Maine Harvest Festival 2014

October 20, 2014

For more information contact: John Bott at: 207-287-3156

This fourth annual event will be held at the Cross Insurance Center

BANGOR ? The fourth annual Maine Harvest Festival will be held November 8 and 9 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The event will be held Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Admission is $7, children 12 and under admitted free. Sponsored, in part, by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the two-day festival will feature over 150 Maine farmers and producers and will include great local food, beverages, music, fiber and more.

?The last Census of Agriculture highlighted the strength of Maine agriculture and its potential to put more food on the table, provide jobs and create economic opportunities,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?There are more Maine farms now, and the market value of Maine agricultural products has increased 24 percent. The continued growth of the Maine Harvest Festival highlights the quality of Maine products and consumer demand for them.?

Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb noted that the festival has expanded since it started, and moved to the Cross Insurance Center to accommodate increased consumer interest. In 2014, it will expand again into the Center?s larger arena area.

?The Festival features special demonstrations, presentations, chefs using local produce, live music and much more. There will be multiple opportunities for families to learn more about agriculture, healthy eating and our natural resources,? said Whitcomb. ?Governor LePage and all of us at the state level think that Maine?s next wave of entrepreneurs are the farmers, bakers, brewers, vintners, chefs and other artisans that grow local food, create jobs and strengthen local economies.?

There will be booths, demonstrations, seminars and multiple opportunities for festival goers to taste, sample and purchase offerings. This year?s event features an expanded wine, brewery and distillery sampling area. The State of Maine Fair Pie Contest Finale and Awards presentation will also take place.

Based on experiences from previous years, organizers stressed the importance of bringing a cooler or a thermal insulated bag/container for transporting temperature-sensitive purchases.

Maine Harvest Festival Organizer Judi Perkins promises this year?s participants ?mouth-watering cooking demonstrations, with a blend of old favorites and many new offerings with creative new twists. We welcome people to the world of Maine cooks and kitchens filled with heavenly aromas and delicious 'made from 'scratch' perfection," said Perkins.

For more information about the Maine Harvest Festival: http://maineharvestfestival.com/

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf