TIMES RECORD • August 6, 2024
The American Farmland Trust has voted the the Crystal Spring Farmers Market the “best in Maine” for the third year in a row. The tradition began in 1999. Tom Settlemire, then-president of Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, organized the inaugural market with the goal of supporting an environmentally sound food system. Nestled on 331 conserved acres, the event now boasts 40 vendors weekly from May through October. On a single day, thousands of visitors purchase goods, including food-insecure community members who can access local produce using Harvest Bucks and SNAP benefits. Most farmers markets are organized by farmers. Crystal Spring Farms, being run by a land trust, sets it apart.