Local food council to meet, focus on Foothills Food Festival

NORWAY – Community Food Matters, a member of the Maine Network of Community Food Councils, will be hosting its quarterly meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy, 447 Main Street. The focus of this meeting will be the second annual Foothills Food Festival, slated for Saturday, Aug. 12, in downtown Norway. It was estimated that nearly 1,000 people attended the 2016 event that featured local food vendors, a farmers’ market, live music, educational booths and events, activities for kids, and a beer garden featuring local brewers around the state.

Organizers are building on the momentum created last year with ideas to expand the educational scope of this year’s festival and include more farmers and vendors. “While we had some great talks, workshops and educational organizations involved last year, we hope to integrate more information about how and why to build a robust local food system,” said Ken Morse of Community Food Matters. “This is primarily a wonderful celebration of local food,” he added, “but we’d love for folks to come away with a better understanding of the current food system and why it makes so much sense to support a robust local agriculture.”

One part of the Festival that organizers would like to expand on is the farmers’ market. “Last year we had just a few farmers attend the Festival, but they did incredibly well,” said Carl Costanzi, the region’s 5210 Let’s Go! Coordinator. “Pietree Orchard told us it was their best farmers’ market day all season. For Mid Ridge Farm in Otisfield, it was their first farmers’ market. They loved the experience of interacting with all the customers and are looking forward this year’s festival. We hope to attract more area farmers this time around and also promote the Norway Farmers’ Market at Old Squires, as well as other regional markets to really showcase what is being grown here,” he continued.

The Festival organizers encourage all community members from various sectors to join in planning and creating the 2nd Foothills Food Festival. All are invited to share ideas and participate in one or more working groups. Working groups include: Marketing, Fundraising, Farmers’ Market, Food Vendors, Beer Garden, Education, Music & Entertainment, Children’s Activities, Logistics, and Volunteers.

“It took a great deal of energy from a lot of volunteers to make the inaugural event such a success last year,” said Scott Vlaun, a Festival organizer, “and even though we’ve laid some groundwork, there will be plenty of opportunities for everyone to help make year two even better and continue to define the area as a local foods haven.”

A light meal will be served at Friday’s planning event. All are welcome. Admission is free. For more information, call 207-739-2101 or email info@ecologybasedeconomy.org.

Photo caption: The Youngerbloods playing to a dancing crowd of Foothills Food Festival attendees in Longley Square in Norway on August 13th 2016.