Announcing Harvest Bowls 2026, an Empty Bowls series, coming to five farmers’ markets this summer!
The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets is holding an Empty Bowls-style fundraising series to support food access at farmers’ markets and raise awareness of our food security work. We’ll host a free community meal as part of each farmers’ market, with handmade artisan bowls to take home by sliding scale donation.
2026 Harvest Bowls Events:
WATERVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET
Thursday, July 23rd
2pm-6pm
Head of Falls Park by the Two Cent Bridge
ROCKLAND FARMERS’ MARKET
Thursday, August 13th
9am-1pm
Harbor Park
BELFAST FARMERS’ MARKET
Friday, August 14th
9am-1pm
Outside of Waterfall Arts
CAMDEN FARMERS’ MARKET
Saturday, August 15th
9am-12pm
Tannery Park
PORTLAND FARMERS’ MARKET
Saturday, August 22nd
7am-1pm
Deering Oaks Park
All proceeds from these events support Maine Harvest Bucks, our biggest food access program. We started Maine Harvest Bucks ten years ago as a way to feed and welcome more farmers’ market shoppers and boost farmers’ sales. When SNAP/EBT shoppers choose to shop for groceries at the farmers’ market, they earn matching Maine Harvest Bucks to spend on fresh fruits, raw unprocessed vegetables, and even seedlings that will produce food. Maine Harvest Bucks shoppers eat more fresh, healthy Maine-grown produce, and farmers get paid directly for their hard work. It keeps more money circulating among Maine farms and small businesses, and builds healthier communities and social bonds by encouraging shoppers to develop in-person relationships with their farmers. The program has grown steadily and sustainably over the last decade, and now results in over $900,000 (SNAP & MHB combined) in direct sales annually, all of which we pay out to farmers. We raise most of the money to fund this program through:
- dozens of grants we write and report for
- local business partnerships
- state funds that we advocate for biannually
- federal grants when they’re available
- individual donations
After ten years of improving economic sustainability for farms and public health outcomes, the future of one of our major grants, GusNIP, is under threat. Our Harvest Bowls series is one of many ways we’re turning to our Maine community for help securing the future of Maine Harvest Bucks. We hope you’ll join us! And even if you can’t, please consider becoming an MFFM member .
This series is supported with generous help from Maine Clay, Tugboat Arts, Waterville Creates, Belfast Clay Studio, and independent potters around the state. Potters are invited to donate bowls at pick-up locations before the event.
Want to contribute as a business sponsor? We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to sustain farmers’ markets, supports farmers by increasing their sales by more than $2 million annually with our voucher programs, and runs low-income food access programs at more than 80 direct farmer-to-customer sites around Maine. To learn more about this event or become a sponsor, please get in touch with our Midcoast Regional Coordinator, Amber: [email protected]