SOUTH PORTLAND – For one of the last days of the South Portland winter farmers market, merchants set up tables with an assortment of goods and visitors popped in to say hello and acquire locally made products, just weeks before the opening day of the summer market.

Alewives Brook Farm, Crêpe Elizabeth, Stillbrook Acres and Grandpa’s Speciality Smoked Meats occupied the space at the old Hamlin School gym at the corner of Sawyer and Ocean streets to sell crepes, carrots, potatoes, yogurt products, meat and an array of other goods.

Mike Raven of Grandpa’s Speciality was perhaps the outlier of the bunch. A co-owner with his wife Linda in Pittsfield, he was present to sell and offer samples of smoked polish kielbasa and maple bourbon bacon that he sources from a variety of farms in Pittsfield. Raven built the meat smoker himself.

“We’ll be here for the next two dates” he said of the indoor winter market, adding that he’ll also be present for the summer farmers market.

Heather Phinney of Stillbrook Acres sold variety of products, including jams but principally A2/A2 dairy products, a type of protein found in dairy that allows for easier digestion, Phinney said.

Lisa Bailey of Portland and Kevin Morin visited her table and sampled some of Phinney’s yogurt.

“Once you try it, it’s like crack,” Phinney said with a laugh.

Raven and Phinney estimate that about 40 to 50 people on average attend the winter farmers’ market every Sunday. The winter market will continue for the next two Sundays of April before the summer market begins Sunday, May 5 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. in the South Portland City Hall parking lot.

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