MARKET SEASON

While Maine’s farmers’ markets are a state treasure virtually year round, late August through the end of September is where they really sparkle. Strawberry season may be over, and the blueberries may even be fading, but the corn and cucurbits (gourds, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and the like) are booming and the variety can be simply spectacular. 

Nor is shopping at farmers’ markets just a fun way to get some fresh food and local crafts — it’s your civic duty! By spending your money directly with Maine’s small growers and producers, you’re supporting family and community agriculture that goes back centuries and keeps families on their land and money in the state. When you buy Maine produce at a grocery store or retail operation, part of your money is paying for distribution, overhead, and the marketing gal’s salary at Hannaford (they make plenty on frozen pizzas and 30-racks of cheap beer). When you buy it at a farmers’ market, you’re probably not only paying a lower price, but more of that money is going straight into the farmer’s pocket — or paying for their kid to go to college. 

In fact, even the term “farmers market” is legally protected, to make sure nefarious corporate types don’t try to trick you into thinking they’re locally sourced when they’re not. By law, any market calling itself a “farmers market” has to have at least two documented farmers selling farm products produced on their actual farms. While markets can also invite in non-farmers, even farmers selling other farmers’ wares have to be clear in their signage about what was grown/raised where. 

We recommend checking in with the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides supports to market operators and has handy listings of where to find markets and when. Currently, they list 96 separate markets across the state, with handy information about programs like “Bumper Crop,” where employers can work with local markets to provide vouchers to employees for market products as a way to not only promote wellness (saving money on health insurance costs), but also as a way to make employees like you. 

It’s similar to paying for a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, without having to worry about organizing pickup and delivery and divvying up all the cabbage that no one really wants.  

If you support the medical marijuana program and make sure to buy from small craft brewers, you really need to be hitting your local farmers market on the regular. 

And now, thanks to Paul LePage (yeah, he did a few things right, we guess), you can actually sometimes find brews, ciders, and liquors available for tasting and sale. Thanks to his signature on a 2017 law, farmers markets can now apply for a tasting license and brewers and distillers can similarly be licensed to set up the card table under the tend and shop their wares. 

Already, as many as 20 markets across the state have received their license and that number continues to grow, with at least four craft breweries obtaining their tasting license as well — in addition to farmers making cider and some small-run distilleries. 

But be cool! The regulations are relatively strict and no farmer wants to worry about annoying the liquor inspector: You have to consume your tasting at the producer’s booth, so don’t walk away with that cup in your hand. And no one can have more than six of the little tasting cups, so down your sample and then buy what looks good, since they can’t sell samples and can only give them away. No lingering and making people nervous while you chat about the qualities of this or that variety and catch a buzz.  

Currently, there’s no way to sell THC-laden cannabis at markets, but there are many hemp and CBD providers who’ve set up shop at farmers’ markets and it is now not uncommon to see clones and seedlings for sale so you can grow hemp at home.

Are some of those seedlings actually THC-laden cannabis? Who’s to say? We’re certainly not going around the state with our testing kits. 

Interested enough to get touring? Here’s a rundown of some great markets to hit where you’re likely to find beer, weed, and everything else you need.

While it’s rare that you can go wrong with a Maine farmers’ market, these markets are all relatively robust, so are unlikely to fold up shop in the middle of the season, and well established. Most of them close by the end of October, but some will linger on later into November or move into an indoor venue as the weather gets cold. 

It’s never a bad idea to check and make sure these are still happening on the days they usually happen. Nothing worse than driving to a spot only to find they’ve switched days or locations. Just about all of these markets have websites they update regularly.