Farmers’ Market: Rethinking ‘piece of cake’
Last week’s article discussed the “Eat Local Challenge” that members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market offered to members of the community whom they serve-sign up, make a commitment to eat only food produced within 100 miles of your home one day each week, follow through for the next eight weeks, report your success, and become eligible for a chance to win generous food donations from Market members and Crown of Maine Organic Cooperative.
This sweet deal is so popular, we are holding it open (see our website) one more week for stragglers who did not register by July 16th.
Folks who accept the “Eat Local Challenge” can avail themselves of farmers’ markets in Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Houlton, Presque Isle (TAMC and ours), and from the Micmac tribe on Route 1. There are multiple farm stands up and down the roads, either manned or “on the honor system” with a lidded coffee can acting as the cash box next to the road. U-pick opportunities exist on both sides of the border these days. Local business enterprises with local foodstuffs include Bread of Life, Walmart, Shop ‘n Save, and the Presque Isle High School farm store.
One day a week as a localvore feels pretty doable, doesn’t it? “Piece of cake!” was our initial reaction to the Challenge. We harvest our lush green gardens and fields almost daily, watch cattle placidly munch pastures, smile at chickens determinedly scratching for bugs and worms, review hive management decisions based on gang-buster population buildup, and otherwise feel a little smug about our ability to feed our faces from our own back yards. “This challenge in the summertime is a piece of cake.” And it probably is, one day each week, when an eater can reasonably expect to enjoy fresh local meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, etc. — all washed down with a rich dark cup of coffee and chased by a luscious bite of dark chocolate cake. Oops.
Editor’s note: This weekly column is written by members of the Presque Isle Farmers’ Market. For more information or to join, contact their secretary/treasurer Steve Miller of Westmanland at 896-5860 or via e-mail at beetree@xpressamerica.net. The group’s website is https://sites.google.com/site/presqueislefarmersmarket/
