Community members buying in to new #FarmingtonME #FoodCoOp

by Jamie Azulay, April 14, 2026

"The Farmington Food Co-op is now open on Front Street. For $150, community members can purchase a lifetime membership and become a co-owner of the local market.

"That membership comes with monthly discounts and a say in how the business is run.

[...]

The co-op's board of directors is also focused on sourcing local products. Paige Hemond, bulk packager and manager, said, 'You put back into your local economy. You help the local farmers, and you help your neighbors, the people who work here, and all the producers.'

"The co-op is open to the public, but employees say the members will benefit the most. Skistimas explained, 'We track spending, so however much you spend, you get a percentage back at the end of the year.'

"That percentage will be determined by the members themselves when they look at the yearly revenue and vote on how that money should be spent. They already have around 250 members after opening on April 8.

"Cox said, 'I'm thrilled that the co-op’s coming in to do it. I've been members of co-ops in other places, and it works well.' The Neighboring Food Co-op Association reports that in the 2025 fiscal year, Maine's nine other food co-ops made $50.7 million in revenue.

" 'It's really about just keeping access alive and creating a strong, healthy community,' Skistimas said.

"If you are interested in getting involved, but you are not ready to buy in, the food co-op is hiring for customer service help. It is open seven days a week."

Source:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/community-members-buying-new-farmington-food-co-op/71018371

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity #FoodCooperatives #BuyLocal #LocalFood #MaineNews

ROAMING THE REGION VIA ION

As the birds start chirping, the sun shines longer and the gas prices continue to burn craters in our pockets. May I suggest ditching the four-wheeled guzzler for a more sustainable and, dare I say, entertaining way to explore Waterloo Region this spring? 

Typically, I use two main forms of transportation when abroad: the heel-toe express and public transit. I’ve often contemplated why I don’t practice certain “travel traits” at home. Longer and warmer days seem like an opportune time to transform thought into action—and to pass the fun on to you. 

The ION is many things to the Region’s residents—a controversial and costly undertaking, a novelty and a major artery of movement, to name a few. I propose that it is also a source of entertainment and enjoyment. 

Beyond the obvious delight of people watching and general observation of the world around us, the ION offers users a free 3D art gallery, face-to-face social interaction (who would have ever thought that was novel) and countless day-trip itineraries. 

Here is a four-stop trip to tickle your fancy the next time you’re itching to roam the region. 

Logistics 

If you’re not a regular ION user, consider using a Multi-Ride Fare Card for the day’s hop-on and hop-off journey. It’s a disposable electronic card on which you can load between five and 15 rides, and it includes transfers. Purchase them from onsite fare vending machines. Group fares can also be purchased and loaded onto EasyGo Fare Cards. If you already have an EasyGo Fare Card, fares are valid for 120 minutes. 

Stop 1: The Departure Point AT Conestoga Mall 

Before hopping on the train, take in the striking public art created by local artist and educator, Catherine Paleczny. “Continuum” is a multi-panel piece displaying the abundance and interconnectedness of natural and human resources in Waterloo Region. For the coders in the group, translate the binary code in the sky for your fellow travellers. Throughout your day, keep an eye out for the rest of the ION Public Art Passport installations. 

Stop 2: Pastries and Coffee At Research and Technology Park 

A friend and fellow traveller, Katie, insisted the next stop is a must. After a quick ride, hop off the ION and head to Maison Kookoo on Philip Street for “croissants and really lovely pastries”. Fuel for the day is a must, and there’s nothing like fresh baked goods to increase excitement, plus her past pastry recommendations have always been stellar.  

Stop 3: Fresh Air, Festivals and Patio Jams At  
Victoria Park 

Stretch your legs at Victoria Park. Watch out for geese, smile at strangers, enjoy a picnic or outdoor concert, maybe even hop on the swings. Acquaint yourself with the colourful pedestrian Gaukel Block in preparation for summer festivals, markets and more. If it’s a rainy day, head to AOK Craft Beer + Arcade, THEMUSEUM, or the Adventurers Guild Board Game & Video Game Café. 

Stop 4: Soundtrack Surprise At  
Fairview Park Mall 

Walk across the street to the Beat Goes On. Browse the stacks of vinyl, DVDs, CDs and more. Add extra fun into the mix by gamifying the visit. Purchase an album for your travel companion(s) and surprise them with it on the return ride or go on a hunt to find the coolest cover art or oddest band name.  

Return to Start 

After travelling from one end of the ION to another, it’s time to head back to where you started. Ride straight through without stopping or continue the hop-on hop-off adventure. The journey is yours to decide. 

#Online - Produce #SharingTables: An Approach to #GardenGrown #FoodAccess

April 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Free – $15

"This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

This webinar will explore #WaldoCounty Bounty’s Give and Take program, a stigma-free model for sharing surplus #GardenProduce through community drop-off sites. Participants will learn how the program operates, how new sites are selected, and how to start a #GiveAndTake site in their own community. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address farm losses and food insecurity in rural Waldo County, #Maine, where nearly 6,000 residents face #FoodInsecurity, the program connects local #gardeners, #farmers, and #neighbors to expand access to healthy, local food.

Speakers: Viña Lindley, UMaine Extension Horticulture Professional and Mattie John Bamman, Waldo County Bounty Communications Coordinator"

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/produce-sharing-tables-an-approach-to-garden-grown-food-access/

#SolarPunkSunday #SharingFood #MainersHelpingMainers #UMaineCooperativeExtension #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #BuildingComunity #GrowYourOwnFood #FeedingNeighbors #GYO #FarmToTable #LocalFarms #LocalFood #OnlineWorkshops

#BangorME - Bangor Winter #FarmersMarket

April 5, 2026

Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Venue: Sea Dog Brewing
Location: 26 Front St, Bangor.

FMI:
https://downtownbangor.com/events/bangor-winter-farmers-market/2026-04-05/

#SolarPunkSunday #LocalFood #BuyLocal #MaineEvents #MaineFarms

SHAWERMA PLUS: lOCAL, AWARD-WINNING

Waterloo’s Shawerma Plus is growing its fanbase across Ontario with the opening of two restaurants in Mississauga and one in Port Elgin. Founded in 2012 by Asem Ghabra and Baraat Khudeir, Shawerma Plus started with a space on King St. N. before moving to its current 1,000 square foot space in University Plaza in 2019. The family opened its second location at 1111 Westmount Rd. E. in 2016. While other shawarma chains have pursued aggressive provincial and national expansions, Jawad Ghabra, cofounder and partner at Shawerma Plus, said the brand is taking time to make sure each new restaurant meets their standards.

“We opened a few locations, and then we pulled the brake a bit to see what needs to be fixed or changed. The more locations we open, there is always a chance that we’re going to miss something with the quality, experience or culture that we bring,” Jawad said. The idea of planning the expansion of his family’s business is something Jawad said he never thought he would be doing when his father first told him about the idea for a shawarma restaurant in Jawad was living in Dubai, newly married and expecting his first child when he received a call from his father who was living in Waterloo.

“He’s always been passionate about food and catered on the side. He and my mom are amazing cooks. But I told him I didn’t recommend it because the success rate is very low. Restaurants are risky. They didn’t have the network either. But he wasn’t going to listen to any of us telling him to slow down or stop,” he said. Jawad said his father was set on opening a shawarma restaurant and spent months perfecting his recipe and looking for a space. The family is originally from Syria, and Jawad said his father had lost much of his savings when the family fled the country.

“He put all his remaining savings into the building and opening of the restaurant. That was a crazy risk, because that’s everything. There’s nothing left on the table,” Jawad said. Ghabra flew to Waterloo to help with the branding, website and the build-out of the restaurant. After returning to Dubai, the restaurant opened and, while sales were good, Asem told Jawad that he was quickly running out of capital and did not see the restaurant being open for more than a few months. With a young family and growing career in Dubai, Jawad knew that he could not let his father’s dream fail. Without being asked, he sent his father most of his savings.

“He asked why I did it, and I told him that I could tell from his voice that he didn’t want to give up. Six months down the line, he called back and said that money was gone. I genuinely remember this moment. I didn’t want them to close. I didn’t want to get into the food business. But I told my wife, ‘I’m going to quit my job and we’re gonna go to Canada’,” he said. Jawad and his family landed in Waterloo in 2013, and he quickly got to work at the restaurant, just not in the way he thought he would.

“We arrived at the restaurant and he said, ‘Jawad, go do the dishes and clean the washrooms’,” Jawad said. After giving up his life in Dubai, Jawad was stunned and asked why. His father gave him a lesson that would shape how Jawad would lead the restaurant from its original location to the growing franchise it is today.

“He said, ‘Let me ask you this, do you know how to make a shawarma? Do you know how to handle the register? Why are we even debating? Just go.’ I went. That’s how I started,” he said. “It’s been a crazy journey, and the journey is just not mine. This is the journey myself, my family, a lot of our employees, and partners have taken,” Jawad said.

Connecting community and local food

ONLINE — Those interested in learning about the connections between communities and local food systems, and how to strengthen these systems, can attend an upcoming Penn State Extension webinar. Claudia Schmidt, associate professor of mark…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Food #BrianMoyer #ClaudiaSchmidt #foodsystems #localfood #PennStateCooperativeExtension #RobinPerry-Smith #webinars
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2556144/connecting-community-and-local-food/