RUMFORD – Sixth-generation farmer David Kimball is optimistic about the future of local agriculture.

Kimball, and a small group of River Valley residents, formed the Agricultural Commission more than a year ago with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agricultural Research Association of the University of Vermont and supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Since that time, the group has explored the facets of agriculture either now in the area or that could be developed here. It has had the assistance of Mark Hews of Threshold for Maine. The commission operates under the auspices of the River Valley Growth Council.

And this month, an agricultural economic development plan for 2008-2013 was finalized.

Kimball had once raised beef cattle, but now he devotes some of his 625 acres to raising potatoes and other vegetables to sell, and lumbering.

“We want the towns to get involved (with agriculture), through their comprehensive plans, open space preservation, and perhaps turn areas that were once farmed back into some kind of agricultural production,” Kimball said. “Maybe some farmers would like to expand their operations.”

This region, particularly the areas bordering the Androscoggin River in Canton and Rumford, harbors rich farmland that was once heavily tilled. Potatoes and other crops are still grown in some of these areas.

Hews said most of the towns have returned letters of support for the commission’s goals. Now, it is prioritizing projects. Among them is a plan to meet within the next couple of weeks with the superintendents and principals at SADs 43 and 21 to discuss developing a school resource for curriculum, getting more locally grown foods in the schools and a Harvest Day meal.

Kimball said plans are to develop a speakers’ bureau to talk about what the commission has been doing, the future of agriculture, and how people can become involved.

At the growth council, plans are going forward to develop a shared kitchen for the creation of value-added products such as jams, breads, salsa and a multitude of other foods.

“Maybe we will have a River Valley produce brand,” said Diane Ray, director of the growth council.

“The shared kitchen could be a catalyst and incubator to get small food companies off the ground,” she said.

A farmers market offers fruits, vegetables, flowers and other locally produced foods from spring through autumn and has grown in success, Kimball said.

“People are much more aware of what they put into their bodies,” Kimball said, “but they are used to buying anything at any time.”

Hews said the commission will be inventorying the farms and farmland already under production and work toward a possible co-op so a sufficient amount of produce would be available for large orders by supermarkets and restaurants.

“The economic development process for agriculture is fairly unique to Maine. We’re trying to do something different,” said Hews. “Give us a few months. We’re trying to determine how best to implement the plan.”

The commission may serve a locally-grown meal for the community about the time the growing season begins in April or May as a way to get the word out about the potential of agricultural growth in the area.

Other goals include experimenting with nontraditional crops, such as an experiment by Canton farmer Norris Conant a few years ago when he grew quinoa. Also, educating people about the importance of growing and eating local foods, increasing cropland, exploring the establishment of a regional slaughterhouse, development of a warehouse, cold storage and distribution system, and offering technical and training assistance for farmers and those who want to get into farming.

Kimball had ordered his Norland, Red Pontiac, Kennebec and Green Mountain seed potatoes Wednesday morning for planting in a field near his red barn in a couple of months.

“Rumford once was an agricultural area before the mill came. Our commission is a small, dedicated group and we’re enthusiastic about the future,” Kimball said.

Anyone interested in taking part in the commission or in agriculture may phone Beverly Crosby at the growth council at 369-0396.