Pittsfield Buying Club seeks local farmers and new members

  PITTSFIELD – The Pittsfield Buying Club is proud to announce receipt of a grant from Farm Fresh for Maine, a program of the Maine Department of Agriculture in partnership with Western Mountains Alliance. The award provides buying club software – developed by “Internet Farmer” Jeremy Bloom of Portland – and technical support enabling the club to post and order locally grown and organic products online. Products can then be picked up in town.

   The Pittsfield Buying Club was formed by a group of friends and neighbors who began ordering together in December of 2010. Because the group has been small, the club met in kitchens and divvied up bulk items informally

   Now, the club is now opening its membership to the public.

   “This is a way to both increase support for local producers and to also increase buying power for the group. Instead of traveling all the way to the Belfast Co-op and paying Co-op prices for example, or having individuals drive individually to each farm, we order directly, receive orders at one location and break down bulk orders ourselves. The online software makes posting, ordering, compiling orders, and keeping track of Club finances much easier,” Co-chair and Club Coordinator Holly Zadra said.

   The club currently works with Snakeroot Organic Farm, Balfour Organic Dairy and Wit’s End Farm of Burnham in addition to the Crown of Maine Organic Cooperative (COMOC), a North Vassalboro distributor of Maine grown and produced items.

   Now, the club seeks to increase offerings from local farmers as well as increase the numbers of individuals ordering.

   The Pittsfield Buying Club invites local farmers interested in selling their products online as well as individuals interested in membership to contact Holly Zadra at pittsfieldbuyingclub@gmail.com or attend the annual meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. downstairs at the Pittsfield Public Library.

   For more information contact Holly Zadra at 487-2706.