Eat Local: Washington County — Our USDA Local Food Promotion Program

Eat Downeast: Washington County

We’re grateful for the opportunity to implement and administer a Local Food Promotion Program here in Washington County, with support from the USDA.

Our program promotes food and food producers in Washington County through our Farm Store, by providing access to our cooperative commercial kitchen, and by supporting local food producers with marketing and business development. Learn more below!

Do you want to stay in the loop with our program? Sign up for our newsletter to hear about opportunities, invitations, projects, and more! They are infrequent (but information-rich!).

Take Our Survey!

Calling all Washington County growers, farmers, and food producers!

We have created a survey to solicit ideas and suggestions of what local growers and food producers are interested in, as far as promotion and support.

If you are a Washington County grower, farmer, or food producer, and you have not filled out this survey yet, we’d love you to take five minutes with a freshly caffeinated brain to share your ideas.

Note: There is no cost to participate in the program. Participation is opt-in, meaning we will not include you without your consent. You can indicate your participation preferences in the survey.

The Minke Commercial Kitchen

We have created a shared-use facility at The Minke Commercial Kitchen, located at 13 Little Falls Road in Pembroke.

Want to check out the Minke? Schedule an appointment to come by to check out what we’ve been up to! Your input and ideas are really important to us as we keep improving the space.

We are keen to collaborate!

Learn more about what’s available at The Minke on our Facilities page.

Please fill out the survey above, and be in touch anytime with your creative inspirations and ideas.

Smithereen Farm Store

Right next door to The Minke is the Smithereen Farm Store. This is where we stock our produce and value-added products, as well as products from local Maine producers. Thanks to the USDA grant, we’re able to expand our offerings and hours. Find the latest hours and product list here, on our Visit page.

Map

The first very practical product of this grant is the creation of a printed and digital map of farm stands and local food producers and venues of Washington County. We are building this list and sharing it with Edible Maine, Downeast Magazine, Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism, St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce, Sunrise County Economic Council, and others.

This map will be a modest little paper brochure—not too fancy!

Small Business Coaching

We have three small business advisors signed up to help those who are interested in some business coaching for your small business.

Intrigued? Reach out for more information, this service is FREE!

Marketing Materials

We are in the process of developing print and web marketing materials to spread the word about Washington County’s food producers. Here are a few examples of our work so far.

Pembroke Area Local Food Tri-Fold Brochure for Visitors (PDF)

Print ad for Edible Maine, Spring 2023 (PDF)

2024 Local Food Events

We’re lucky to have such a robust network of local food- and ag-centered events here in Washington County. Here are the ones we know about! Are we missing some? Let us know!

MARCH

March 22-24
Jonesboro Grange Easter Basket Festival

Friday March 22, 4-7pm
Saturday March 23, 9am-5pm
*Free easter egg hunt 1pm
Sunday March 24, 10am-2pm

Jonesboro Grange (Festival)
Jonesboro Elementary School (Egg Hunt, 1pm Sat): 57 School St. Jonesboro ME

March 22-24
Maine Maple Sunday

Locally: Church’s Sugar Shack in Columbia Falls

Find complete directory of state-wide participants here.

Tuesday March 26
Public Meeting: Rebuilding the Washington County Community Food Council

Hosted by the Washington County Community Food Council, HealthyAcadia.org.

2:30-4pm

On Zoom (meeting link here) and in-person at UMaine Machias, Torrey Hall 232

Agenda link here