GROCERY AISLES

Produce
Bakery
Deli
Healthfood
Toiletries
Seafood
Condiments
Canned Goods
Dried Fruit
Cookies/Juice
Meats
Cereal/Coffee
Baking
Pasta
International
Water/Soda
Snacks
Pet Supplies
Bread
Cleaning
Paper Goods
Dairy
Frozen
Beer/Wine

There are many Maine foods resources out there, but some of the best are buried deep in blogs, Yahoo groups, or mailing lists. Some present only one resource or focus on a subset of ingredients. Some internet listings rely on membership to be included in the listing. Many people I speak with who are in search of local food don't have time to scour the internet for these golden-but-distant nuggets of wisdom. So here's what I'm offering - The Maine Grocery List.

This grocery list is based on the grocery list from my other site - Tasting in Tongues. The "aisles" on the left side of this page correspond to the aisles of a typical grocery store. To find resources, navigate through the lists like you would a grocery store. I'll be adding each "aisle" as I can.

"Eating local" requires a different way of thinking about the food acquisition process. You can't just make a list of all the foods you need and go to one place to get it. It takes time to translate your staple items into what is available locally (and seasonally) and where you can get it. Once you identify your sources and become accustomed to the seasonality of Maine foods, the acquisition process will become easier. It might take more time than going to one store but it is a much more meaningful process. The foods you buy are fresh and in season. If you have a question about the product you can ask the provider directly rather than relying on a dizzying array of ingredients on the side of the box. More of your money stays in the local economy. That is only the tip of the iceberg.

"...supporting local farms also helps to ensure the existence of farms in the landscape - prevents them from being turned to developments. I also view small farms as a haven for agriculture in the event that something goes terribly wrong with our current food supply and distribution system." - Alice Begin, River Run Farm, Dover-Foxcroft

Note: the focus of this site is Maine-sourced food but, as you can imagine by looking at the list to the left, there are many items that come from elsewhere and are Maine-made. Coffee cannot be grown outside in Maine, but there are some fantastic coffee roasters in Maine. You will find some vendors peppered into the lists that do not have Maine-sourced foods. Some aisles will be mostly Maine-made but not Maine-sourced (example: Beer/Wine and the Coffee section of the Cereal/Coffee aisle). That said, it is not my goal to list every business that bakes bread and makes jams and jellies, even if they are made in Maine.

© 2010 Paul Gagne, All Rights Reserved