Apply for a Food Booth.
We are close to being full in the 2008 Food Area, but still are accepting applications from folks who don't mind being on the waiting list. We generally do have some attrition among our accepted applicants, but can't make any promises about space opening up. Application materials are posted below for anyone still interested in applying. Please download and read all materials. If you have any questions or would prefer that we send an application packet to you in the mail, please send an email or call us at 207-568-4142. Thanks!
Possibly the most important resource to take advantage of while preparing your application is our online, searchable database of certified organic food growers and processors. Click here. We are happy to help you find sources of Maine-grown, organic ingredients so don't hesitate to contact the office if you have questions. Melissa White, our Organic Marketing Coordinator, is the one to ask for.
Common Ground Country Food
A Slice of Heaven
One of the most dynamic and controversial sections of the Common Ground Country Fair is the food vendors’ area. Fairgoers come to Unity each fall looking for the best organic food Maine has to offer. Vendors who qualify to present offerings at the Fair must balance the challenges of independent business operation with rigorous Food Area guidelines. These guidelines ensure the quality food and sustainable growing practices that have given this annual feast its reputation for delicious and unexpected variety—Maine’s harvest cornucopia.
Every item served in this area is all organic and contains at least 50% Maine-grown ingredients (by weight). As we strive to encourage more imaginative and diverse culinary creations, the Food Subcommittee of Common Ground Country Fair balances strict guidelines with educational efforts and positive incentives. We want our vendors to succeed, not just in bringing fairgoers distinctive cuisine, but financially as well.
Maine's agricultural community is at the forefront of organic farming, but locating affordable ingredients is still a challenge. A food vendor at any other agricultural fair can use the least expensive or most readily available condiments, or package offerings in the cheapest cup or tray. Here, the person serving your meal has probably made every component of the dish, working directly with farmers and producers to bring you unsurpassed nourishment that tastes great. In cooperating with the Fair's dedicated recycling team, vendors pay increased costs for compostable packaging.
One way we inspire vendors to move toward our challenging goals is through education. As you walk around the Fair this year, look for posters listing menu items that are 75% and 100% Maine-grown. As you wait patiently for your serving, notice that the ingredient lists in each vendor's booth are marked with bright orange carrots that signify Maine-grown components. The variety may surprise you.
We invite you to try some of the more unfamiliar items that our creative cooks have brought. Whether a traditional Maine item such as switchel or a unique treat such as deep fried shiitake mushrooms, unexpected tastes win prizes at the Common Ground Country Fair. Keep your eyes open for last year's award winners, and help encourage next year's new ideas. Bon appetit!