Farmers’ Market: Downtown
Restoration, renovation, rejuvenation, revitalization … whatever you want to call the efforts on the part of the City Council and others to rebuild and reinvigorate downtown Presque Isle, those efforts are pure gravy for those of us who live in or visit the Star City on a regular basis. The plans include near-term, mid-term, and far-term changes to both structure and use, as well as specific activities to entice patrons to the downtown area. Chances are, if you go, you will find a reason to return.
One activity scheduled for Sundays in July and early August (7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 8/7) is the third year of the “Music In The Park” concert series, a sort of “musical talent meets street carnival” affair that has brought families to Riverside Park to picnic in the grass, walk along the river, and sway (if not dance) to music from a variety of local musicians. It is an event that has grown in scale and scope every year since its inception, and this year has gotten some of the members of the Presque Isle Farmers Market pretty darned pleased and excited as well. We have gotten an invitation from the city to participate!
Historically, outdoor Market members in the Aroostook Centre Mall parking lot have been careful not to bring items that might take business from indoor Mall venders who provide “hand food.” (For clarification, “hand food” is something you could safely consume as you multitask — a PB and J chased by coffee in an adult-sized sippy cup qualifies; an overgrown burrito that leaves you with a lap full of veggies when you get to the last bite does not.) These items are popular with mall walkers and shoppers who munch as they examine the contents of store windows or mall sitters in the food court who nosh as they examine the walkers and shoppers. To avoid nose-to-nose competition with our Mall hosts, members avoid bringing to the PI Farmers Market on Saturday mornings “hand food” that we sell on farm or through other venues.
But (and this is a big one), on a different day in a different location, we can go for it! Visitors to Riverside Park on summer Sundays should follow their noses across the road near the courthouse to a Sunday Market offering freshly churned ice cream from Goughan’s Berry Farm in waffle cones “griddled” on site and a broad selection of dairy items including yogurt, cheese and fresh milk in hand-sized packages from O’Meara Family Farms. There should be other good and good-for-you products to eat in the park or carry home for supper as well; as summer unfolds, Farmers Market venders may bring “freshies” in season, honey products, maybe even a gourmet treat for the family dog!
Our “home” is and will remain the parking lot at the Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday mornings where we will continue to provide fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, eggs, meat, and baked goods, but we look forward to the opportunity to “strut our stuff” on Sundays in Riverside Park as well. We will be swaying in time to the music right along with you; cross the road (carefully!) and say “hello.”
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/
