AUGUSTA, Maine — Over 80 Maine farms, including one in Caribou and one in Woodland, will be open to the public on Sunday, July 23, for the 28th annual Open Farm Day.
Open Farm Day is an opportunity for consumers to learn about Maine food producers and for farms to show the public their products.
In Woodland, Maple Ridge Farm owners Philip and Jacqueline Doak will be open Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 128-acre farm, located at 291 Margison Rd., has a view of the Swedish Colony countryside and is home to sheep, pigs and chickens. The new farm store features products produced on site — lamb, pork, jams, jellies and pickles — along with a local photographer’s work and chemical-free hay.
McElwain’s Strawberry Farm, owned by Frank and Joan McElwain at 693 Sweden St. in Caribou, will host activities July 23 from 12 to 4 p.m. The farm grows and sells pre-picked and you-pick strawberries, along with a variety of other seasonal fruits and vegetables including apples, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet corn. Open Farm Day activities will include self-guided walking tours, hayrides, a talk on growing strawberries, and strawberries and ice cream.
Open Farm Day is an annual family event that connects consumers with the men and women who help produce their food. Farms throughout Maine will open their gates to offer the public an opportunity to learn about the business of agriculture.
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb urged families to visit local farms on Open Farm Day.
“Maine farm families have a history of agricultural productivity and provide a rich diversity of agricultural crops not seen on a commercial scale in the rest of New England,” said Whitcomb. “Our state is notable for the number of farms, new farmers, artisanal cheesemakers and its support for farmers markets and agricultural fairs.”
For further information, contact Maple Ridge Farm at 227-6173, or McElwain’s Strawberry Farm at 498-8276 or mcelwainstrawberryfarm.com.
