in Maine
Supporting Our Farms, Forests, and Local Businesses
As the New Year begins, we’re reminded of the many opportunities to connect with Maine’s farms and local food businesses throughout our state. These connections are vital to sustaining Maine’s agricultural character and supporting its economic well-being. At the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF), we are proud to be stewards of the state’s largest natural resources agency, working each day to support Maine’s agricultural and forestry sectors.
What DACF Means for Maine
Our work is deeply intertwined with what Maine residents and visitors love most about our state: open land for farming, sustainable forestry practices, and access to local food and products. With over 6,000 farms across Maine, our mission includes ensuring that the food farmers grow is accessible and marketable and supports the sustainability of these businesses.
Forestry, another cornerstone of Maine’s economy, provides timber production, wildlife habitat, and rural landscapes that enhance the lives of Maine residents and visitors in numerous ways. Our diverse forests, from fruitbearing to hardwood and evergreen tree varieties, are also important in meeting our state’s climate resilience goals, as they sequester a significant amount of carbon while also providing renewable resources in the form of forest products.
As caretakers of hundreds of thousands of Maine’s conserved recreational lands—also guided by sustainable forestry practices—DACF plays a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of our people and communities. These lands provide spaces for outdoor recreation, which improves physical and mental health, attracts visitors, and generates significant economic benefits for our state that allow us to continue stewarding these resources for ongoing public benefit. Agriculture, forestry, and outdoor recreation define Maine’s identity, create opportunities for growth and connection, and serve as a resource today and a legacy for future generations.
How to Support Local in 2025
Whether you’re visiting Maine or calling it home, there are meaningful ways to engage with and support our communities:
• For Residents:
Choose Local: Maine-made products and services provide high-quality options and reflect the state’s resourcefulness and craftsmanship. Learn Local: RealMaine.com and MaineMade. com are valuable resources to discover local businesses and their stories.
Understand the Impact: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They employ nearly half the U.S. workforce, accounting for most net job creation. You’re investing in our agriculture community’s resilience and vitality by supporting them.
• For Visitors:
Explore Maine’s rural communities by visiting RealMaine.com to find farm stands, events, and unique experiences. VisitMaine.com is another excellent resource for planning adventures, from dining and shopping getaways to exhilarating outdoor activities.
• For Business Owners:
Evaluate your business plan this year. Resources are available through DACF and our partners, including the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), USDA, and SCORE. The Maine Agricultural Trades Show, happening January 14-16, 2025, at the Augusta Civic Center, is a great starting point. Free business advising appointments are available daily, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Learn more at www.maine.gov/dacf/atsmeet.
Looking Ahead
As we embrace the new year's opportunities, let’s commit to supporting Maine’s farms, forests, and small businesses. Together, we can ensure our natural resource sectors continue to prosper, enriching our communities and preserving Maine’s legacy for generations.
Warm wishes for a successful year,
Amanda Beal, Commissioner Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Winter on the Farm
The winter season may seem like a time for Maine’s farmers to slow down, but their work continues even through the cold months in our state.
There is livestock to care for. Planning for the next growing season is in full swing in many ways – logistically, financially, and more. There is equipment and infrastructure to repair and add. Some farms offer public activities during the winter to help supplement their business.
Talking to Real Maine members about winter at their farms, it is clear that there is much that is going on, even though it might be more behind the scenes than at other times of the year.
“I think there are many people that think winter is downtime on the farm, but it isn’t. It is a critical time of year. Evaluating your season and planning for the coming year is critical,” said Penny Jordan of Jordan’s Farm in Cape Elizabeth.
Farms that raise and keep livestock for
meat, fiber, eggs, and other purposes must adjust their processes for the cold season.
At Old Crow Ranch in Durham, they raise animals year-round, and a great deal of work is done during the growing season to put up enough hay to feed their grass-fed beef cattle for the seven months when pastures aren’t ready for cattle to roam. In the winter, their cattle and hogs are centralized in safe-handling facilities. Chores are still performed twice a day. Hogs are fed in the morning and evening, and the barn is mucked every afternoon. Cattle are fed and bedded daily.
“It’s cliché to say farmers never get a day off, but it is also true for livestock farmers, especially in the winter when storms are coming,” Laura and Craig Martel of Greener Days Farm in Waldoboro said.
At Orchard Ridge Farm in Gorham, they care for chickens and goats yearround, which they say becomes more challenging in the winter due to the cold
temperatures, ice, and snow. Their livestock is checked twice a day. They also make shoveling areas for them to walk around a priority because “neither love snow too much, so we ensure clear areas for them to stretch their legs.”
At Bittersweet Heritage Farm in Port Clyde, the sheep spend the winter growing coats, after being shorn in the summer.
Bittersweet Heritage Farm’s Dyan Redick says, “there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to keep (sheep) comfortable, not stressed, and healthy. The result is sheep producing coats that are lush with healthy fiber, resulting in better yarns.” She also cares for goats, and says, “goats who are
relaxed and well-monitored result in healthier food in the form of milk and easier pregnancies with less complications.”
Fiber shorn in the summer is processed, dyed, and sold all winter at A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm in Sumner. In the cold months, the farm also focuses on cleaning up pasture areas to allow better grazing for its sheep and having bonfires to clear brush from fallen trees and those they have cleared.
Continued on page 5
Seedlings at Lazy Acres Farm in Farmingdale.
Let Real Maine Be Your Guide to Celebrating Agriculture Year Round
Visit www.RealMaine.com for dozens of current events and ways to explore Maine farms, farm products, and experiences throughout the year!
JANUARY – Maine Agricultural Trades Show
MARCH – Maine Maple Sunday® Weekend (statewide), National Agriculture Day
APRIL – Maine Fiddlehead Festival
JUNE – Maine Fiber Frolic, Dairy Month – Real Maine Ice Cream Trail kick-off
JULY – Kneading Conference & Maine Bread Fair, Maine Open Farm Day (statewide)
AUGUST – Wild Blueberry Weekend (statewide), Farmers’ Market Week (statewide)
SEPTEMBER – Maine Cheese Festival, Apple Weekend
OCTOBER – Open Creamery Day, Real Maine Fiber Tour & Trail
Shared Love for the Land
Pastures, cropland, woodland, and forests. These working landscapes are beautiful places, important to Maine’s heritage and economy. They are critical to the wellbeing and livelihood of Mainers and its natural beauty.
WHAT DO MAINE’S WORKING LANDSCAPES OFFER?
• Pastures and cropland are local sources of food
• Open and wooded areas are homes for thousands of wildlife, bugs, animals, and native plants
• Farms, woodland and forests provide local jobs in agriculture, forestry and tourism
• Special places to get outside and respectfully appreciate Maine’s beauty year-round
Use these tips to stay on the right path to support and appreciate Maine’s working landscapes year-round!
RESPECT: Treat land as the valuable necessity that it is to our state. Your respect helps everyone appreciate Maine’s beauty.
Tips for enjoying Maine’s outdoors year-round
RESPONSIBILITY: Know before you go: where and if you may walk, drive, travel and tour—and the safe ways to do so. Keep your pets on leash—especially near pasture and farmland.
RIGHT THING: Follow the unwritten rules of Maine land use: ask for permission, say thank you. Set an example for others. Always carry-in and carry-out. See litter and trash? Do the right thing and pick it up.
WHY RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND “THE RIGHT THING” MATTER:
• Respectful, responsible land use helps preserve these special places for the future
• Sustains community relationships
• Instills and improves our understanding for the value of Maine’s working landscapes
WANT TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT FARMS AND BUSINESSES?
In addition to saying thank you, show your thanks and support their businesses. Visit www.RealMaine.com for a list of farm products and farms near you!
During the winter, maple syrup producers and farms are deep into their preparations for the upcoming sugaring season. At Bemis Family Farm in Corinna, in December and early January, they aim to make sure their sap pipelines are all in place, not damaged, and not buried in snow. Through January and February, they make necessary repairs and upgrades to equipment. They then tap around 1,400 trees when the sap starts running in early/mid-February.
While fruits and vegetables are not harvested out in the open during winter, the farmers who grow them are still working full days when the weather gets colder.
Slow Rise Farm in Pittston manages 19 acres of wild blueberries. When the weather begins to get colder and before snow accumulates, they have to make sure their fields are mowed and weeded, and are often clearing trees that may be starting to shade out berries or may be spreading sulfur that will acidify the soil. If they plan to burn the fields (a method of promoting new growth) the following spring, they
have to make sure they put straw down on the fields before the snow piles up.
“It all adds up to make for a long to-do list during the ‘off’ season,” said Slow Rise Farm’s Kate Mahaffey.
At apple orchards, winter is the preferred time to prune trees. This involves cutting out anything that is not healthy and pruning for a successful future harvest. At The Apple Farm in Fairfield, they take cuttings from trees they collected in winter that have apple varieties they need on their farm, and graft those cuttings in spring onto what owner Marilyn Meyerhans says are “less appealing varieties, but healthy trees.”
At Stonecipher Farm in Bowdoinham, they grow a variety of produce. Farmer Ian Jerolmack said the farm has oneand-a-quarter acres of indoor tunnel space, so they are able to grow yearround, harvest greens all winter, and sell those to customers. Plants for spring are started as early as January. During the winter months, Stonecipher Farm washes, sorts, and sends out several varieties of storage crops – 100,000 pounds
worth, Jerolmack said. Storage crops are held post-harvest in a controlled environment for use/sale over the ensuing weeks and months and can include root vegetables, leeks, onions and shallots, and brussels sprouts and cabbage.
Many seeds are started in the deep winter at Wanderwood in Nobleboro, where they start onions as early as mid-January. Their seeding continues daily throughout the cold season.
Flower farmer Sarah Lutte outlined several activities that Lazy Acres Farm in Farmingdale undertakes during the dormant field season, including making dried flower wreaths, overwintering flower seedlings in high-tunnel greenhouses (which they monitor daily for rodents and ventilation), starting to sow seeds in their heated greenhouse in February, and more.
Several farms supplement their “peak season” products by selling wreaths or Christmas trees over the holidays, offering sleigh rides, opening trails and more.
On the business side of things, farms focus on planning, ordering materials, marketing, putting together CSAs, book-
keeping, taking courses, and hiring staff during the winter months. Several farms are also active in policymaking at different levels and are active in agricultural organizations in the winter.
“In conversations with some of our customers, I find that many don’t understand that farming really is a year-round job. We get comments about ‘taking time off’ or ‘slowing down,’ which, of course, we do a little bit, but not as much as they’d think,” Matt Silverman, primary farmer at Wanderwood, said. “Analyzing our growing, pest management, marketing, and staffing plans during the winter months is absolutely instrumental to ensuring we have a smooth future growing season, and it’s half the battle of successful farming.”
Remember to support Maine farmers and producers year-round, including during the winter. A great place to connect to the state’s farms, food, and agriculture, and to plan your next agricultural experience, is by going to www. RealMaine.com. Real Maine is the state’s official agriculture and agritourism promotions program.
Meet Real Maine Member Piper Mountain
Werecently spoke with Molly and Jesse Jimerson, owners of Real Maine member Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh, about the work that is performed year-round to prepare for the holiday season, and what makes buying a local tree special.
What work does a Christmas tree farm perform year-round to get ready for the season?
A lot of people think that Christmas tree farmers are just busy during the few weeks leading up to the big holiday season, but in fact, tree farming is a lot of work all year long.
In the early spring, you’ll find us out removing stumps and prepping the fields for planting. Planting starts in April or May, and each year we plant around 3,000 trees here at Piper Mountain! Once we wrap up planting, our focus transitions to mowing, planting companion crops like clover, combating pests, fertilizing, and maintaining the fields.
We then spend much of the summer shearing trees. Shearing is when we give each tree an individual trim using large knives, helping them grow into the perfect classic Christmas tree shape.
When we wrap up shearing, it’s back to mowing and more field work, making sure our customers can enjoy browsing our 30 acres of choose-and-cut trees. We also spend much of the year shopping and setting up our gift shop in the big red barn.
In November, we begin tipping in the woods (“tipping” is a term used to describe the seasonal practice of harvesting evergreen branches for holiday decorations) and making wreaths and garland, so that by Thanksgiving, we have a barn full of wreaths and fresh evergreen roping for sale along with our trees.
There are many benefits to buying a fresh, local Christmas tree. What are some?
A fresh tree smells like the holidays and is the backdrop for those special family moments. There’s a reason a real, fresh Christmas tree is the cornerstone of so many cherished memories. That experience comes from the entire journey: shopping for the perfect tree, setting it up, decorating it, watering it, enjoying its fresh scent, decorating it as a family, and even recycling and repurposing it when you’re done. A fresh, local tree is also the most sustainable option, and you are directly supporting local family businesses.
How does your farm, and other Christmas tree farms, make the experience of picking out a tree special?
Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh has been a family tradition since 1978 because it makes picking out the perfect tree fun and memorable. We have 30 acres of beautiful balsam fir trees to choose from, hot cider and fresh donuts from local apple orchards, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a food truck, walls of handmade wreaths, and a gift shop absolutely bursting with ornaments, handmade and locally sourced items, plus unique gifts and decor. The farm is full of photo props and opportunities to capture family memories that will last a lifetime.
What is something that Mainers might not know about Christmas tree farms?
The tree you cut down this year at a Maine Christmas tree farm will have been carefully tended by a farmer for the 7-12 years it takes to fully grow!
Springworks Farm Expands its Capacity to Grow Lettuce Year-round
The Lisbon company uses a recirculating aquaponic system in which fish produce fertilizer for their organic lettuce, and the lettuce cleans the water for the fish. The lettuce grows year-round in a small amount of soil, and the roots sit in the water and absorb nutrients from the fish waste.
Trevor Kenkel started Springworks Farm just before his freshman year at Bowdoin College in 2014. Ten years later, Springworks has 170,000 square feet of greenhouses and grows more than one million servings of salad a year. They also raised $22 million in funding, which will enable them to add an additional 120,000 square feet of greenhouse space and grow 5 million heads of lettuce annually.
Springworks Farm grows Boston Bibb, Green Crispy, and Romaine, with both packaged and loose-leaf products that they sell directly to Lisbon K-12 schools and through distributors to local institutions. Their greens are sold in more than 300 stores, including Hannaford, Whole Foods Market, and Roche Bros. Supermarkets, and their tilapia is available in fish markets.
To learn more about Maine’s Local Foods Procurement Program, and how to help Maine’s state-funded institutions achieve farm-to-institution goals, reach out to Brittany Peats, Maine DACF Institutional Market Development Coordinator, at brittany. peats@maine.gov.
Plan to attend the 2025 Maine Agricultural Trades Show!
This annual tradition brings together Maine’s agricultural community to network, learn and celebrate!
The three-day event at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine features farm and agricultural equipment, supplies, tools, educational talks, membership meetings, training, free business coaching, Maine-farm ingredient hospitality suite, and attendee meet and greets. Join us!
Mark Your Calendar for the 2025 Maine Agricultural Trades Show
Tuesday, Jan. 14 (9 AM to 5 PM) • Wednesday, Jan. 15 (9 AM to 6 PM) Thursday, Jan. 16 (9 AM to 3 PM)
The Augusta Civic Center is located at 76 Community Drive, Augusta
And mark your calendar for these future Trades Show dates — 2026: January 13, 14, 15
Reserve your Listening Post Business Advising Appointment Today!
Reserve your time using the online booking tool. Or, stop at the Franklin Room during the show.
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Go to maine.gov/dacf/atsmeet
2. View the service menu and select a service. for personalized advising and coaching about farm and food production topics.
3. Choose your date and time — you will receive a confirmation email.
We look forward to seeing you at the show!
Getting Around the Show
LISTENING POST
BUSINESS ADVISING, HELPFUL INFO
AUDITORIUM
FIRST LEVEL
SCAN THE QR CODE FOR AN INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE SHOW!
BUSINESS ADVISING APPOINTMENTS CONFERENCE
SECOND LEVEL
OVERLOOKS AUDITORIUM FLOOR
Resources for Agriculture
USDA – Part of the United States Government, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the nation’s largest natural resource agency. Some primary areas of work include:
Data collection and agricultural statistics
MDACF and BAFRR – Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry is the state’s largest natural resource agency. The Bureau of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources is the primary state-level entity to support Maine’s agricultural, food and rural resources infrastructure.
Food security and safety
Funding for farms
Data collection
Promoting Maine farms, farm products and supporting agricultural awareness Animal care, disease tracking, and risk management
Programs to support rural communities and businesses
Common Inquiries & Where to Find Answers
Stay connected with Maine agriculture year round...
Q. I’m a shopper who wants to buy local. Where should I go?
A. Visit www.RealMaine.com. Search a directory of farms, markets, and businesses for everything from fruit, vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy, Christmas trees, plants, fibers, specialty foods, and craft beverages.
Q. I’m a farmer who seeks help with business planning. Where should I go?
A. To start, you can reach out to the USDA, SCORE Maine, the Agricultural Resources Development Division at the Maine Department of Agriculture, or the SBA (Small Business Administration). Schedule a meeting with an advisor.
Q. I’m curious about agriculture and learning for youth.
A. Visit a Cooperative Extension county office, local 4-H, or Maine Ag in the Classroom. On-demand digital learning is available. You can join or volunteer for local 4-H programs.
Q. I need help starting a food business and marketing my products.
A. Help is available from Maine DACF, the Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations, as well as UMaine Cooperative Extension food science staff. SCORE Maine can also help, along with Maine DECD and Real Maine.
Q. I want to talk with other farmers to network and share ideas.
A. Producer associations, mentorship programs, and instructional courses can help. Visit the Maine Agricultural Trades Show in January!
Q. I’m a hobby gardener in need of help planning and sourcing native plants.
A. Contact the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for planning help. Visit RealMaine.com to find a local garden center to assist with finding native plants and seeds.
How to Contact Your Local Soil and Water Conservation District
Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are subdivisions of State Government, governed by locally-elected Boards of Supervisors. There are 16 SWCDs in Maine which generally correspond to county boundaries, although there are a few exceptions (see the map below and the list that follows). SWCDs establish local priorities for conservation efforts. Emphasis is on agriculture and forestry although urban development is a priority in some districts. SWCDs hold workshops, set up demonstrations, offer educational programs, review development plans, and set priorities for one-onone technical assistance, at the request of land occupiers.
Field
Androscoggin Valley (Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties)
Central Aroostook
Cumberland County
Franklin County
Hancock County
Kennebec County
Knox-Lincoln (Knox and Lincoln Counties)
Oxford County
Penobscot County
Piscataquis County
St. John Valley
Somerset County
254 Goddard Road, Lewiston www.androscogginswcd.org
102 Normal Hall, 181 Main Street University of at Maine Presque Isle www.facebook.com/CASWCD
35 Main Street, Suite 3, Windham www.cumberlandswcd.org
107 Park Street, Farmington franklincountyswcd.org
474 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth www.hancockcountyswcd.org
2305 N. Belfast Avenue, Augusta www.kcswcd.org
893 West St, Suite 103, Rockport www.knox-lincoln.org
17 Olson Road, Ste 3, South Paris www.oxfordcountyswcd.org
1423 Broadway, Suite 2, Bangor www.penobscotswcd.org
42 Engdahl Drive, Dover-Foxcroft www.piscataquisswcd.org
139 Market St, Ste 106, Fort Kent www.sjv.me.nacdnet.org
70 East Madison, Skowhegan www.somersetswcd.org
Southern Aroostook
Washington County
304 North Street, Houlton www.saswcd.org
46 Little River Drive, Belfast www.waldocountysoilandwater.org
10 M&M Place, Machias
21 Bradeen St, #104, Springvale www.yorkswcd.org
Tel. 207-241-5374 admin@androscogginswcd.org
Tel. 207-768-9430
Tel. 207-892-4700 Fax: 207-892-4773 cbrewer@cumberlandswcd.org
Tel. 207-778-4279 Fax: 207-778-5785 franklincswcd@yahoo.com
Tel. 207-667-8663 hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org
Tel. 207-622-7847 ext. 3 Fax: 207-626-8196 dale@kcswcd.org
Tel. 207-596-2040 info@knox-lincoln.org
Tel. 207-744-3111 or 207-744-3119 oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com
Tel. 207-990-3676 ext. 3 Fax: 207-942-1782 info@penobscotswcd.org
Tel. 207-564-2321 ext. 3 Fax: 207-564-2570 info@piscataquisswcd.org
Tel. 207-834-3311
Fax: 207-834-6435 sjvswcd@gmail.com
Tel. 207-612-4136
Fax: 207-474-0638
info@somersetswcd.org
Tel. 207-254-4126
Fax: 207-532-4379
angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net
Tel. 207-218-5311
Fax: 207-338-4972
msteinman@maineconservationdistricts.com
Tel. 207-255-4659
Fax: 207-255-6817 nate.pennell@myfairpoint.net
Tel. 207-324-0888 ext. 214
Fax: 207-324-4822 info@yorkswcd.org
What Employers Need to Know About Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Maine Winter Farmers’ Markets
Certainrequirements for Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program begin in January 2025. The law applies to any employer who has at least one Maine employee. Here’s what employers need to know and actions to take in advance.
Count your employees. Contribution rates are determined by the number of Maine employees you had between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024. Within that period, count the number of employees to whom you paid wages each week. This includes any employees who were on payroll for a calendar work week – including full time, part time, seasonal, or per-diem. If there are 15 or more Maine employees paid in 20 or more of the weeks, your contribution premium will be 1.0% of wages and you may withhold up to half of the premium from your employees’ wages. If the threshold is not met, your contribution premium will be 0.5% of wages and you may withhold all or a portion of the contribution from your employees’ wages. Wages mean all compensation, including tips, gratuities, severance, terminal pay, commissions, and bonuses. Wages do not include payments to independent contractors.
To determine if an individual is a Maine employee, the following criteria are used. If you can answer “yes” to this series of questions, then the individual is a Maine employee.
1. Is the employee’s work performed in Maine? If no, go to #2.
2. Does the individual perform some work in Maine and the physical base of operations in Maine? If no, go to #3.
3. Does the individual perform some work in Maine AND is the service directed and controlled from Maine?? If no, go to #4.
4. Does the individual perform some work in Maine and live in Maine? If no, the individual is not a Maine employee.
Prepare to withhold contributions. You may withhold up to 0.5% of your employees’ wages beginning with the first pay date in January 2025. Ensure your payroll system and/or provider is ready to begin withholding. Be sure to inform your employees in advance that this will begin. The Department of Labor has a poster that you can use to provide the information. Contributions and wage reports for the January to March 2025 quarter will be due after the end of the quarter and no later than April 30, 2025. These will be submitted through the Paid Leave Portal.
Register in the Paid Leave Portal. In January, all employers will be required to register in the Paid Leave Portal. If you have a payroll provider, you can designate them during the registration process. You will also need to identify whether you have 15 or more employees as described above.
Stay informed. Stay up to date on the latest information at Maine.gov/paidleave. Sign up for the “Get Notified” email list to get program and portal information as it is released.
Follow these markets on social media and through their websites for updates and the latest information!
Market Address Details
Augusta Winter Farmers’ Market 22 Armory St., Augusta (The Buker Center) Open every Tuesday, 3pm-5pm, November-April
Bangor Winter Farmers’ Market 26 Front St, Sea Dog Brewing Co. Banquet Room, Bangor Open 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, Dec-Apr, 11am-1pm
European Market in Bangor 117 Buck St, Bangor Open every Saturday, 8:30am-12:30pm, year-round. Open Weds during winter (Nov & Dec), 11am-3pm
Bar Harbor Winter Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market 36 Mount Desert St, Bar Harbor Open Sun, 9:30am-12:30pm; every other week through April
Bath Farmers’ Market 27 Commercial St, Bath Open every Saturday, 9am-Noon, November-April.
Belfast Farmers’ Market 21 Schoodic Dr, Belfast Open every Friday, 9am-Noon, Nov-April
Belfast – United Farmers’ Market of Maine 18 Spring St, Belfast Open year-round, Sat, 9am-2pm
Berwick Winter Farmers’ Market 11 Sullivan St., Berwick 2nd Sunday of the month, 10am to 1:30pm, November through April
Blue Hill Winter Farmers’ Market 7 Rope Ferry Rd, Sedgwick Sat, 10am-12pm, Dec to late May
Bridgton Winter Farmers’ Market 166 Harrison St., Bridgton Open every Saturday, 9am-noon, Nov-April
Brunswick Winter Market 14 Maine St. (Fort Andross Building), Brunswick Open every Saturday, 9am-12:30pm, Nov-Apr
Dover Cove Winter Farmers Market Piscataquis Ice Arena, 1049 W Main St., Dover-Foxcroft Late November-May. Every other Saturday. 9am-1pm.
Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market 150 Main St, Waterville Thu, 2-5pm, Dec-April
Farmington Winter Farmers’ Market 130 Quebec St., Farmington Open every Saturday, 10am-1pm, November-April
Freeport Harraseeket Grange Farmers’ Market 13 Elm St, Freeport Open Wed, 3-6pm, Nov-Apr
Greater Gorham Winter Farmers’ Market 75 South St, Gorham Open 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Nov-March
Hampden Farmers’ Market 177 Cold Brook Road, Hampden Open 2pm-5:30pm every Friday; then every other Friday from January-April
Orono Winter Farmers’ Market 6 Goodridge Dr., Orono Every Saturday, 9am-noon in December. Jan-April, 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9am-Noon.
Portland Winter Farmers’ Market 631 Stevens Ave., Portland Open every Saturday, 9am-1pm, Dec-Apr 12
Rockland Farmers’ Market 61 Limerock St, Rockland Open through Christmas, Thu, 9am-12pm; closed Thanksgiving
Rockport Farmers’ Market 310 Commercial St, Rockport Open every Saturday, 9am-12pm, year-round!
Skowhegan Winter Farmers’ Market 42 Court St, Skowhegan Open 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, 10am-1pm, Dec-April
Farmers Market at Pumpkin Vine Family Farm
217 Hewett Rd, Somerville One Sun per month (see online), 11am-2pm, Nov-Feb
Tri-Town Winter Farmers Market 49 Academy St, Marshwood Great Works School, South Berwick Select Sundays (see online): 10am-1pm, Nov-Apr
South Portland Winter Farmers’ Market
Wilton Farmers’ Market
Yarmouth Farmers’ Market Indoor Holiday Market
829 Sawyer St, South Portland Sun, 10am-2pm, Nov-Apr
386 Main St, Congregational Church, Wilton Nov-Apr. First and third Saturdays. 10am-1pm
317 Main Street, Yarmouth Thu, 2:30-5pm; closed Thanksgiving, Nov & Dec
No Artificial Growth Hormones* Tested for Antibiotics**
*No significant di�ference has been shown between milk derived from rbST-treated and non-rbST treated cows
** FDA requires milk to be tested for certain antibiotics