FARMINGTON — Farmers’ markets around Franklin County are gearing up for the summer season.
A Friday outdoor market opened April 27 in Farmington and continues through October. Saturday markets take place in Farmington, Phillips and New Sharon. A Wednesday market is held in Kingfield, and Franklin County boasts a year-round online farmers’ market, www.WesternMaineMarket.com. It offers order pickup as far as Rangeley, Rumford and Stratton.
Area farmers’ markets include:
Farmington: Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Narrow Gauge Cinema lot on Front Street now open through October. For more information, contact Mitra Luick, Aloha Rainbow Farm, 778-0347, mitraluick@gmail.com.
Farmington: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, opens May 5 through October, held in front of the District Court building on Main Street. This market offers an event tent, where you may find live musicians, a chef handing out free samples of foods prepared with vendors’ products, a butter-making or grain-grinding demonstration, and Henna body painting. Contact person is Andy Marble, Marble Family Farms, 779-4858, marblefamilyfarms@hotmail.com.
Kingfield: Wednesdays, 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Schoolhouse Gallery, 266 Main S., May through October. Contact Deborah Chadbourne, Rasmussen Farm, 684-4587, dchadbou@sprynet.com.
New Sharon: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. opens mid-May through Columbus Day at Douin’s Market, intersection of Routes 2 and 27. Contact Karla Bock, Hoof ‘n Paw Farm, 778-3903.
Phillips: Saturdays, 10 a.m. -2 p.m., at the American Legion on Depot Street, runs May 19 through Sept. 8. The Phillips market will also hold a special farmers’ market and craft fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, in conjunction with Phillips Old Home Days.
Western Maine Market, Franklin County’s online farmers’ market, runs yearround and offers free delivery in downtown Farmington and along Route 4 to Strong, from Farmington along Route 27 to Kingfield, and a variety of pickup locations. Order online or via email by 6 a.m. Thursdays to receive orders Fridays or Saturdays.
This summer’s pickup locations include the farmers’ markets in Farmington and Phillips, Schoolhouse Gallery in Kingfield, Nichols’ Top of the Hill Grill in New Sharon, the theater in Rangeley, No View Farm & Bakery in Rumford, Diamond Corner Bed & Breakfast in Stratton, and Whitehill Farm in East Wilton. Check the website for additional new locations. The website is www.WesternMaineMarket.com, and contact is Deborah Chadbourne, 684-4587, info@westernmainemarket.com.
Find out more about various farms, their offerings, the markets in which they participate, and whether they have farm stands or community supported agriculture, in the 2012 Mabel’s Book, available soon in hard copy from the Western Mountains Alliance office at 165 Front St. or online through www.WesternMountainsAlliance.org. Descriptions of farms participating in the online market can be found in the “Meet Our Farmers” pages at www.WesternMaineMarket.com.
Many vendors accept WIC farmers’ market vouchers, and Farmington’s Saturday market is now set up to accept EBT and credit card payments. This may soon be true of the Friday market as well.
The indoor market held Saturdays at in the Grange Hall in West Farmington has closed for the summer.
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