A sign greets shoppers to the Spring Market Festival at Micmac Farms in Caribou on April 6. (John O’Meara photo)
Hundreds of people turned out for a Spring Market Festival at Micmac Farms in Caribou on Saturday April 6. Deena Albert Parks of Chops Ahoy Farm in Woodland noted that for all five markets held at the location since fall, it has snowed.
“It has snowed every time,” said Parks, adding that people have come despite the inclement weather.
“There are lots of great vendors — lots of variety,” she said.
Parks, who serves as chairperson for the Presque Isle Farmer’s Market, said that the markets have been a collaboration between that organization, the City of Caribou, and Micmac Farms.
“It’s a group effort,” she said.
Joe Marley of Marley Mountain Poultry offers live chickens, ducks, quail, and rabbits, during the Spring Market Festival at Micmac Farms in Caribou on April 6. (John O’Meara photo)
Selling herb mixes and a variety of other products, Parks was happy with the April 6 market. “I’ve had a good day.”
Attendees of the market have also been pleased with the market, according to Fred Corey, who serves as national resource director for the Micmac Tribe.
“The public has expressed a lot of gratitude,” said Corey.
“Were promoting food sovereignty,” he said, emphasizing that Saturday’s event and ones like it allow consumers to have choices in the food they buy. Corey noted that although there might be some healthy competition between the various vendors selling products, the market events benefit everyone involved.
Musicians played throughout the day, including Jim Wright and New Sweden’s Steve Boody. Aroostook Beef Co. of New Canada offered local beef and Micmac Farms sold fish chowder among other products.
Deena Albert Parks of Chops Ahoy Farm in Woodland sells herb mixes and a variety of other products, during the Spring Market Festival at Micmac Farms in Caribou on April 6. (John O’Meara photo)
Corey pointed out that the building had originally been designed for such events.
“The building was designed to be an indoor market,” he said. On April 6, the building comfortably housed 20 vendors despite Aroostook County’s snowy spring weather. Corey also highlighted the fact that Micmac Farms stands at one of the most accessible, high volume locations in the area.
Brian Bickford, who has been making fudge for 35 years, said this market event was “better than usual.” He tended a booth with a wide variety of fudges, including butterfinger, cookies and cream, maple walnut, and peanut butter. According to Bickford, the spring market had more traffic than some of the other events, though they all were successful.
A sign alerts shoppers to the next market at Micmac Farms in Caribou on April 6. (John O’Meara photo)
In one corner of the hall, Joe Marley of Marley Mountain Poultry offered live chickens, ducks, quail, and rabbits. Stating that he had sold out of processed chickens at previous markets, Marley called the event a success. “We did really well.”
Nearby, Roxeanne Bruce, of shopsmallfarms.com agreed that the markets had all been a great place to sell products during the winter.
The next market at MicMac Farms will take place on May 25 and will include seedling and fruit trees.
