.

“I thought this would be it,” he said, noting sales have been up and down. “But I’ll probably do it again next year.”

Brennan said between 30 and 40 percent of the sales at her booth were paid for with coupons issued through state-subsidized food programs. Food stamps and coupons through the Women, Infants and Children program are accepted at the market. Last year, WIC coupons accounted for $89,000 in sales at farmers markets.

“It really connects the downtown neighborhood with local farmers,” said Brennan. “It increases the food security and nutritional choices for downtown residents, as well as people who work downtown.”

And it draws from across the bridge as well. Ruth Pinkham and Mary Crouse work at The Slamma, a restaurant in New Auburn. They shop every week at the farmers market, for themselves as well as for the restaurant.

“It’s really good,” said Pinkham, as she balanced a pumpkin and a squash in her arms. “The food is fresh. It helps the farmers. I’m all for it.”