New brochure from MOFGA

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association has published the first in a series of seasonal food brochures to educate the public about the seasonal availability of Maine foods.

The first brochure lists foods such as rhubarb, asparagus, chard and other vegetables and herbs that are in season during May and June. The brochure includes recipes featuring the listed foods.

For more information, or to obtain a print quality pdf document of the brochure, contact Melissa White Pillsbury at 568-4142 or melissa@mofga.org.

SOUTH PORTLAND

‘Fling’ at Snow Squall

The Snow Squall Restaurant, 18 Ocean St., will hold a “Spring Fling” 5 to 8 p.m. today featuring local artists, a happy hour, appetizer specials and giveaways.

There will be locally made jewelry for sale, along with silkscreened clothing, pottery, stationery, fine art, handbags. skin care products and cupcakes.

For more information, call 799-0811.

PORTLAND

Farmers Market to open

In a sure sign of spring, the Portland Farmers Market opens for the season Saturday at Deering Oaks.

The market, which at the height of the season features 30 vendors, sets up from 7 a.m. to noon. In addition to chefs, gourmets and local food supporters, expect more tourists than usual at this year’s market after Travel + Leisure named the market one of the top 10 in the nation in its current edition.

The magazine cited the market’s long history (it’s been going continuously since 1768) and the unusual finds, including heirloom beets, striped German tomatoes, butterscotch melons and lacto-fermented sauerkraut.
For information, go to: portlandmainefarmersmarket.org

Gluten-free at Whole Foods

Saturday will be “Gluten-Free Day” at Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St.

Susan Fekety, a women’s health practitioner from True North Health Center in Falmouth, will talk from   9:30 to 10:30 a.m. about what gluten is, health challenges that come with a gluten allergy or celiac disease, and what steps to take for diagnosis.

Registration is not required for the lecture, which will be held in the store’s cafe.

Following Fekety’s talk, there will be a storewide sampling of gluten-free products.

For the iced-coffee crowd …

Do you love iced coffee?

Beginning Saturday, Cumberland Farms will be offering an iced version of its Farmhouse Blend coffee. And beginning May 7, the stores will offer free iced coffee to its customers every Friday through June 4.

Also available will be 10 different flavor shots, such as vanilla and hazelnut, for customers who like their iced coffee flavored.