Harvest Maine is a product of evolution within Maine's local food ecosystem. As owner of Gather Restaurant, Matt Chappell was committed to working with local food producers. In 2011, he met Ben Slayton of Farmers' Gate, a locally sourced whole animal butcher shop. Over a decade of weekly deliveries and many conversations about food and food system dynamics, Matt and Ben began to wonder if there might be an opportunity to work together.
With many shared farm and food relationships and a mutual passion for snacks, Matt and Ben began recipe testing in early 2022. The search was on for a product that could use up items within the food system that were falling through the cracks.
Blemished, misshapen, or otherwise unwanted vegetables became the first target. Harvest Maine was created in July, just in time for harvest season! In December, Harvest Maine began selling 3 varieties of veggie spread: Broccomole, Celery Root/Red Pepper, and Beet/Carrot.
Their goal is healthy snacking that creates greater opportunities for hard working farmers, and also addresses some of the food waste that is cutting into the efficiency of our food system.
