Maxwell’s Farm of Cape Elizabeth announced Sunday that 2024 marked their final season after more than 50 years in business.
Well-known as a popular destination for pick-your-own strawberries, Maxwell’s Farm has a history stretching back to the 18th Century. Maxwell’s Farm Market opened in Portland in 1973 and, at the same time, the family planted its first crop of pick-your-own strawberries.
In a statement posted to their Facebook page, the owners cite “growing challenges for small family farms and increasing barriers at most every turn” as the reasons behind the closure.
“We have poured love, stress, sweat, sleepless nights, and so much more into this land, this lifestyle, and this community,” they wrote. “After years of painstaking consideration and attempts to adapt to the challenges of farming in the current landscape, we have come to the very hard decision to close Maxwell’s Farm.”
“Please understand there is no single reason we are closing, but instead a myriad of realities,” the statement continued.
The owners went on to assert that the sudden end to this year’s season in response to a fruit fly infestation was not connected to their decision to shut down the farm.
“There will be an understandable temptation for some to correlate this season’s abrupt closure to the permanent closure of the farm,” they wrote. “However we can assure you this is not the case, as this decision has been growing for some time.”
“The Rodriguez/Bamford/Maxwell family could not have provided the past 51 years of sweet strawberry memories without you,” they concluded, “and for that, we thank you.”
Click Here to Read the Full Statement
Jordan’s Farm — another Cape Elizabeth mainstay — expressed support for Maxwell’s in the comment section underneath their announcement, as well as in a post of their own.
“This is sad news for Cape Elizabeth’s farming community (and Maine Agriculture),” they said. “Our farms have worked together for generations, always friends and partners in feeding our community. We will miss you!”
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="29161 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=29161">4 Comments
Very sad times, with Joe’s BIDENOMICS and soaring Mills taxes knocking out another family farm. Part of their land is in conservation – but there’s another 76+ acres they could sell – if they want. And who could blame them? This is beyond-prime land if they can build residential units – and the developers will be lining up for miles.
Between Bidenomics and Mills’ and the Dirty Dems’ dislike for success in Maine we’re seeing long time companies fold.
Oakhurst sold to out of state company and leaving Maine, Getchell Bros., long time ice makers for the ice machines in state, closing, the state forcing KTP to make a choice of whether to stay or jump the border and now Maxwell Farms, etc.
People need to travel to other states so they can realize just how poor and dirty Maine has become.
It’s so important for Mills & co to secure permanent power by bringing in thousands from third world countries (who should be going to countries closer to their own) that they are destroying the state.
Commie’s love large corporations they can control. Your food supply is increasingly under the control of Globalist depopulation perpetrators.
Another one bites the dust!!