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Media Advisory: Commissioner Whitcomb to highlight
growth of Maine Farmers Markets
The Commissioner will visit the Viles
Arboretum Farmers Market Friday
AUGUSTA — Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner
Walt Whitcomb will signal the arrival of the spring famers market season with a
visit to the Viles Arboretum Farmers Market in Augusta on Friday.
According
to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 8,144 farmers markets
are now listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory, up from 5,000 in
2008. The same trend is at work in Maine, where the number of farmers markets
has also increased.
WHERE: Viles
Arboretum Farmers Market
153 Hospital Street
Augusta,
ME
WHEN: Friday, May 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Maine’s DACF promotes growth and sustainability of farmers markets:
There are
currently over 125 farmers markets in Maine. The number in 2012 was approximately
100, up from 63 recorded markets in 2007. The Maine Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry (DACF) supports and promotes the growth of farmers
markets as a means of connecting local consumers and Maine food and farm
products. In 2000, the Agricultural Resource Division initiated the popular
“Get Real, Get Maine” promotional campaign to encourage consumers and wholesale
buyers to purchase Maine food and farm products. That website, www.getrealmaine.com features a searchable database of farms and a listing of farmers
markets.
For
more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Forestry, go to: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/
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