Maine’s Best Fall Farm Stands

Five roadside farm markets we can’t pass by.

Farm Markets

Photographed by Douglas Merriam

Zach’s Farm Stand

371 Cider Hill Rd., York. 207-475-7857. 

Bushel baskets piled high on hay bales, pepper bundles dangling from the ceiling like chandeliers — Zach’s open-air farm stand on Cider Hill Road in York is the classic rural produce palace. The Zacharias family has been running the (cash-only) roadside institution for almost 40 years. Has its own cool corn maze around the corner too. Gorgeous flowers and So. Much. Corn. Through Columbus Day. (Pictured here.)

Beth’s Farm Market

198 Western Rd., Warren. 207-273-3695.

Beth’s produce selection rivals supermarkets in diversity and bests them by a mile in freshness. This time of year, look for all manner of root vegetables, squashes and apples, just-pressed organic apple cider, pumpkin donuts, and — surprise! — fresh strawberry shortcake topped with the thickest, richest whipped cream you’ve ever tasted.

Stutzman’s Farm Stand & Bakery

891 Douty Hill Rd., Sangerville. 207-564-8596.

In addition to offering super-fresh produce from their multigenerational farm, Stuzman’s bakes terrific breads and chicken pies, serves a delicious and creative Friday lunch buffet (Thai coconut squash soup, anyone?), and, best of all, upholds the tradition of long, leisurely Sunday mornings with a live-music brunch.

Beech Hill Farm

171 Beech Hill Rd., Mount Desert. 207-244-5204.

College of the Atlantic students are lucky. Much of the food served in their dining hall is as fresh as can be, sourced from the school’s 73-acre organic farm. Lucky for us, the kids can’t eat it all, so Beech Hill Farm produce, along with local bread, dairy, meat, and jams, are available at its farm stand on a pretty rural road away from the Acadia crowds. Through mid-October.

Jordan’s Farm Stand

21 Wells Rd., Cape Elizabeth. 207-767-2740.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the SoPo strip malls, funky Jordan’s is Maine’s rural-est urban farm stand (or its urban-est rural one?). Find famously crisp cabbage, terrific greens, and fall squashes this time of year, plus meat, cheese, and dairy from a variety of Maine purveyors.