Rural Maine farmers gather together at the Unity Community Center every Friday to bring local food to their communities during COVID-19.

Unity resident Kari Hulva has teamed up with Outland Farm and Brewery owner Heather Holland, and recent Unity College graduate Kaya Pulz, on developing an online market hub to provide central Maine farmers and communities with convenience, quality food selection, farm income, market access, and food security. With the help of Unity Barn Raisers and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Central Maine FarmDrop continues to expand its efforts every day.

Directly with farmers, FarmDrop has worked to create something new for Maine’s local food network. With minimal transportation, this online marketplace makes it possible for farmers to get their product to the next county within a half-hour drive. They endeavor to bring the largest online farmers’ market to Maine to make it possible for communities to buy and sell, and trade year-round, sharing the most nutritious, safe, and delicious foods available, restoring the area’s place-based culture, and building food sovereignty for everyone.

FarmDrop provides additional farm income, creates access to fresh food, and ensures small farm viability through smart, data-driven, technology-powered business planning. The effort provides eight pick-up locations for communities to obtain local food, ranging from Hampden to Waterville to Lincolnville. Along with food access, each location supports nonprofits that prevent food waste and feed hungry families.

This farmers’ coalition is dedicated to preserving the knowledge and sustainable stewardship of rural landscapes by making it more convenient to choose the extraordinary local food being produced in Maine’s foodsheds.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit unity.farmdrop.us/producer/snakeroot/, and find them on Facebook.