A trio of local developers have planted the seed for a new farmers market in Waldoboro and, under the care of a new steering committee, hope it will bear fruit later this year.
Josh Howell, who owns Cider Hill Farm on Old Route 1 with his wife, Vero, and business partner Jeff Hurd, said they bought the farm several years ago to host outdoor events and be a “community revitalization point.”
“We kind of think that Waldoboro is a town that kind of lacks a brand, and that food, especially local food, could be a big part of that,” he said.
The three partners saw the potential for hosting a farmers market on the property even then, but Howell said the plan is for the farm to simply host the market, not run it.
“We don’t plan on running ourselves, we just see ourselves incubating it,” he said.
As a result an organizational meeting held Jan. 18, a Wednesday afternoon market is being considered to avoid competing for customers and vendors with other markets in the area, according to the meeting minutes.
Howell indicated the season will likely be June through September.
A seven-member steering committee was formed at the meeting to help get the market up and running, and will help nail down the weekly day and time for the actual event along with other details such as crafting bylaws, developing an application for potential vendors, seeking funding, and promoting the market, according to the minutes.
Howell said the market will provide a place for consumers to access fresh local produce and the the farmers to access their consumers too, but said the vision for the market goes beyond just fruits and vegetables.
“I think a lot of people see it not just as a market but as a gathering place for our community,” he said.
At the meeting, those in attendance talked about a lot of different ideas for other activities at the market, such as having live music, or running an educational children’s garden.
Howell said Cider Hill Farm likely will not be charging any rent for hosting the market.
“We have a broad mission, but part of our effort from the beginning was to preserve green space in the center of Waldoboro and to make that green space available so people could enjoy that area,” he said.
The partners had originally envisioned a restaurant on the 25-acre farm, but Howell said the future of that idea is not certain. Still, they may eventually run concessions at the market, and sell vegetables from the one-half acre vegetable plot they have at the farm.
Howell said they may also host farm-to-table dinners at Cider Hill, possibly using food supplied from their garden and the farmers market so people can enjoy a dinner sourced from the area.
“That’s the kind of event that we’d like to promote on our own,” he said.
For more information or to give input on the new farmers market, email Cider Hill Farm at ciderhillfarmevents@gmail.com.
