County Co-Op ‘Taste of Winter’ successful event

11 years ago

HOULTON, Maine — An estimated 200 people braved the cold Saturday evening to attend the County Co-Op Taste of Winter food-tasting event.
Featuring a smorgasbord of menu items crafted from locally grown produce, meats, vegetables and dairy products, the evening was designed to introduce members of the community to some of the many local producers in the area.

“We, as a board, really feel that A Taste of Winter was a huge success,” Scott said.  “We haven’t figured all the numbers up, but we do know that the Co-Op made a good profit from this event. We got 10 new Co-Op members that night, with quite a few signing the pledge form and many more asking to take member applications home with them.”
The event was a hit with people of all ages attending.
“Many people have come to us, called us, or emailed us telling us that they see this local food movement as new hope for our town,” Scott said. “Some older people at the event were so happy they were tearful, stating that they couldn’t believe how many young people were involved and it touched their hearts to see so many people in Market Square.    “I personally think it’s important to note that in addition to boosting local producers and keeping resources within the community while educating the population about healthy and local eating, the Co-Op movement also celebrates and enhances the unique culture of the area,” she added. “This includes local artisans, musicians, artists, performers, etc. We will be featuring many different local talents at our upcoming events too.
Wyatt Jenkins and Zach Waite provided musical entertainment for the evening.
The County Co-Op and Farm Store was founded in July of 2013 after researching several other similar groups around the state. A consumer-based group, the County Co-Op is a member-owned and controlled retail outlet featuring mostly locally sourced foods, goods and products.
The Co-Op plans to open a storefront for its producers at 53 Main St. by fall 2014. For more information, contact Scott at megscott@live.com or 592-1476.