LEWISTON — Lily Gagnon took a bite from her fresh spring roll. “I’ve never had Thai food before,” she said. “It’s not too spicy is it?”

Apparently not, as she quickly finished the roll. “It hits your tongue just right so you don’t need water,” she said. “The spices are perfect.”

Gagnon, who lives in Lewiston, crochets hats and donates them to patients at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center, which is what brought her to the St. Mary’s Market last Wednesday. She was hoping to sell some of her surplus hats in order to buy more yarn. But she was enticed by the unique aromas of Asian cuisine coming from Thai Jarearn Express, the Sabattus Street restaurant that was offering samples and a cooking demonstration as part of the farmers market.

St. Mary’s Health System, which sponsors the weekly markets, and Great Falls Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market Association, which organizes them, have begun partnering with local restaurants to showcase unique and often underappreciated culinary gems.

Jo-Ann and Ray Jackson, who live in Poland but work in Lewiston, were also tempted to try a taste of Thai. They heard about the Lots To Gardens program through their workplaces, and now try to visit the Lewiston Farmers’ Market or the St. Mary’s Market weekly on their lunch breaks. Today was the first time either had tried Thai food. And the verdict? A full mouth and an audible “mmmm” from Jo-Ann. “I liked the spring roll most,” said Ray, “but really I love it all.”

Tami Bilodeau, who stopped by the market while on break from her job at D’Youville Pavilion, explained why this partnership between the farmers’ markets and local restaurants is important to her. “This is stuff that I normally wouldn’t go out and eat. So if I can just come (to the market) and try new things, I will,” she said, between bites of spring roll.

Supannee Saengwong, who owns Thai Jarearn with her family, was at the market for several hours dishing out food. The hope is to reach a new customer base, as well as to solidify the relationship between local suppliers — that is, farmers — and their consumers. About a third of the folks that tried the dishes served by Thai Jarearn at the St. Mary’s Market were eating Thai food for the first time.

Both the Lewiston Farmers’ Market and the St. Mary’s Market accept WIC and EBT payments, and there is currently a “double voucher program” running, whereby customers using EBT or WIC at the markets can be reimbursed up to $10 of their purchases.

The Lewiston Farmers’ Market operates Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Kennedy Park, at Bates and Pine streets. The St. Mary’s Market is open Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Lafayette Street and Campus Avenue.

On Aug. 18, the St. Mary’s Market will present the food experts from Guthrie’s restaurant/cafe,  who will show patrons how to get the most out of fresh produce. For more information: http://www.lewistonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com

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