The Kennebec Explorer 2014 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 15

Farmers ’ Markets Bright colorful signs advertise the freshest corn you’ve ever had, an apple that bites back, brilliantly hued pumpkins of a thousand shapes and sizes. This is the story of roadside agriculture and farmers’ markets in Maine. The list below shows you’d be hard-pressed to miss a farmers’ market across our region. Each has its own flair and appeal. All offer the finest and the freshest from hardworking farmers throughout Maine’s Kennebec Valley. When you are out on the road, keep your eyes peeled — you may just come across a pile of heirloom tomatoes stacked high and priced to sell on the honor system. Or perhaps you might stop in and meet the hens that just hatched tomorrow’s omelette. Augusta Farmers’ Market Pittsfield Farmers’ Market Mid-May to Mid-October May to Halloween Farmers’ Market at Mill Park (Augusta) Skowhegan Farmers’ Market Mid-May to Mid-November Mid-May to Halloween Viles Arboretum Farmers’ Market Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market May to November Belgrade Lakes Farmers’ Market May to Mid-November Mid-May to Mid-October Town of Wayne Farmers’ Market Canaan Farmers’ Market June to Halloween May to October Winthrop Farmers’ Market East Vassalboro Farmers’ Market May to October Gardiner Summer Farmers’ Market May to October Gardiner Winter Farmers’ Market May to October Thanks to the Get Real, Get Maine website — GetRealMaine.com — for the content in this listing. We encourage you to check there or call ahead for specific dates and times. November to April To learn more about Farmers’ Markets, visit KennebecValley.org. There is only one other gathering like the Kneading Conference — held annually in Skowhegan — in the U.S., and that is held in what is arguably the West Coast food capital, San Francisco. With exclusive company like that, there must be something really special happening here. This tasty conference, driven by the locavore movement (eating locally produced and grown foods) brings together some of the world’s most talented professional and novice bakers, farmers and millers. They participate in a collection of lectures and demonstrations centered on the art of (and new ideas) surrounding making and baking bread in wood-fired ovens. They even bring in the guys who design and make the equipment. July 24–26 Skowhegan Fairgrounds 13 13