NORWAY — The Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association is sponsoring Community Supported Agriculture fairs in towns throughout the state, including Norway, on Feb. 28.
The free-admission fairs will allow people to learn about buying a CSA share, becoming acquainted with local seasonal foods, meeting local farmers and fishermen (in some locations) and fostering relationships with them. The fairs will be open from 1 to 4 p.m.
“Most of us will be bringing samples for people to try,” said Jeannette Baldridge of LolliePapa Farm in West Paris. “Some will come with products to sell. Everyone will have information on their particular CSAs.”
CSAs provide one of a number of ways for farmers to sell directly to consumers by having members pay an upfront share cost at the beginning of the season in exchange for a weekly supply of fresh produce from the farm during the season. By pledging to support a local farm in this way individuals and families provide mutual support for producing food locally. Farmers set up CSA in a variety of ways.
The twelve fair locations, ranging from Bangor to Portland and representing more than 80 businesses and organizations, will include the Norway Christ Episcopal Church at 35 Paris St. and the Auburn First Universalist Church at 169 Pleasant St. A CSA will also be held at the Fairbanks School Meeting House at 508 Fairbanks Rd. in Farmington.
Don and Jeanette Baldridge, LolliePapa Farm, West Paris will bring vegetables, eggs and baked goods, samples of baked goods and pickles, jam and maple syrup. Pat Verrill of Harvest Moon Produce in West Paris will bring vegetables and greens. The Progress Center and Oxford Hills Food Cooperative in Norway will have local produce and other products, while Bill and Darcy Winslow of High View Farm in Harrison will bring raw milk. Lee Holman of Hartford will be on hand with produce and eggs.
Also participating will be Dottie Bell of Thunder Hill Farm in Waterford with meat and samples of jerky and other meat products. Julee Applegarth, farm manager of Rippling Waters Organic Farm in Standish, is offering vegetables and will have a sampling of winter vegetable chowder with recipes; John and Sonya Theriault of Summit Springs Farm in Poland will have vegetables and eggs.
Others participating include Candi Rousseau, Kidds Hillbilly Farm, Sumner, who have vegetables and goats; Mary Ann Haxton and Marty Elkin of Wrinkle in Thyme Farm, Sumner, who have a Fiber CSA. They will be demonstrating spinning and have yarn, Thyme Tile Needlefelting Kits and possibly maple syrup to sell . Cindy Creps of Meadow Ridge Perennial Farm in Hebron, which sells, flowers and bedding plants, will also be on hand.
“It is important for farmers to get the word out about their products,” Baldridge said. “Maine is in the forefront of states that are pushing the local movement.”
The event is being co-sponsored by the MOFGA, the Maine Council of Churches and local organizations at each site.
For a full listing of fairs and more information contact MOFGA Organic Marketing Coordinator Melissa White Pillsbury at 207-568-4142, [email protected].
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