BANGOR – Recently the group of 36 area farmers raising vegetables, fruits and livestock products, organized as The Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group, released their 2004 Maine Highlands Food and Farm map.

The organization’s members, farm names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses are listed in the map. The agricultural products and services the farms have available also are listed to enable customers to more easily find local farm and acquire their products.

The 22- by 17-inch two-sided full color map on glossy paper is available for free to consumers in the Piscataquis and Penobscot areas. Twenty thousands copies of the map have been printed, funded in part by the Piscataquis County Public Health Council, a Healthy Maine Partnership member. Development of the map was done with the support of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office and the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Copies of the map are available at Piscataquis or Penobscot County University of Maine Cooperative Extension Offices or Soil and Water Conservation District Offices.

The following businesses have supported the production of the map and have supplies of the map for distribution: Blue Seal Feeds Inc., Bangor; Realty of Maine, Bangor; Allen Freeman McDonnell Agency, Brewer; Lambs Farm, Sebec; Dorr’s Equipment, Bangor; Perkco Supply Inc., Exeter; Sherburne Farms, Dexter; Foxcroft Agway, Dover-Foxcroft; Roger Merchant Photographer, Dover-Foxcroft; Vine and Branch Family Farm, Bangor; Simply Soap, Garland; and Breakneck Ridge Farm, Blanchard.

Member farmers also have a supply of maps, and they include: Vine & Branch in Bangor; Breakneck Ridge Farm in Blanchard; Country Junction in Bradford; Penquis Valley Shepherd and Haven Farm in Brownville; Ash Hill View Deer Farm in Carmel; Olmsted’s Orchard, G & M Maple Products, and Maple Lane Farm in Charleston; Oak Ridge Farm in Clifton; Thunder Ridge Farm in Corinna; Thomas Farms and Critterwoods Outdoor Recreation Area, Lucky Stars Farm in Corinth, Windy View Farm in Dexter, Leaves & Blooms Greenhouse, Tudor Farm Orchard, and Shaw Historic Farm in Dover-Foxcroft.

Other farm members include Mapleshade Farm & Rumphius Dairy Goats in Garland; Perseverance Wild Blueberry Farm in Kingsbury Plantation; Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant; Ireland Farms in Lincoln; Wyman Farms in Milo; Nutkin Knoll Farm in Newburgh; Worcester’s Wild Blueberries in Ornville; Tarry Farm in Orono; Snow Brook Gardens and Checkerberry Farm in Parkman; Stutzman’s Farm, Mossflower Farm, Campbell/Richardson Farm and Hall’s Christmas Tree Farms, Inc. in Sangerville; Lamb’s Farm, La Bererie Farm and Blueberry Ridge Farm in Sebec, Nickerson’s Fresh Vegetables in St. Albans and Foss Farm in Stetson.

The Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group will be distributing this map throughout the area so folks living in or visiting Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties will be able to easily find a farm to purchase locally produced, high quality farm products. A farm direct seasonal availability guide is included with approximate harvest season for the different farm products. Also, a few farming facts and a fun quiz on farming topics can test one’s agriculture knowledge.

All interested farmers are invited to join the organization and have their farm listed on the next map that is produced. The next meeting of the group will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Stutzman’s Farm on Douty Hill Road in Sangerville. Contact the Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group at 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

For information, call Donna Lamb, extension educator, at 564-3301 or (800) 287-1491; e-mail dlamb@umext.maine.edu.