|
Would you buy more tomatoes from the local farmers if you knew where their farms were located? Or if a group of farmers set up a farm market near your town would you buy meat, eggs or butter from them in addition to fruits and vegetables? The farmers in the Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group are conducting a consumer survey to find answers to these questions and more. This survey has been sponsored by the Sustainable Agriculture Education and Research Program (SARE) grant to help farmers learn about consumer preferences for local products. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the University of Maine Department of Resource Economics and Policy Development are assisting with the survey. A total of 4,000 surveys are being mailed to randomly selected homes of residents in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties in the next week or two. Local farmers are asking folks to complete the surveys as soon as possible and return them to the University of Maine. No postage is necessary. For just a few moments of your time you can help local farmers learn how to provide you with tasty, nutritious local farm products. Later this winter the results of the survey will be available to interested individuals by contacting Donna Lamb, Extension Educator, Piscataquis County Extension, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 or call 207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or email: [email protected]. |