Harvest Time in Maine 2020 by Bangor Daily News

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE

Harvest Time HOW TO SAFELY VISIT LOCAL FARMS & ORCHARDS, RECIPES USING FRESH PRODUCE, TRAVELING THE MAINE WINE TRAIL & MORE!

in Maine Inside!

A Special Advertising Section of the Bangor Daily News • Friday, Sept. 18, 2020

Morning Sentinel • Kennebec Journal • Sun Journal Times Record • Portland Press Herald • Bangor Daily News

Details about apple picking in Maine!

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Support our Farms this fall and always. Thank you to the farmers, and everyone at work in our agriculture sector, for working tirelessly to feed Maine. As the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), and speaking on behalf of all of my colleagues at DACF, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for all of the efforts it takes to produce the high-quality Maine-grown agricultural products that we enjoy here, including fiber, flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy. As disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue to reveal themselves, our agriculture sector is adapting and meeting the challenges. Our growers and farmers are the best of the best, and we are so fortunate to benefit from their hard work and innovation. This fall, our call to action to everyone is to support our agricultural producers in every way imaginable. That might be by doing something as simple as going online for a virtual farm visit and placing an order to be shipped to your front door. Or it may mean a road trip to farms and farmers’ markets and even stopping along the roadsides to purchase from growers selling fresh Maine corn, berries, honey, and other beautiful Maine-grown and -made foods. When you buy from a farmer, you help sustain family farms, preserve jobs, and support the local food economy. The need to support our farms has never been so critical. We recently launched a new farm finding website called “Real Maine.” Have you heard about it? I hope so. And I hope you are telling your family and neighbors to look up food, fiber, flowers, forest and nursery products, and more on www.realmaine.com. This dynamic website allows you to connect with the farmers directly. Please visit the site and do share it with all local food and product lovers in your life.This summer, DACF and the Maine Department of Labor (DOL) introduced a farm labor recruiting campaign to encourage Mainers to address our agricultural sector’s labor needs, which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. DACF, DOL, along with the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, Maine Dairy Industry Association, and Maine Aquaculture Association, are encouraging job seekers and farmers to take advantage of the Maine JobLink platform at www.joblink.maine.gov. As someone who grew up working on my family’s commercial dairy farm, I can say first-hand that agricultural work is truly rewarding. We encourage anyone interested in trying their hand or lending a hand at something new, to search for “FarmingForME” to check out the available jobs in agriculture. Because of the pandemic, nearly all our favorite fall fairs and festivals are canceled or postponed. But as a result, some of our agricultural events have improved their online shopping options, so we can find staples and gifts while buying local. Increased access to more farm-direct products is referred to by some as one of the “economic upsides” to the pandemic. I urge everyone to consider ordering from Maine farms direct online, using home delivery and buying Maine-grown and produced products in your markets, grocery stores, and other

retailers as often as you can. Doing so drives home the value and significance of Maine agriculture as one of our most essential industries. You can also help to create new awareness and stimulate demand for Maine products by requesting more local options when you do not see enough on the shelves or menus. In addition to helping to create demand for agricultural products and connecting workers with our growers and producers, DACF is making sure farmers and farmers’ markets, other businesses, and institutions can access timely and necessary resources and data. Our COVID-19 resource webpage has been accessed by farmers and food businesses more than 10K times for information and services. At DACF, we have been working to support the needs of our farms in numerous other ways, as well, including through advocacy for federal relief, ensuring access to personal protective equipment to keep workers and customers safe, and investigating ways to increase purchasing of Maine-grown products by state institutions and others. These are just a few of the ways we are working to respond to our farmers’ current needs. And we are doing all of this and more with a healthy future of farming in mind. Maine’s beauty is not just in our natural resources, but in our community, and our desire to help one another. Working together, I’m confident that we will emerge with a more resilient food system that learns from this crisis, is healthier and more sustainable because of it, and builds on our past strengths and accomplishments. Again, please join me in supporting our agricultural producers and other Maine-based businesses, whether virtually or in-person, this fall and year-round! Together, we can build and sustain a healthy and robust future for Maine agriculture. Stay well. Sincerely,

Amanda Beal, Commissioner

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry

Let's Get Cooking! Big Apple Pie Pancake Ingredients

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Try these tasty recipes using fresh ingredients available at Maine farms, farm stands and farmers’ markets Stuffed Squash

Courtesy of UMaine Cooperative Extension

Ingredients ½ cup onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed ½ teaspoon sage ½ teaspoon thyme ½ cup celery, diced

Adapted from Marion Cunningham’s 1987 Breakfast Book 1 tsp cinnamon

3 eggs

½ cup flour (can be GF or ¼ cup whole wheat and ¼ cup flour)

½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt

Find more great recipes throughout this publication and at www.maineapples.org, where you can also find a history of Maine’s orchards.

Courtesy of the Maine State Pomological Society,

4 Tbsp butter 3 large apples, cored & sliced

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 Tbsp lemon juice Preheat oven to 425°F. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in 10" oven-proof skillet. Stir apples and lemon juice with cinnamon and sugar and add to skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tender. Combine eggs, yogurt, 2 Tbsp. melted butter and flour, pour over apples. Bake 20 minutes until golden. Loosen edges. Cool slightly and turn onto a platter so apples are up.

3 tablespoons oil

Apples are also great in salads. The best varieties for salads will depend on your preference. To prevent browning, select varieties that have a non-browning flesh such as Cortland and the new variety SnowSweet. Empire, Gala, Honeycrisp and Macoun are a few other varieties recommended for salads.

1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs ½ cup cheese, shredded 1 medium squash, any type, halved lengthwise and seeds removed Cook onions, garlic, sage, thyme and celery in oil. Cook over low heat until onions are soft. Add bread crumbs. Continue to cook over low heat for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the cheese. Pack stuffing into the cleaned out squash. Bake, covered, at 350°F for 40-50 minutes.

Yummy Applesauce

Excellent On French Toast!

Courtesy of North Chester Orchards

Fill a large pot with peeled sliced apples (we like half McIntosh, half Cortland). Pour about 2 cups boiling water into a pot of apples, cover pot. Begin cooking on high heat for 5-10 min. Stir apples, continue cooking, covered, on low heat for 10 more minutes. Stir again. Repeat until the whole pot of apples is soft. Uncover, cook on lowest heat, stirring often to prevent scorching. Continue to simmer 2-4 hours until desired thickness. Add some brown sugar and some white sugar and a little cinnamon to please your taste. Applesauce stores great in the freezer in plastic containers.

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Available, Accessible and From Maine: Hunger Relief and Prevention It is rare when agriculture is not “in it together.” In addition to ongoing food programs to address food insecurity and access, there are emergency specific programs popping up all over to make food available and accessible.

Here are just a few of examples of Maine’s network of organizations providing food to those in need

Maine Farms and Food Banks

Waldo County Bounty, a community fundraising and resource-sharing campaign designed to improve food security during the COVID-19 crisis. unitybarnraisers.org Growing to Give, a volunteer-driven nonprofit in Brunswick that grows certified-organic vegetables for donation.

growingtogive.farm Twin Villages Food Bank Farm, grows vegetables on three

During months-long closures, schools needed grab-and-go drivethrough pick-up sites, bus stop drop-off, and summer meal sites. To support schools, GENYOUth established the COVID-19 Emergency School Meal Delivery Fund to provide grants for schools to purchase supplies for meal distribution and delivery.

twinvillagesfarm.org

Hundreds of farms in Maine, whose products you might find at a grocery store, market or stand, also grow food to donate. The efforts may be part of coordination with food pantries in town, or part of larger efforts.

SNAP benefits can be used at Native Maine, Maine Farmers many farm stands and farmers’ Exchange, Pineland Farms, markets. A bonus program, Catholic Charities, and many other Maine Harvest Bucks, organizations, along with Maine’s doubles the value of local emergency management staff, SNAP benefits. and volunteer neighbors made these statewide deliveries and distribution happen at the local level.

GENYOUth Response home.genyouthnow.org

acres of land located at Coastal Rivers’ Salt Bay Farm, and donates to food pantries and youth programs in Lincoln county.

Maine Harvest Bucks maineharvestbucks.org

USDA Farmers to Families COVID relief fund:

Maine farmers donate tens of thousands of pounds of food to MCHPP annually, which enables the food pantry, soup kitchen, and other programs to serve approximately 5,000 clients per year. “We are so fortunate to be part of a community which values supporting neighbors in need,” said Ryan Ravenscroft, food bank coordinator.

Just a few examples of Maine farms and farmers growing food.

Did you know...

Statewide Business and Nonprofit Partnerships

Midcoast Hunger Prevention www.mchpp.org

Dairy Farmers of America, Pineland Farms Dairy, & Good Shepherd Food Bank In a unique arrangement, four diverse Maine organizations are teamed up to address hunger relief and support Maine dairy farmers. PineFull Plates Full Potential: land Farms Dairy provided more than 26,000 Fall 2020 School Meal Grant pounds of cheese to food insecure Mainers www.fullplates.org through Maine’s emergency food distribuOakhurst, Maine DOE, and Full tion network. Local Dairy Farmers of Plates, Full Potential afterschool America (DFA) cooperative members’ grantees continue their ongoing milk was donated and crafted into Mainesupport of afterschool nutrition, made cheddar and jack cheeses. including school breakfast and The weekly distribution goes out to a the fall school meal grant. network of over 500 partner agencies, which includes food pantries, meal sites, shelters, and schools.

MDACF Ongoing Programs — No Matter the Moment

About MSFP

About TEFAP

About CSFP

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) uses a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund the Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP). This program provides eligible low-income seniors the opportunity to receive a share (worth $50) of first-quality, fresh, local fruits, vegetables, herbs and raw honey at no cost directly from Maine farmers during the growing season.

Maine DACF partners with the USDA to offer The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This program provides American-grown and processed foods to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other food distribution sites. TEFAP provides the critical grocery staples, such as canned vegetables, flowers, frozen meats, soups, cereal, and flour, that make up the bulk of what many Maine pantries offer.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a USDA program that provides a box of grocery staples to eligible senior citizens each month. Maine DACF staff work with various partners to pack and deliver the boxes. More than 8000 Maine seniors participate each month. For more information and eligibility, visit www.maine.gov/ dacf/CSFP.

Farmers to Families Food Box Program Maine has been benefiting from several USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Programs over the last few months. One was administered by the Maine Farmers Exchange (MFX) in Presque Isle, in partnership with Pineland Farms of Mars Hill. MFX sourced all Maineproduced foods. According to Robert Davis, President of Maine Farmers Exchange, “We have visited everywhere from southern Maine cities with thousands of people to smaller hamlets such as Van Buren and St. Agatha in northern Maine. “We are on track to distribute 79,000 boxes of dairy and potato products from Fort Kent to Sanford and all points in between. That is almost 40,000 gallons of milk, 197,500 lbs. of cheddar cheese, 395,000 lbs. of russet potatoes and 474,000 lbs. of mashed potatoes. We have employed several dozen people in the dairy and potato industry around the state. From packing sheds to milking parlors to cheese makers to milk and potato processors to truck drivers all over our state. “All of this would not be done without the help of hundreds of volunteers who placed each and every box individually in cars, trucks, campers, 4 wheelers, side by sides, police cruisers, vans, and who knows what else. The Good Shepherd Food Bank and Catholic Charities were major partners. Other nonprofits around the state stepped out of their comfort zones and took on the biggest challenge they could imagine, a full tractor trailer load of food boxes. Together we provided thousands of Maine families with wholesome, Mainegrown foods.”

Food box delivery team in Houlton, ME

Where You Can Seek Help: • Call 211 in Maine • Text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 • Visit mainerstogether.com • Visit www.mainesnap-ed.org/community-resources • Visit home.genyouthnow.org — GenYouth school meal site locator • List of food pantries: www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/tefap/bytown.shtml

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

How You Can Help

• Pledge your victory garden vegetable abundance or donate to local gleaning networks. FMI: www.mainegleaningnetwork.org/cmgg

• Find a safe way to volunteer: Contact your local food pantry, civic group, religious organization, or municipal office about ways to help.

• Call ahead: What is most useful to a local program? All parts of Maine have a need, but it’s good to learn how, what, and where you can best help address immediate needs.

• Support hunger prevention and food access year-round: Food is a daily need. There are different types of need. Contact a food pantry to learn more about helping: www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/tefap/bytown.shtml.

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Buckfield Farm Wins 'Green Pastures' Outstanding Dairy Award The Lowell Family Farm of Buckfield, Maine won the Dairy Farm of the Year and Green Pastures award for 2020. The Lowell family has a rich history in Buckfield, but has only been shipping milk since 2007. The farm started in a rented facility before moving to the farm on North Hill in 2010. Working out of a composted bedded pack barn that was converted from a riding arena, Dana and Seri, their two children Maren and Wheeler, along with long time employee Josh Fournier, created a farm business focused on cow comfort, quality milk, and exceptional quality forages. Milking 50 Jersey cows, many from a herd originally owned by Peter Young, the Lowell’s ship their quality milk to the Agrimark Cooperative, with an average somatic cell count of 120,000. This count is a marker of cleanliness and milk quality, important for desirable milk flavor and shelf life, and to craft quality butter, cheese and yogurt. The family harvests hay and haylage

from about 200 acres, much of which was land they leased and improved over time. Additionally, they grow 83 acres of no-till corn, and utilize cover crops to improve soil health and protect the fields from nutrient losses. The Lowells were one of the first dairy farms to construct a bedded pack barn in Maine. “The facility that they constructed and manage provides exceptional cow comfort,” says Rick Kersbergen from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Forage quality on the farm is truly exceptional, with haylage analysis that provides energy levels that match corn silage samples. Using multiple mowers and wide swath techniques, the farm can harvest forages quickly, providing top quality feed for their cows and young stock. “The Lowells focus on cutting their grass crops every 30 days for optimum quality,” says Michele Bennett from Goldstar Feeds. “They focus on feeding the best quality forages possible.”

About New England Green Pastures

LEFT TO RIGHT: WHEELER LOWELL, DANA LOWELL, SERI LOWELL, MAREN LOWELL, AND JOSH FOURNIER (LONGTIME EMPLOYEE). PHOTO CREDIT: WHEELER LOWELL

Dana and Seri credit a lot of their success to their children, Maren and Wheeler, who were both home schooled. They help with chores and are a key part of the forage harvest crew. Maren recently graduated from UMaine Farmington; Wheeler is working towards a degree in Biology, also from UMaine Farmington. The Lowell family is also quick to recognize Josh Fournier as a critical part of the operation from the beginning.

Business Skills Course Coaches Farmers Ask a farmer about their daily tasks, and the response begins to sound like a hybrid of jobs: animal caretaker, nutritionist, plant biologist, chemist, data analyst, custodian, marketer, HR manager, bookkeeper, general

Did You Know:

• More than 99% of Maine’s farms are family owned and run • Small businesses employ nearly half of the U.S. workforce; in Maine, it’s nearly 60% • Maine’s self-employed small businesses account for at least 8% in all counties

contractor, mechanic, delivery driver and customer service representative. For these family businesses that happen to provide food, fiber, flowers, and even fun for their community, the list might not end there. From managing income and expenses, to effective communication, team work, goal-setting, and risk management planning, small businesses put many skills to use. Building and enhancing these skills can be challenging when operating farm businesses. This winter, with sponsorship by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, an exciting pro-

gram continues online to help farmers enhance their business skill-set, and think big about their business, while focusing on important details. Like many businesses, farms require a variety of skills to keep the business prosperous. Keeping the business prosperous is important because these businesses are at the heart of working landscapes—places Mainers and visitors see year-round, and can appreciate for the abundance they offer in a variety of farm products from local businesses. Farms with at least two years of business experience are welcome to register for this course.

Learn more about the FarmSmart business planning class by visiting: www.farmsmartmaine.com.

The award is given annually to one exemplary, economically sound, and efficiently managed dairy operation in each of the region’s six states. Nominees are evaluated on a number of criteria, including their production records; herd, pasture and crop management; environmental practices; contributions to agriculture and the local community; and overall excellence in farm management. Staff and experts from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and industry peers and service providers support the annual nomination and selection. For info about University of Maine Cooperative Extension Agriculture Support, visit extension.umaine.edu/ agriculture. Learn about Maine dairying by visiting www.drinkmainemilk.org.

What farmers have said about the FarmSmart business planning course: "This [FarmSmart Business Planning] course was a good use of time. It helped me to think about my business in ways I hadn’t before. It introduced me to tools that are essential for the growth of my farm business. It helped me to realize what aspects of my business are working and which are not. Also helped me to assess value for my time and energy which I hadn’t done before. Highly recommend this course to all farmers new and old."

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Supporting Maine Farms Many farms have different ways to shop and visit this fall. They may have limited space for gatherings, and want to take extra safety precautions so they and their staff stay healthy to grow great food and quality farm products. Here are suggestions for you how you can support participating farmers—and still increase your awareness about Maine agriculture!

• Call ahead—learn if there are changes to hours, events, activities, and layouts before you visit. • Explore different ways to support: does the farm offer curbside pickup and pre-ordering at their farm stand or website? Sample packs to go? Subscription and delivery services? • Follow the farm on social media, and subscribe to their newsletters! This gives you a year-round connection. You can learn what’s happening season-to-season.

Find farms at ww.GETREALMAINE.com

Apples! The quintessential fall experience is waiting just down the road at your local

apple orchard. Enjoy the foliage on your drive to one of our amazing member orchards, then pick your fill of the best apples anywhere. Sweet or tart, large or small, red, yellow or green... We grow them all! Enjoy the fresh Maine air and dream of that pie you’ll bake or the sauce you’ll enjoy all winter (yes, you can freeze applesauce!) Did you know there are over 100 varieties of apples commonly grown in Maine? There are many additional varieties that can be found at specific orchards around the State. McIntosh and Honeycrisp are two of the most popular, but try keep a running list of the ones you try, along with tasting notes. It’s a great way to find your new favorite apple! Go to www.maineapples.org for a list of member orchards and visit soon! The apple season in Maine runs from August through October. Most commercial orchards in the State are members of the Maine State Pomological Society, incorporated in March of 1837 for the promotion of fruit culture, and the oldest continually running agricultural organization in the state. The Society is the primary advocate for tree fruit production in Maine, working closely with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.

Green Salad With Apples

Courtesy of Mcdougal’s Orchards

Ingredients:

¼ cup (apple cider) vinegar 3 Tbsp finely minced shallot or onion 2 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp honey ½ cup olive or canola oil 12 cups salad greens (lettuces of various types plus other salad greens) 1 crisp, red-skinned apple, quartered, cored, thinly sliced.

Combine vinegar, shallot or onion, mustard & honey in a small bowl. Add oil and whisk until well blended. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt & pepper. Combine greens and apple in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat.

Pick Local at these Maine Orchards Apple Acres Farm

Fair Farm

363 Durgintown Road, Hiram 207-625-4777

423 August Road, Jefferson 207-549-4793

Bailey's Orchard

Dole's Orchard

255 North Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield 207-549-7680

187 Doles Ridge Rd., Limington 207-793-4409

Berry Fruit Farm

Elwell Farms

361 Crash Road, Livermore 207-897-4767

50 Elwell Road, Monroe 207-525-3130

Boothby's Orchard

Five Fields Farm

366 Boothby Road, Livermore 207-754-3500

720 South Bridgton Road, Bridgton 207-647-2425

Brackett's Orchard

Gathering Winds Farm

224 Sokokis Avenue, Limington 207-637-2377

Poland Corner Road, Poland 207-650-6974

Cayford Orchard

Giles Family Farm

99 Hilton Hill Road, Skowhegan 207-474-5200

149 Shaker Hill Road, Alfred 207-324-2944

Chick's Apple & Berry Farm

Greenwood Orchards

571 Main Street, Monmouth 207-441-6250

174 Auburn Road, Turner 207-225-3764

Cooper Farms

Hansel's Orchard

27 Bethel Road, West Paris 207-674-2200

44 Sweetser Road, North Yarmouth 207-829-6136

Continued on page 8...

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE â&#x20AC;˘ Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section â&#x20AC;˘ September 18, 2020

All About Apples The golden hues of waning summertime illuminate leaves and stout but sturdy branches with apples ready to pick. Shoppers enjoy the snappy crisp bite of a Maine apple, the refreshing sip of cider, and other delicious apple products. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apple season in Maine. You can find Maine apples and apple products at orchards, which offer pre-picked or upick options, markets, farmstands, cooperatives, independent grocers and supermarkets. Be sure to call orchards ahead of visiting for special instructions about hours of operation, online ordering, u-pick specifics, and parking.

Continued from page 7...

Hardy Farms 106 Church Street, Hope 207-763-3262

Harris Orchard Wiswell Road, Brewer 207-989-3435

As you seek your Maine apples this fall, we hope you enjoy this bit of history and insight about this popular fruit: Growing orchards of a similar variety is about more than planting a seed and tending to a tree that will grow one apple variety. An apple core of one fruit stores five seeds. The seeds found in an apple core donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grow fruit that has a lot of similarities. They are unique to their parentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they are not a copy or duplicateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and are mostly genetically dissimilar, which produces a random result if planted by seed.

To cultivate different varieties with more similarities, orchardists can take a twig and graft, or splice, it onto the rootstock. The technique of grafting may be as old as the domestication of wild fruit. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a process that allows farmers to more predictably reproduce a variety they hope to grow in an orchard. The result is more abundance and a consistent harvest. The apples enjoyed in Maine and elsewhere do have some genetic similarity to wild varieties that were likely domesticated 4,000 years agoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if not more. They originate in the mountains and foothills of Central Asia. Bushes and taller trees grew wild from seeds that were dispersed by global travelersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;explorers and traders.

Today, about 30 to 40 varieties are grown in commercial quantities, with many more planted in smaller amounts. New Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading apples are McIntosh, which accounts for about two-thirds of the crop; Cortland; Macoun; Empire; Gala; and Honeycrisp. New England produces between 3.5 million and 4 million 42-pound boxes of fresh apples every year. The harvest season is typically between June and October. The efforts to support the harvest begin in late fall and continue as farmers and orchardists check the trees, watch the blossoms for any late spring frost, and market their crops.

Hazel Hill Orchard

Hope Orchards

Kents Hill Orchard

Libby and Son U-Picks

59 South Livermore Road, Turner 207-500-3886

434 Camden Road, Hope 207-763-2824

1625 Main Street, Kents Hill 207-713-3055

86 Sawyer Mountain Road, Limerick 207-793-4749

Hillcrest Orchards

Kelly Orchards

Lemieux's Orchard

Maine-ly Apples

560 Main Road, South Winterport 207-223-4416

82 Sanborn Road, Acton 207-636-1601

210 Priest Hill Road, Vassalboro 207-873-4354

372 Moosehead Trail, Dixmont 207-234-2043

Continued on page 10...

Doles Orchard Pick-Your-Own Apples & Rasberries

Join us for weekends for free hayrides, fresh baked pies, the infamous pumpkin whoopies and lots more family fun!

Jams & Jellies Crafts Strawmaze Fruit Pies Apple Cider Pumpkins

The Harvest Concert Series Free live music 1-4pm please check our website for an updated schedule

OPEN DAILY 10-5

Centrally located in Southern Maine!

Call 207-793-4409 for directions and more info or visit www.dolesorchard.com

461 Webb Rd â&#x20AC;˘ Pittsfield, ME

www.balfourfarmdairy.com 207-213-3159 balfourfarm@gmail.com 207-707-2847 thelittlecheeseshopmaine@gmail.com Sunday-Wed: closed;

Thurs- Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE â&#x20AC;˘ Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section â&#x20AC;˘ September 18, 2020

Plan Now for Maine Maple Producers Weekend Mark your calendar for October 9-11 to celebrate all things maple The Maine Maple Producers Association is excited to announce plans for Maine Maple Producers Weekend in October, following safety guidelines from the CDC and local government officials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no doubt, the pandemic has hit our producers really hard,â&#x20AC;? said Scott Dunn, president of the MMPA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the weekend of activities might look and feel a little different, we are confident we can provide the opportunity for people to safely celebrate pure Maine maple and support local producers.â&#x20AC;? Information about producers participating in Maine Maple Producers Weekend can be found at mainemapleproducers.com.

Join the pure Maine maple online recipe contest! â&#x20AC;˘ Share your best recipes using pure Maine maple products in three categories: beverage, main dish and dessert. The association will vote to determine the top three recipes in each category. The contest rules are available at mainemapleproducers.com. â&#x20AC;˘ Celebrity judges will taste the recipes and announce the winner on Oct. 9 at the Cumberland Fair sugar house.

FARM & ORCHARD

PICK YOUR OWN APPLES!

Weekends 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm in September & Early October

â&#x20AC;˘ The winners will receive a trophy and gift basket from the Maine Maple Producers Association. Contest entries must be received by Sept. 20, 2020 at 12 p.m.

Buy Maine Maple Online and at Farmstands Do you know: â&#x20AC;˘ You can buy Maine maple products online? â&#x20AC;˘ You can shop at new pick-up locations for your favorite maple products? â&#x20AC;˘ With the new purchasing options, producers have set a goal to sell more than 10,000 gallons of maple syrup products during the North American Maple Tour from Oct. 9-18. The MMPA represents more than 240 members that are licensed maple producers. Producers range from small artisan producers to bulk syrup providers who serve major grocery store chains, foodservice distributors and retailers.

Mullis Orchards CORINNA, MAINE

FARM FAMILY SERVING CENTRAL MAINE WITH FRESHLY PICKED APPLES

Fresh Cider Farm Fresh Veggies

-270 Dexter Road, Corinna -128 Shaker Road, Corinna QUIET COUNTRY SETTING Call 207-278-3704 for updates or find us on Facebook

STAND PYO

Come visit us at: 315 Poland Corner Rd. â&#x20AC;˘ Poland, ME FARMSTAND OPEN DAILY: 10am-6pm (through Dec.31)

OFFERING:

Â Â?Â Â?Â Â?Â? Â?Â Â Â Â? Â Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201A; Â&#x20AC; O P E N M O N â&#x20AC;&#x201C; S A T â&#x20AC;˘ S U N G L O U C E S T E R H I L L R D . , N E W G L O U C E S T E R |

Â Â? Â? Â?

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Continued from page 8...

North Star Orchards

Ricker Hill Orchards

Snell Family Farm

The Orchard at Chase Farms

McDougal Orchards

97 Orchard Road, Madison 207-696-5109

295 Buckfield Road, Turner 207-225-5552

1000 River Road, Buxton 207-929-6166

1396 North Berwick Rd, Wells 207-251-5700

201 Hanson Ridge Road, Springvale 207-324-5054

O'Connor's Orchard

Robinson's Orchard

Spiller Farm

Thompson's Orchard

709 Holley Rd, Farmington

516 Lincoln Road, Enfield 207-732-4346

85 Spiller Farm Lane, Wells 207-985-2575

276 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester • 207-926-4738

Rocky Ridge Orchard

Stukas Orchard

Treworgy Orchards

38 Rocky Ridge Lane, Bowdoin 207-666-3658

144 Ferry Road, Lewiston 207-786-2639

3876 Union Street, Levant 207-884-8354

Rollins Orchard

Sullivan Orchard

262 Dexter Rd, Garland 207-924-3504

356 Puddledock Pond, Charleston 207-285-3572

Vista of Maine Vineyard and Cidery

McElwain's Strawberry Farm 711 Sweden Street, Caribou 207-498-8276

Morrison Hill Orchard 272 Morrison Hill Road, Farmington 207-778-4945

MSAD1 340 State Street, Presque Isle 207-764-7725

Mullis Orchards 270 Dexter Rd, Corinna 207-278-3704

North Chester Orchard 460 North Chester Road, Chester 207-794-3547

Orchard Ridge Farm 236 Sebago Lake Road, Gorham 207-239-0442

Peaked Hill Rt 2 – 80 Gilead Rd, Gilead 207-836-2113

Pietree Orchard 803 Waterford Road, Sweden 207-647-9419

Rowe Orchards

Route 7, Moosehead Trail, Newport 207-368-4777

Pleasant Pond Orchard

Sandy River Apple Orchard

430 Brunswick Road, Richmond 207-737-4443

240 West Sandy River Rd, Mercer 207-587-2563

Randall Orchards

School House Farm

1 Randall Road, Standish 207-642-3500

1171 Atlantic Hwy, Warren 207-699-8723

Sweetser’s Orchard 19 Blanchard Road, Cumberland 207-829-6599

The Apple Farm 104 Back Road, Fairfield 207-453-7656

146 N. Hills Ridge, Greene 207-754-3855

Wallingford's Orchard 1240 Perkins Ridge Road, Auburn 207-784-7958

Willow Pond Farm 395 Middle Road, Sabattus 207-375-6662

From Cut Flowers to Christmas Trees, Natural and Maine-Grown Are Part of Maine’s Agricultural Variety Have you appreciated a closer connection to Maine food producers, growers and local businesses this year? There are many valuable parts of Maine agriculture, and a familiar one is the nursery and garden sector. These businesses

grow everything from vegetable seedings, to perennial nursery stock for home gardens. This includes familiar favorites: an abundance of fresh cut flowers or dried arrangements, and hearty and real trees tended to by Maine’s Christmas tree farms. Maine’s flower and tree farms have ways for you to connect year-round, and plan ahead as the fall season approaches. Explore these Maine businesses who offer expertise, a local option for decorations, and a chance to get outside while you shop!

The business of flower-growing is busy: in Maine, many growers offer fresh-cut from spring through fall. They plan carefully for the season, and use greenhouses to help manage their crops. Look for subscription and delivery options! There are year-round chances to enjoy a thoughtfully designed bouquet. Dried arrangements, wreaths and even some living arrangements are available too.

Find a Maine florist and flower grower

Find a Christmas-tree farm near you

Looking for ‘Grown Not Flown’ options for a local bouquet? Maine’s florist and flower growers offer a variety of options for DIY, such as cut flowers at flower farms. Flower farms offer an abundance of variety—they may harvest from annuals, which grow for one season, or perennials plants, which typically offer multiple seasons of blooms and greenery.

Maine Christmas Tree Association members offer choose and cut, wreaths, and retail options. They are experts who offer tips for shoppers seeking real trees with that memorable Maine scent! Some farms offer pre-tagging! You can choose your tree in early fall in anticipation of another outdoor adventure as winter arrives.

mainestatefloristsandgrowers.com

Christmas trees and maples are both are important crops in Maine.

COURTESY OF MAINE CHRISTMAS

www.mainechristmastree.com

TREE ASSOCIATION

Christmas trees take 4 to 10 years to mature. During that time, the farmer works to tend the tree farm, paying attention to tree and business needs. Trees are shaped by expert farmers through annual pruning. By pruning upward growing branches, the grower can help achieve a full bushy appearance shoppers seek. Real Christmas trees grown in soil can be recycled—they’re naturally biodegradable. And real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen.

HARVEST TIME IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 18, 2020

Enjoy Local Cheese

and Support Maine Creameries

Local Goods Gathered launched in summer 2020, offering subscription options of Maine cheese. Said one recipient, “This was a sweet summer surprise! I received it as a gift, delivered right to my doorstep. The cheeses are delicious…looking forward to the next delivery!” If you’re looking for other subscription options and ways to support creameries, a unique subscription, The Victory Cheese Project, serves as a fundraiser for the Maine Cheese Guild, and delivers Maine cheese. Both subscriptions are available at www.localgoodsgathered.com. Looking to find a creamery? Go to www.EATMAINECHEESE.com for a directory of cheesemakers.

How to Celebrate Open Creamery Day 2020 Virtually: Safely, online, with virtual tours, and tastings with the cheese maker! Order the Open Creamery Day tasting kit from LocalGoodsGathered.com featuring cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy, Silvery Moon Creamery, and Kennebec Cheesery, as well as a link for a virtual tour and tastings with the cheese maker!

In-Person: Safely, with face masks, physical-distancing, outdoors, and by calling ahead! On Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, the Maine Cheese Guild presents its annual Open Creamery Day. You are invited to responsibly explore Maine creameries and farms while taking in the spectacular sights of the Maine fall foliage along the way. Each creamery will offer a unique experience. Following CDC guidelines for interacting with farms and food and gatherings, you can see the animals that make the milk, and learn about the tradition of Maine cheesemaking, and discover and shop for new Maine cheeses along the way. Go to www.mainecheeseguild.org to find participating creameries and protocols.

Say "Cheers" with a Maine Wine _______ A Wild Fern Winery

_______ Cellardoor Winery or Cellardoor at the Point

Ways Maine wineries connect with customers:

_______ Dragonfly Farm & Winery ery, have them • Curbside and pre-order at on-site locations, such as vineyards and wineries more or ix _______ eighteen twenty wines • Grab and go pre-selected tasting flights help shoppers explore different combinations. t and receive _______ Fat Friar’s Meadery e-shirt and• aIndependent retailers, and select specialty markets, grocers and shops. _______ Heart of Maine Winery ize! • Looking for something that you can enjoy from home? Ask wineries and shops if they _______ Hidden Spring Winery

offer cases and wine clubs. This gives you a chance to sample or gift different options! package from Room _______ Maine Mead Works or The Mead ckport. or HoneyMaker Mead Room

Keep Exploring: _______ Oyster River Winegrowers rt, please mail 152 Fairfield The Maine Winery invites Cider you to travel along the Wine Trail. Maine wineries proPortersfield _______ Guild 3 rd duce grape and fruit wines, spirits, meads, ciders and fortified wines. You can Winery and Vineya ct Hill distilled _______ Prospe

s are Downloaded passport pick up

be held on December 31.

or a passport your orry download a copy at www.mainewinetrail.com. Cidery/Wine Farms winery Hilllocal Ricker _______at Wallingfords Fruit House, or Vista of Maine Vineyard/Cidery

q Women’sLooking to learn more about wine? Vineyard and Winery

, or

_______ Savage Oakes

y Maine’s wine-makers are a place to start. &The Maine Wine Guild continues to expand, and Winer q 2XL _______ Shalom Organic Orchard Farm

many members have achieved multiple award-winning milestones. Look, smell, sip and _______ Solar Rock Winery taste to learn as you go, and appreciate Distill a local ery, craft beverage. _______ Sweetgrass Farm Winery & or Old Port Tasting Room and Shop or Kennebunk Tasting Room and Shop

A taste of place: ery _______ Tree Spirits Winery & Distill

_______ A Wild Fern Winery