Meet your farmers - buy a share of the local harvest

NORWAY — This year's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Norway is looking for farmers, producers, restaurant owners and summer camp owners. The Oxford Hills is home to a growing number of small farms and locally owned businesses, including restaurants and summer camps. The Fair's co-sponsors, Fare Share Co-op and Harvest Moon Farm, believe it's time they meet each other.

Traditionally the CSA Fair focuses on a partnership between consumers and farmers in which members buy shares of the farm's harvest and receive regular allotments of food throughout the growing season. For farmers, this provides much needed cash flow for the beginning of the season, as well as a ready market and community of supporters. Shareholders join in the risks of the growing season but reap the benefits of the harvest. This year, the Fair will include at least seven local CSA producers.

This year's Fair is expanded to include farmers who do not have CSA's, and the restaurants and summer camps who could be buying from them if they only knew how to find each other.

On Saturday, February 26, the event will include a speaker at 11 a.m. on the topic of local food. Sunday's event will include a panel discussion at 11 a.m., including producers and buyers. Both days will include the opportunity for local farming and business people to meet each other.

Saturday, February 26

- A speaker from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

- Inexpensive local lunch available from 12-1 p.m.

- CSA Fair 12-3 p.m.

- Meet your farmer 12-3 p.m.

- "What local means in the Oxford Hills" game and other activities

Sunday, February 27

- Farmer/producer/buyer panel from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

- Inexpensive local lunch available from 12-1 p.m.

- CSA Fair 12-3 p.m.

- Meet your farmer 12-3 p.m.

- The opportunity for potential buyers to meet producers face to face.

This annual event, held at the Fare Share Coop, 443 Main St. in Norway, is co-hosted locally by Fare Share Co-op and Harvest Moon Produce. It is sponsored statewide by Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association. This event is not limited to organic producers.

For more information, call Claire Gelinas at 743-9044 or e-mail claire@faresharecoop.org.