Carolyn Snell of Snell Farm puts out beets at the Deering Oaks farmers market. Local farmers have been dealing with drought conditions this growing season.
Bruce Hincks, of Meadowood Farm in Yarmouth, walks through his patch of brussels sprouts. Hincks, who has been farming for 40 years, said that this is the worst season, in terms of drought and heat, that he has seen in 10 or 12 years. The conditions are bringing out more pests and some of his veggies are a lot smaller than in previous, wetter, years.
Customers wait in line to make purchases at Grandson Farm's stand at the farmers market in Portland.
Cucumbers are among the "thirsty crops" that really need water.
Carl Johanson of Grandson Farm puts out tomatoes at the Deering Oaks farmers market. Tomatoes are plants that can tolerate the heat.
Grace Pease of Merrifield Farm puts out sweet corn at the Deering Oaks farmers market. Farmers in southern Maine have been hit harder by the dry conditions than those in the northern part of the state.
Pea pods at Meadowood Farm are almost half the size that they were at this time last year, according to Hincks.
From left, Marietta Mallon, 15, Cooper Bramble, 18, Eliot Bramble, 14, and Ben Mallon, 18, all from South Portland, work in the herb garden at Meadowood Farm.
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