FARMINGTON — The online Western Maine Market now offers home delivery of locally produced items.

Starting with this Friday’s market, customers can simply indicate on their order page that they would like home delivery, said Deborah Chadbourne, a vendor who has volunteered to provide the delivery for the Western Mountains Alliance market.

There is a small charge of $3 for deliveries in Farmington, $5 to Wilton, Temple, Strong, Kingfield, New Vineyard, Industry or New Sharon or $10 for delivery to Rangeley, Oquossoc, Carrabassett Valley, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Jay, Chesterville, Vienna and Norridgewock.

“We hope to encourage more people to make use of this opportunity to purchase local products even if they can’t get out,” Chadbourne said.

Whether they can’t participate due to work or the pickup times do not work for them or they are elderly… whatever the reason, she sees the deliveries as part of providing good service that will give local vendors more customers.

While the online market, started last April, has continued to do well there has been a slight slow down this fall, she said. Chadbourne is a small farm home gardener who brings produce and cut flowers, berries and soon mushrooms to the local farmers market.

As the year-round market continues, the Alliance hopes that local farmers will grow more root vegetables, said Tricia Cook, who began the online market.

Customers can place orders until Thursday for either pickup at Tranten’s Market in Farmington on Friday afternoons or at the Farmer’s Market now held on Saturday mornings at the West Farmington Grange Hall.

Home delivery of items is available either Friday or Saturday afternoon and many products can be delivered at other times and days, Chadbourne said.

Once the new semester begins, an Alliance intern from the University of Maine at Farmington will begin an effort to research and coordinate a network of people living in towns outside the local area who want to purchase items from the online market, said Cook. If the intern can connect interested people in towns such as Kingfield or Rangeley, deliveries could be made on a larger basis, she said.

A variety of items from fresh meat, to vegetables,
baked goods or maple syrup is available to order online at www.westernmainemarket.com

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