THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE
Autumn in Maine In this Issue...
TONS OF FUN & FESTIVE
Fall Events FIND A LOCAL ORCHARD, TASTE MAINE CHEESES, LEARN ABOUT MAINE FIBER PRODUCTS, AND MUCH MORE!
A Special Advertising Section of the Bangor Daily News • Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Morning Sentinel • Kennebec Journal • Sun Journal Times Record • Portland Press Herald • Bangor Daily News
Inside! Find Maine
Recipes & Tips
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AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
Autumn in Maine:
Time to Experience Real Maine Agriculture F
all is one of the most rewarding and busiest times of year for Maine agriculture. Across the state, farmers and farm workers are harvesting potatoes, apples, pumpkins, squash, vegetables, and other crops; tending livestock; preparing fields for the seasons ahead; and bringing Maine-grown products to farm stands, farmers’ markets, stores, and tables. It is a season that offers all of us an opportunity to appreciate the work behind Maine agriculture and the people who make it possible. As you travel around Maine this fall, I encourage you to experience that work firsthand. Stop at a farm stand. Pick Maine apples. Visit a farmers’ market. Look for Maine-grown and Maine-made products. Watch out for the green-and-white “Real Maine” logo on the packaging. And spend a day at one of our agricultural fairs. Maine’s agricultural fairs are an important part of our farming heritage and remain special places to connect with agriculture. From livestock and agricultural exhibits to 4-H, demonstrations, competitions, and Maine food, fairs help tell the story of the people, skills, and traditions that sustain our rural communities. Maine's fair season continues well into the fall, culminating with the Fryeburg Fair in October. You can find the full schedule through the DACF Agricultural Resource Development Division's Agricultural Fair Program webpage. Fall harvest also means sharing Maine’s roads with the people doing this important work. Tractors, harvesters, trucks, and other farm equipment regularly travel between fields, farms, and storage facilities. These vehicles often move slowly and may be wider than a typical vehicle. When you encounter farm equipment, please slow down, give operators plenty of room, pass only when it is safe and legal, and remember that the person
ahead of you is doing essential work. A few extra moments of patience can help keep farmers, farm workers, and everyone traveling Maine's roads safe. This September also gives Maine a special opportunity to share our agricultural story far beyond our borders. Maine is hosting the 2026 Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, welcoming agriculture leaders from across the United States and attendees from around the world. It is an opportunity to showcase the diversity, innovation, and resilience of Maine agriculture while exchanging ideas about the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture everywhere. Hosting this national gathering is especially meaningful during the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Here in Maine, women represent more than 40 percent of all agricultural producers. Throughout 2026, we have been sharing the stories of women whose leadership, ingenuity, and hard work strengthen our farms, food system, and rural communities. Bringing agricultural leaders together in Maine provided another opportunity to recognize those contributions and to demonstrate the important role Maine can play in conversations about the future of agriculture. Fall reminds us that agriculture is not something that happens somewhere else. It is all around us, in the food we eat, the landscapes we treasure, the businesses we support, and the communities we call home. This harvest season, I hope you will take time to experience Real Maine agriculture, thank a farmer or farm worker, and celebrate everything Maine agriculture contributes to our state.
Amanda Beal, Commissioner Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Financial Assistance Available for WeatherRelated Losses
M
aine farmers, forestry businesses, aquaculture producers, and other eligible producers who experienced weather-related losses in 2023 or 2024 may qualify for financial assistance through the Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NRDRAP). Eligible losses may include crop and aquaculture losses, standing or harvested timber losses, damage to on-farm and forestry infrastructure, and certain bare-ground practices necessary to mitigate land loss. Applications are open through November 6, 2026. Producers considering applying are encouraged to begin gathering documentation, including ownership or lease information, parcel identification, an FSA Farm Number, if applicable, tax or business identification information, and photos or other records documenting weather-related damage from 2023 or 2024. DACF is providing technical assistance throughout the application period, including virtual office hours every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For eligibility information, application details, and the online application portal, visit maine.gov/dacf/ nrdrap, email NRDRA.DACF@ maine.gov, or call (207) 530-3144.
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026 03
Q&A with Good Karma Yarn & Soap
W
e recently spoke with Amy Grant, co-owner with her husband, Jim, of Real Maine member Good Karma Yarn & Soap in Bridgton. With our Fiber Tour & Trail coming later this fall and the weather getting colder, we wanted to talk with them about producing yarn locally and being part of our state’s fibershed.
TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO MAKING YOUR YARN — FROM FIELD TO SHELF. Most of our yarn is a blend of alpaca and wool. We take the washed fleeces, pick them, and then card them into roving. We then run multiple ends of roving through our pin drafter at least 3 times, so that the fibers are neatly aligned and ready for spinning. The spinning frame spins the fiber into a single ply, and then the individual plies are twisted together to form the final yarn. At that point, the yarn is made into skeins and dyed. After the yarn is dyed, we take each skein, put it onto a cone and then back into a skein so that we are sure that when the customer is ready to knit, the yarn will be tangle-free and ready to go.
YOU SAY YOU “USE A BLEND OF ANTIQUE AND MODERN EQUIPMENT IN YOUR MILL.”
We have a McDermott carder that was made in Michigan around 2003. The pin drafter is a Warner Swasey, and it dates to around 1950. The picker, spinning frame, and skein winder were all made for us back in 2007. The cone winders date to around 1960. The socks that Jim knits are made on a variety of circular sock machines — some are new and some date to the 1860s.
TELL US SOMETHING MAINE PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT BEING A LOCAL FIBER PRODUCER. Making yarn is a slow process, and there is no way to make it faster without sacrificing quality. There are few mills left in the U.S., and Maine is pretty fortunate to have several.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MAINERS TO SEEK OUT AND PURCHASE THEIR YARN LOCALLY? Supporting a local fiber mill also supports the local fiber farmers. We are losing acres and acres of farmland every day, and supporting farmers is one way to protect our open farmland.
WILL YOU BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR’S REAL MAINE FIBER TOUR & TRAIL? WHAT IS IT LIKE TO INTERACT WITH LOCAL “FIBER LOVERS?” Yes! We look forward to it every year. It’s always fun to talk with people who are passionate about the fiber arts.
Taste-Tested, Convenient, and Local Recipes 04
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
UMaine Extension Program Helps with Food Preparation and Recipe Tips
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or tips to help you get the most from your grocery budget and focus on healthy recipes, it’s worth visiting a special website from UMaine Extension. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers recipes, cooking tips, nutrition information, and training. The website, extension.umaine.edu/ food-health/recipes, includes more than 100 taste-tested recipes, many featuring Maine produce. Recipes are easy to prepare and use easy-to-find ingredients.
They also include nutrition facts to help home cooks prepare healthy choices. Many recipes include video tutorials to help you create simple, delicious, and nutritious foods. Along with recipes, the program publishes the ‘Spoonful Blog,’ where UMaine Extension staff write articles and share their knowledge about health and nutrition. The blog includes tips for using seasonal ingredients and grocery budgets, and nutrition topics. You can also
follow the team on social media for updates and ideas. Staff work across Maine, from Cooperative Extension offices in different counties. You might see them at farmers’ markets, schools, and other community events. Throughout the year, they offer in-person training.
ABOUT MAINE EFNEP – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Maine’s EFNEP is part of a nationwide program offered through Land-grant Universities, such as the University of Maine. It’s funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA). EFNEP helps people learn skills to make healthy food choices and take care of themselves and their families. EFNEP uses education to support participants’ efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being. Maine also offers a free online course called ‘10 Steps to a Healthier You’. Anyone can watch it on the UMaine Extension website. In addition to the recipes and online course, staff offer other training. The
trainings are hands-on or virtual. They can be refreshers or cover the basics for those new to cooking. It’s more than a cooking class. Trainings cover everything from choosing healthy ingredients to planning meals, saving money, cooking safely, and other healthy choices. If you're interested in a training, you can visit the program website to learn more.
VIEW RECIPE LIBRARY
More Ways to Find Healthy Maine Food MAINE SENIOR FARMSHARE:
Remember to visit your local farm to use your 2026 share allotment. The 2027 application opens for eligible seniors on June 1, 2027. Phone: (207) 287-3491 Email: seniorfarmshare.agr@maine.gov Webpage: maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/farmshare/index.shtml _____________________________
MAINE’S HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY:
Dates align with Maine’s hunting season; donation opportunities! Learn more! Email: H4H@Maine.gov Webpage: maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/ hunters-for-hungry.shtml
MAINE PRODUCE MAINE PRODUCE
WHAT’S IN IN SEASON What's In Season WHAT’S SEASON JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Apples Apples Asparagus Asparagus Beans (Snap, Wax)(Snap, Wax) Beans Beets Beets Blackberries Blackberries Blueberries, Blueberries, High BushHigh Bush Blueberries, Wild Blueberries, Wild Broccoli Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cabbage Cantaloupes Cantaloupes Carrots Carrots CauliflowerCauliflower Corn (Sweet) Corn (Sweet) CranberriesCranberries CucumbersCucumbers Eggplant Eggplant Garlic Garlic Grapes Grapes Kale/Collards Kale/Collards Leeks Leeks Lettuce/Spinach/ Lettuce/Spinach/ Mixed Greens Mixed Greens MushroomsMushrooms (Cultivated)(Cultivated) Onions Onions Parsnip Parsnip Peaches Peaches Peas Peas Pears Pears Peppers Peppers Plums Plums Potatoes Potatoes Pumpkins Pumpkins Radishes Radishes RaspberriesRaspberries Squash (Summer) Squash (Summer) Squash (Winter) Squash (Winter) Strawberries Strawberries Sweet Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes Turnips Turnips Watermelon Watermelon Available from Storage Harvest Season Available from Storage Harvest Season
For more visit visit Forinformation, more information,
www.getrealmaine.com www.getrealmaine.com
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026 05
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AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
Maine Apple Sunday 2026 Mark Your Calendar for Sept. 13, 2026 T
he Maine State Pomological Society will hold the 26th annual Maine Apple Sunday on Sept. 13, 2026 with participating orchards around the state. Maine Apple Sunday starts the peak of the apple harvest when summer apples are still available, but the main crop is ready for its first pick. Apple orchards from Wells to Caribou will celebrate by offering special activities at their orchards. For a list of additional orchards and more details go to MaineApples.org.
Check out these activities happening on Maine Apple Sunday! Bailey’s Orchard in Whitefield will be celebrating Maine Apple Weekend, Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13. We will have several varieties of apples to buy in our barn and several varieties of apples available for pick your own, in our orchard. We will have fudge, pears, crabapples, pumpkins, gourds, honey, and flowers for sale in our barn. We will be giving out free apple squares both Saturday and Sunday. There will also be several apple prize drawings on both days. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 255 North Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield.
Boothby’s Orchard and Farm at 366 Boothby Road in Livermore will be offering free wagon rides to the pondside orchard, weather permitting, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cider and wheel cheese samples while they last. Outdoor wine tastings in the orchard. Accessible apple picking for all abilities. Meet the cows, walk the vineyard, bring a picnic, and enjoy the day with us.
Hansel’s Orchard in North Yarmouth will be open for picking from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. We will celebrate Maine Apple Sunday with samples of some of our favorite recipes and a raffle for a peck of pick your own apples.
Hazel Hill Orchard in Wayne will be open for picking. We will be offering special pricing and drawings to win products and your very own apple tree (Tag-A Tree)! Our hours will be 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Kents Hill Orchard at 1625 Main St. in Kents Hill will be celebrating Maine Apple Sunday with pick your own Macs and Honeycrisp apples, and The Appleshed Kitchen and Bakery will be providing their famous apple cider donuts and lots of new types of pastries, pies, etc. Come enjoy the views of the western mountains.
Continued on page 8
Bailey's Orchard
Greenwood Orchards
Berry Fruit Farm
Hansel's Orchard
Boothby's Orchard and Farm
Hardy Farms Orchard
Brackett Orchards
Hazel Hill Orchard
Cayford Orchards
Hope Orchard
Chick's Apple and Berry Farm
Kelly Orchards
Cooper Farms
Kent's Hill Orchard
Elwell Organic Orchard
Libby’s U-Pick
Five Fields Farm
Lemieux’s Orchard
Gile's Family Farm
McDougal Orchards
255 North Hunts Meadow Rd., Whitefield www.baileysochard.com 361 Crash Road, Livermore www.berryfruitfarm.com 366 Boothby Rd., Livermore www.boothbysorchard.com
32 Staples Road, Limington www.brackettorchards.com 99 Hilton Hill Rd., Skowhegan www.Cayfordorchards.com 571 Main Street, Monmouth www.chicksappleberry.com
27 Bethel Rd., West Paris www.facebook.com/cooper-farms-stand 50 Elwell Rd., Monroe www.Maineapples.org/elwell-farms 720 So. Bridgton Rd., Bridgton www.fivefields.com 139 Waterboro Rd, Alfred www.facebook.com/gilesfamilyfarm
174 Auburn Rd, Turner www.facebook.com/greenwoodorchards 44 Sweetser Rd., North Yarmouth www.Hanselsorchard.com 106 Church Street, Hope www.facebook.com/hardyfarmsorchard 432 Old Winthrop Rd, Wayne www.hazelhillorchard.com 434 Camden Rd, Hope www.hopeorchards.com 82 Sanborn Road, Acton www.kellyorchards.com 1625 Main Street, Kents Hill www.kentshillorchard.com 86 Sawyer Mountain Road, Limerick www.libbysupick.com 210 Priest Hill Rd, Vassalboro www.Facebook/Lemieuxs Orchard 201 Hanson Ridge Rd., Springvale www.mcdougalorchards.com
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026 07
McElwain's Strawberry Farm
711 Sweden St., Caribou www.mcelwainstrawberryfarm.com
Morrison Hill Orchard
272 Morrison Hill Rd., Farmington www.morrisonhillorchard.com
MSAD #1 Ed. Farm
ABOVE: CIDER DONUTS FROM ORCHARD RIDGE FARM.
340 State Street, Presque Isle www.Sad1.org/schoolfarm
Mullis Orchard
370 Dexter Road, Corinna www.Mullis Orchards.com
North Chester Orchard
460 North Chester Rd, Chester www.northchesterorchard.com
North Star Orchards
97 Orchard Rd., Madison www.northstarorchards.me
Orchard Ridge Farm
236 Sebago Lake Rd, Gorham www.Orchardridge.farm
Peaked Hill Orchard
W. Bethel www.Maineapples.org/peaked-hill
Pleasant Pond Orchard
430 Brunswick Road, Richmond www.visitppo.com
Randall Orchard
1 Randal Road, Standish www.Facebook/randall-orchard
Ricker Hill Orchards
295 Buckfield Road, Turner www.rickerhill.com
Rocky Ridge Orchard
36 Rocky Ridge Lane, Bowdoin www.facebook/rocky-ridge-orchard
Romac Orchard
1149 H Road, Acton facebook/Pick Your Own at Romac Orchards
Rowe Orchards
Route 7, Moosehead Trail, Newport www.roweorchards.com
School House Farm
1171 Atlantic Highway, Warren www.facebook/schoolhousefarm
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BELOW: THE DONUT SPLIT AT TREWORGY FAMILY ORCHARDS
Happiness is a Warm Cider Donut
T
here is a lot to love about autumn in Maine: the crisp air, the vibrant colors, activities like finding your way through a corn maze or enjoying a hayride, and, of course, the food. No visit to a local orchard or farm store would be complete without sampling one of the tastiest (and best-smelling) autumn treats — the cider donut. Cider donuts have been a Maine tradition for around 200 years. Apple cider became a favorite beverage of settlers in the early 19th century. Since apples were plentiful, New Englanders were looking for ways to use them, along with cider, in cooking. Cider donuts soon became a fall staple and a way to celebrate the apple harvest. The recipe for cider donuts remains relatively simple, though people have their own variations. On a basic level, there is flour, sugar, leavening agents, butter, eggs, milk, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Talking with Real Maine members who make and offer cider donuts, though, one ingredient makes or breaks the recipe — you’ve got to have fresh Maine cider. “Our not-so-secret ingredient is fresh apple cider from apples that were on trees just the week before,” said Ayn Hanselmann, who, along with her family, manages “Captain Jack’s Donut Shack” at McDougal Orchards in Springvale each fall. “During the fall harvest, we make (cider donuts) even more special by adding fresh-pressed apple cider, giving the doughnuts a richer apple flavor and aroma that customers have come to associate with autumn in Maine,” said Jonathan Kenerson, operations director at Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant. Just as everyone has a slight variation on the cider donut recipe, how they are cooked can differ as well. Some bake them while others fry them. McDougal and Treworgy use “donut robots,” which automatically deposit batter into the fryer, flip each doughnut, and carry them along a conveyor until they are cooked. Those robots can produce hundreds or thousands of donuts a day.
You see “mini” cider donuts, which can be eaten individually, by the half-dozen or dozen, or even by the bucket, and, like at Sweetser’s Apple Barrel and Orchards in Cumberland, where owner Greg Sweetser says, “We may be offering the biggest cider donuts on the market.” However they come, there is nothing like that first bite. We asked Real Maine members what qualities the best cider donuts have. “The best apple cider donuts are hot out of the fryer, just dusted with cinnamon and sugar, and still warm when you pop them in your mouth,” said Hanselmann. “The best apple cider doughnut should have a crisp, lightly crunchy exterior, a moist and tender cake-like center, and be served warm whenever possible,” Kennerson said. “Making the perfect apple cider doughnut is both an art and a science.” At Orchard Ridge Farm in Gorham, they say the use of “fresh, local cider” is important, but they also said, “plenty of warm spices make the donuts so tasty.” All of the Real Maine members we talked to said they heard many compliments about their cider donuts and that they will see some individuals and families every fall, sometimes for several years in a row. Some places even offer treats like apple cider donut whoopie pies and apple cider donut sundaes. Stop by and get your cider donut fix this season. The Real Maine website is a great place to start if you’re looking to make a cider donut trip this season. Go to www. RealMaine.com and customize your search — and remember, happiness is a warm cider donut.
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AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
Check out these activities happening on Maine Apple Sunday! Continued from page 6 At McDougal Orchards in Springvale you can join us to pick your own apples and raspberries, go on a wagon ride around the orchard, enjoy a bucketful of hot cider donuts, and explore Fairy Village. We will be donating 10% of all Upick apple sales from Maine Apple Sunday to the Sanford Backpack Program. This program sends local kids home for the weekend with a “backpack full of nutritious and easy-toprepare food to ensure they can maintain a balanced diet and return to school on Monday ready to focus on learning.” Join us on Maine Apple Sunday to enjoy a day at the orchard while helping us give back to the community that has supported our family farm for generations! For more information, visit sanfordstrong.org/programs/sanfordbackpackprogram.
Mullis Orchards in Corinna will be participating in Maine Apple Sunday again this year. We will have PYO at the orchard at 128 Shaker Road, plus a drawing for 2 fabulous apple gift baskets and additional door prizes throughout the day at the retail apple stand at 270 Dexter Road. Apples, jams, pure local honey, squash, sweet cider, and much more will be available for sampling and sale. Take a leisurely walk through our beautiful orchard and taste all that fall has to offer. We look forward to seeing all of our wonderful family and friends and are excited to meet new customers who drop by for fun and special surprises.
North Star Orchards in Madison is a family farm for family fun! Pick your own apples and enjoy spectacular views of the western Maine mountains from our picnic area. Visit our restored 1800s farmhouse and shop for freshly-picked apples and a unique variety of specialty foods and home accessories. On Maine Apple Sunday, sample our own apple topping on ice cream. We look forward to seeing you!
Ricker Hill in Turner will have U Pick apples, grapes, and pumpkins and farm activities. On Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13, Jason Tardy Kids Show will perform from 12-1 p.m., along with live music both days. Food trucks will also be onsite.
Romac Orchard in Acton invites you to join us up on “The Hill” for a great day. We will have several varieties of apples ready for picking, along with apple cider, and apple cider donuts available. Try out our Romac Barn design corn maze, take a free hayride, listen to a band, or just walk to the top and enjoy the beautiful views this part of Maine has to offer.
Sparrowhawk Orchard in Bethel invites you to join us on Maine Apple Sunday for our annual Golden Apple Hunt. “Golden Apples” will be hidden around the orchard with prizes available to those with a sharp eye who discover one, including the opportunity to win free apples for life! For the
younger crowd, we’ll have helpful hints on where to look! Join us for the hunt, fresh cider, and apple cider donuts.
Spiller Farm in Wells will do Maine Apple Weekend 10 a.m.-
Continued from page 7
Snell Family Farm
1000 River Road, Buxton www.snellfamilyfarm.com
Sparrowhawk Orchard
684 Grover Hill Road, Bethel www.Facebook/SparrowhawkOrchard
5 p.m. and wagon rides 1-3 p.m. by Farmer Bill to see our corn, pumpkin, potato crops, and our Sunset Orchard. Our cows, calves and bull will be a special stop. Farmer Bill will talk about the cows and will be glad to take any questions about our farm. The ride usually takes 30-40 minutes. We will have U PICK Apples and Veggies and our first U PICK Pumpkins & Ornamentals on Maine Apple Weekend. We have 4 parking lots (holding more than 80 vehicles) all on Spiller Farm Lane. Please do not block Spillers’ Farm Store parking. Thank you for being considerate of a small store. We should have goats to see at our FREE picnic/play area with a retired farm tractor, our corn stalk teepee, and a little red covered bridge. You may bring your own lunch or purchase at Spillers’ Farm Store. They have apple cider donuts too. Please check spillerfarm.com for more information on the day you are coming. We both hope you will enjoy our farm and come back to pick later ripening apples and many pumpkins and ornamentals thru middle to late October.
Spiller Farm
Sweetser’s Apple Barrel and Orchard in Cumberland
230 Main St., Corinth www.thelionsfarm.com
will again feature our home-made Apple Crisp samples featuring our Heirloom Red Gravenstein Apples.
The Apple Farm in Fairfield will have wagon rides, apple picking, donuts, kids playground, picnic tables for family gatherings. The Apple Farm is open 9 to 5 every day.
85 Spiller Farm Lane, Wells www.spillerfarm.com
Stukas Farm
144 Ferry Rd., Lewiston www.facebook/stukasfarm
Sullivan's Orchard
421 Puddledock Rd., Charleston facebook/sullivans-orchard
Sweetser's Apple Barrel
19 Blanchard Rd., Cumberland www.maineapple.com
The Apple Farm
104 Back Road, Fairfield www.theapplefarm.us
The Lion's Farm
APPLE FACTS FROM THE MAINE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The Orchard at Chase Farms in Wells will have Pick Your Own Apples and fresh cider. Our Vegetable Stand will have fresh Apple Cider Donuts available in the Bakery as well as loads of Pumpkins / Gourds and all the Fall decorations.
Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus invites you to bring a picnic, walk the gardens, visit the sheep. We have apples, pears, vegetables and preserves. Apple treats and baked goods! Open 9-5 daily.
It takes about
36 apples
to create one gallon of apple cider
The Orchards at Chase Farms
1396 North Berwick Rd, Wells www.theorchardsatchasefarms.com
The Solomon Family Farm,LLC North Road, Cornish www.thesolomonfamilyfarm.com
Thompson's Orchards
276 Gloucester Hill Rd., New Gloucester www.facebook/thompsons-orchard
Treworgy Family Orchard
3876 Union St., Levant www.treworgyfamilyorchard.com
Vista of ME Vinyard & Cider
146 N. Hills Ridge, Greene www.Vistaofmaine.weebly.com
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026 09
Maine State Beekeepers Association Present
Wallingford Orchard
2026 Bee Fest
Willow Pond Farm
Viles Arboretum 133 Hospital Street Augusta, ME 04330
Wallingford Farm
240 Depot Road, Lebanon 120 Perkins Ridge Road, Auburn www.wallingfordsorchard.com 395 Middle Rd., Sabattus www.willowpf.com
September 13th 10 am - 4 pm
Guest Speaker Lincoln Sennett Swan’s Honey Want to Learn About Beekeeping?
Everyone Welcomed
Food Trucks Honey Contest & Raffle
Free to Attend Rain or Shine
Chat With the State Apiarist
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AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
A Checklist of
Autumn Activities
to Celebrate Maine Agriculture Tours, open houses, and ideas to make the most of agricultural events in September, October, and November. SHOP THE SEASON! Wherever you find Maine products. Need suggestions for seasonal ingredients? Find ideas: Scan the QR code to visit realmaine.com/whats-in-season. TASTE THE MAINE FLAVORS and find local farm products as you meet the farmers and makers. This autumn, there are many events, fairs, and festivals happening across the state! Use realmaine.com to search and filter choices near you! MAINE CHEESE FESTIVAL on Sunday, September 13, 2026 from 12-5 PM at Manson Park, Pittsfield. Buy your tickets online before you go. Scan the code to learn more at mainecheesefestival.org or flip to page 12. EXPLORE MAINE ORCHARDS. Orchards across the state invite visitors to learn about Maine apples pick their own, and taste the delicious local varieties grown in Maine. See page 6 for a listing and find more at maineapples.org/events.
Celebrating
Women in Agriculture
R
eal Maine and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry celebrate the women shaping our state’s agriculture today and inspiring the next generation. We are proud that 2026 has been proclaimed as the Year of the Woman Farmer in Maine. Throughout the year, we have profiled many women farmers and agricultural leaders, as well as young women making an impact, on our social media pages. You can go to www.maine.gov/dacf, click on the Year of the Woman Farmer logo, and read interviews with some of the women we have profiled on social media. Here is a sampling of the responses and insight shared in those interviews: “Women in agriculture do far more than people see, and there’s no single right way to accomplish the work. Some women come from generations of farm families. Some start later in life. Some farm full-time, others farm while also working another job or jobs. Most women farmers I know have built their farms around children, off-farm work, health issues, and other responsibilities. That kind of diversity equals strength.” — Lisa Dereszewski, Rime Nor Reason Farm
EXPLORE MAINE CRAFT BEVERAGES, including ciders and wine by exploring the Maine Wine Trail! Use the interactive map to guide your exploration of member wineries! Read more: mainewinetrail.com/trail-map.
“I'm so proud that all our farm products are sold through our on-farm store to other Mainers. We supply our local food system and respect our planet, with very low climate impact and waste footprint.”
The first two weekends of October are special times to EXPLORE REAL MAINE’S FIBER TOUR & TRAIL! Get cozy and meet farmers, makers, and artisans displaying farm-raised fiber products. Scan to learn more.
“Balancing family and the demands of agriculture can be challenging. Agriculture often requires many more hours than traditional professions. If your heart is in agriculture, you will never feel like you work a day in your life. It may not always be easy, but you will enjoy what you do.”
MAINE MAPLE FALL FEST: October 10-11, 2026. Travel to different sugarhouses and see the maple trees with their vibrant, yellow and orange colors, and enjoy pure maple syrup for your fall flavors! Read more: mainemapleproducers.com/events. MAINE HARVEST FESTIVAL: November 21 and 22. Shop for yourself, or find a gift that’s uniquely Maine. Read more: maineharvestfestival.com.
— Seren Sinisi, Old Crow Ranch
— Erica Peabody, Fitzpatrick & Peabody Farms
Fisher Farm Earns
AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026 11
Maine’s 2026 Green Pastures Award
Maine’s dairy farmers nominate a multi-generational family dairy to earn the New England Green Pastures Award, which recognizes an outstanding dairy farm from each New England state. Congratulations to the Fisher family for this award.
Read more about this award at realmaine.com/ real-maine-news/green-pastures-2026
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AUTUMN IN MAINE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • September 11, 2026
Maine Cheese Festival Celebrates 10 Years of Maine-Made Flavor 10th Annual Festival brings together cheesemakers, food producers, beverage makers, live music, tastings, and family-friendly activities in Pittsfield on Sept. 13
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he Maine Cheese Festival is celebrating a decade of bringing people together around Maine-made food, craft, and community. The 10th Annual Maine Cheese Festival will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Manson Park in Pittsfield, welcoming cheese lovers, food enthusiasts, and families from Maine and throughout New England for a day of tasting, discovery, and celebration. The Maine Cheese Guild is proud to host this year's festival, which will showcase over 45 local vendors offering food, cheese, beverages, and crafts. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artisans behind some of the state's award-winning cheeses and beloved products, as well as discover new local favorites. Throughout the day, attendees can sample and purchase Maine-made cheeses and other specialty foods, enjoy craft beverages, listen to live acoustic and folk music, and take part in demonstrations, cheesemaking presentations, and panel discussions. The festival will also feature an Unexpected Pairings tasting, a Children’s Pavilion, and opportunities to meet the farmers, cheese-
makers, and food producers who help make Maine’s food community so distinctive. “There’s something special about being able to meet the people who make the food you love and hear the stories behind their products,” said Christine Cummings, Executive Director of the Maine Cheese Guild. “Our 10th anniversary is a chance to celebrate how much Maine’s artisan food community has grown and to invite even more people from across New England to experience it for themselves.” The festival’s VIP experience begins at 11 a.m., offering early entry before general admission begins at noon. The Maine Cheese Festival is made possible thanks to the amazing support of our sponsors. Their partnership and investment in Maine’s agricultural communities help bring this unique celebration of Maine's food, agriculture, music, and artisans to life each year. Along with our many community sponsors, we are delighted to have Airbnb as this year’s presenting sponsor. “Bringing families and friends together around the table is one of the things that
Airbnb does the best – which is why we’re proud to serve as a presenting sponsor of the Maine Cheese Festival and to celebrate its contributions to Maine’s culinary and artisan communities,” said Britte McBride, New England Public Policy Manager, Airbnb. “We congratulate the Maine Cheese Festival on its 10th anniversary and look forward to welcoming guests from near and far to Pittsfield to taste what Maine’s makers do best.” To celebrate the 10th Anniversary, we will kick off the night before with a special screening of Holy Cow, presented in partnership with Waterville Creates, on Saturday, September 12, at the Waterville Film Center. The acclaimed film offers a look at cheesemaking and the people whose passion and craft are at the heart of the industry. Before the film, visit Main Street Provisions for a Maine Cheese Pairing event from 4 – 6:30 p.m., featuring delicious varieties of Maine artisan cheese and hand-selected complementary wines. Tickets and event information are available at mainecheesefestival.org.