Maine farmers and producers offer us an abundance of locally grown and produced items year round. We define “local” as anything grown in the state of Maine, and therefore products which can bolster our State’s economy. Russell Libby, from the Maine Organic Farmers’ and Gardeners’ Association, estimates that if every family in Maine were to spend just $10 a week on local foods, the Maine economy could gain an additional $273.4 million annually.

We are fortunate to be able to procure many of our staple foods locally, and a changing variety of fresh, seasonal, local produce as well. Bring this shopping list with you the next time you are at the Co-op to make it easy to spot local foods. Availability is subject to the seasons and market supply, so it is a good idea to ask a staff person for assistance if you can’t find the items you are looking for.

–> Click here for PRINTABLE SHOPPING LIST


Meat and Cheese Department

  • Goat’s Milk Cheeses: Sunset Acres, Seal Cove, or Appleton Creamery

  • Cow’s Milk Cheeses: cheddar and colby from Sonnental Dairy

  • Beef: Caldwell Farms or Wee Bit Farms

  • Pork: Wee Bit Farms

  • Turkey: The Turkey Farm

  • Chicken: Mainely Poultry

  • Rabbit: Mainely Poultry

  • Seafoods: haddock, shrimp, crab, and scallops

Dairy Department

  • Milk: Garelick Farms (conventional), Caldwell Family Farm (organic and unpasteurized), or Organic Cow

  • Butter: Kate’s Homemade, or Dickson’s

  • Yogurt: White Gold (unpasteurized)

  • Eggs: Bowden’s, Parent’s, Rolling Acres, Conscious Possibilities, or Tangled Oak

Bulk Department

  • Flours: whole wheat, buckwheat, spelt

  • Rolled Oats

  • Beans: marifax, Jacob’s cattle, soldier, cranberry, and Maine Yellow Eye

Produce Department

  • Winter: look for root vegetables, winter squash, apples, potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbages, cider, occasional greens (mesclun mix, chard, kales), and seeds for your own garden

  • Spring: look for lingering root crops, spring dug parsnips, leeks, potatoes, onions, spinach, kales, Jerusalem artichokes, and other greens, sprouts, and high-quality seedlings for your own garden

  • Summer: look for peas, asparagus, beans, summer squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, scallions, berries, lettuce, peaches, plums, carrots, celery, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, melons, potatoes, cabbages, beets, garlic

  • Fall: look for apples, pears, winter squash, onions, garlic, lettuce, greens, root vegetables, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussell sprouts, fresh cider

Grocery Department

  • Salt: Maine Sea Salt Co.

  • Maple Syrup: Strawberry Hill or Unique Golden Road

  • Honey: Gardiner’s, or Swans

  • Popcorn: Maine Popcorn Company

  • Teas: Highland Organic Blueberry Tea or Avena Botanical’s Garden Tea

  • Soup Mixes: Give Peas a Chance, and various mixes from the Beanery

  • Dried Seaweeds: Maine Coast Sea Vegetables

  • Dilly Beans: Spruce Bush Farms

  • Tinned Herring: Bar Harbor

  • Canned Blueberries and Blueberry Juice: Wyman’s

  • Blueberry Syrup and Jam: Fiddler’s Green

  • Bread: Borealis Aroostook Wheat

  • Water: Spring Valley and Mount Desert

Frozen Department

  • Cottage Cheese: Nezinscot Farms

  • Blueberries: Blue Barrons Farm

  • Seafoods: groundfish, shrimp, and crab available seasonally

Wine Department

  • Cranberry and Apple Wines: Winterport Winery

  • Maine Meads (honey wines): Honeymaker