You are here: Home > Learn > Focus on the Farm

Focus on the Farm is part of an ongoing series that features Maine fresh foods, producers and manufacturers, and highlights topical stories pertaining to Maine’s agricultural landscape. The educational series showcases recipes, farming innovations, local agricultural events and in-season harvests. Read about these Blaine House events:

June and July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004

November 2004, Cooking and Buying Locally Raised Meats

This month, the First Lady welcomed Maine producers, Erick Jensen from Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport and Gloria Varney from Nezinscot Farm in Turner, into the Blaine House kitchen to prepare and discuss locally raised meat. The locally-raised meat industry in Maine offers a diverse mix of products (beef, venison, lamb, poultry, pork, goat) and value-added products (meat pies, sausages) for Mainers. Consumers have choices for finding local meats: Direct from the farm or farmer's market, from the super-market, from specialty food stores and butcher shops—there are many ways of purchasing locally raised meat products.
		First Lady Bladacci and Erick Jensen discuss Wolfe's Neck Farm and naturally raised beef.
		A selection of naturally raised beef from Wolfe's Neck Farm.
Blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins serves a delicious lamb stew.		First Lady Bladacci and Gloria Varney discuss consumer access to locally raise meat in Maine
		Local pork and lamb products by Nezinscot Farm.
	Blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins and First Lady Karen Baldacci demonstrated their favorite meat preparation tips and recipes.
	Lamb-stew, rib-eye steak and stir fry plus other recipes from "Focus on the Farm" events will soon be available on the First Lady's web site.

back to top

October 2004, Cranberries

Local Cranberries Burst With Flavor at Blaine House as First Lady Karen Baldacci welcomes Nan Bradshaw of Bradshaw Cranberry farms to the Blaine House Kitchen
Maine's cranberry season typically runs September to January, but, according to Bradshaw, many producers may be sold out by Thanksgiving. Consumers wanting fresh Maine cranberries are encouraged to purchase them now and freeze them for year-round consumption. "Mainers have come to expect more from local growers," Bradshaw explained. "Maine cranberry growers use a different variety of cranberries than do farmers in, say, Massachusetts. The result is a larger, more colorful and flavorful berry," said Bradshaw.		First Lady Baldacci and Nan Bradshaw show off a cranberry plant and Bradshaw’s own fresh cranberries.
	Blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins shows the fresh cranberries and other ingredients for her Cranberry-Orange Relish.
		The finished product, delicious Cranberry-Orange Relish perfect as a side-dish and with leftovers.
	First Lady Baldacci and Heather Hopkins cooking with Cranberries in the Blaine House kitchen.
		Celebrating a classic combination of fresh Maine apples and cranberries.
	Add-value products on display at the Blaine House.
Along with other recipes from other "Focus on the Farm" events, these recipes will soon be available on the First Lady's web site www.maine.gov/firstlady/blainehouse/recipes.html

back to top

September 16, 2004, Fall Harvest

Jan Goranson arrived at the Blaine house with a truck full of fall harvest crops. The crops, ranging from fennel to apples, were used to illustrate the fall harvest available at farms across Maine. The harvest included several varieties of squash, fennel, turnips, pumpkins, dried flowers, gourds, beets, carrots, leeks, pumpkins, cabbage, rutabagas, turnips, fall greens, apples, and the featured vegetable: potatoes.
Along with recipes from other "Focus on the Farm" events, these recipes will soon be available on the First Lady's web site www.maine.gov/firstlady	Blaine House Chef, Heather Hopkins highlighted cooking with potatoes in three dishes: Double-stuffed Baked Potatoes, Simple Oven-roasted Fingerling Potatoes, and Easy Blaine House Potato Bake. The First Lady and Goranson also discussed many of the varieties of potatoes grown in Maine. "Many people don't realize that you can buy Maine potatoes year round in most supermarkets," said Goranson. "If you don't find Maine potatoes at your grocery store, ask your grocer," urged the First Lady.
	In addition to the fall harvest, the First Lady discussed CSA farming with Goranson. The Blaine House is a CSA member with The Goranson Farm. Through CSA programs, community people help cover a farm's yearly production expenses by purchasing a share (or shares) of the expected harvest. This beneficial relationship helps farms sustain economic viability and provides members with high quality seasonal produce. CSA plans can vary from farm to farm, but most are based on a pre-paid share. Some CSA farms deliver to their customers. Others encourage members to visit the farm and see first-hand how food is produced.
"CSA's are gaining in popularity. People may want to call now to get on a waiting list, but most farms won't be asking for payment until early next year, said Goranson. "But, it's never too early to sign up." While the number of CSA farms in Maine is growing, a select few even offering winter shares including meat and dairy, consumers may need to ask around to find one that is accepting new members in their area.

Contact a CSA farm from our searchable list for more information.

back to top

August 25, 2004, Food Preservation

The third in the Focus on the Farm series featured canning and home preservation of locally grown tomatoes and blueberries. Blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins provided a quick demonstration of canning stewed tomatoes and freezing blueberries.

	Kathy Savoie from Maine Cooperative Extension reviewed basic do's and don'ts of canning and freezing, discussed basic equipment needs and provided canning resources for consumers.
The August event coincided with Tomato Tasting Week Aug. 23-29, 2004, where over 45 sites around the state are hosting tomato sampling events.
For helpful information on food preservation, please visit the University of Maine Cooperative Extension web site at www.umext.maine.edu

back to top

July 9, 2004, Cheese

In the second of her "Focus on the Farm" series, the First Lady welcomed Caitlin Owen Hunter, owner of Appleton Creamery and Cathe Morrill, proprietor of State of Maine Cheese Company. Photos from this event can be see here. Please contact John Rooks at Rooks Communications for copies of the photos. Click here to read a detailed press release.

June 30, 2004, Strawberries

This first event focused on recipes, preparation tips and nutritional benefits of fresh strawberries grown and harvested in Maine. At the event was local grower Ford Stevenson of Stevenson's Strawberry Farm. With lots of fresh strawberry varieties on hand, Mr. Stevenson discussed why Maine berries are better than imported strawberries, offered tips for consumers on how to buy strawberries at their peak, freezing and jam making advice, and talk about what is involved in growing strawberries in Maine. Read more here.

Strawberry farmer Ford Stevens and two quarts of fresh Maine strawberries.	The First Lady and Chef Hopkins with fresh Maine strawberries.
Fresh Maine strawberries dipped in chocolate.
Behind the scenes during the taping of Focus on the Farm television series.	Blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins pours fresh cream over a bowl of Maine strawberries.

back to top

The Focus on the Farm series takes place monthly in the Blaine House kitchen, is hosted by First Lady, Karen Baldacci, and features the blaine House Chef Heather Hopkins with information fresh products grown or produced here in Maine, or topics relevant to Maine’s agricultural heritage. Each of the monthly sessions is featured on Adelphia Cable Channel 9, on 207 on WCSH Channel 6 in Portland, and picked up by print and TV media across Maine.

Home ~ Buy ~ Visit ~ Learn ~ Connect

©2003 Maine Department of Agriculture