CAPE ELIZABETH — The Jordan family is changing the way people access and shop for locally sourced and grown food.

Penny Jordan, owner of Jordan’s Farm on Wells Road, and Caitlin Jordan, of Alewive’s Brook Farm on Old Ocean House Road, have found ways to make it nearly impossible to avoid locally harvested produce, eggs, seafood and grains.

The women, distant cousins, are passionate about providing seasonal Maine products to the public. Starting in late June they want to begin a home delivery system to correspond with their online market.

“I want to talk to people and create energy around this movement,” Penny said. “I truly believe we have an opportunity to create a sustainable and regional food system with farmers driving the initiative.”

She took the farm stand concept to the next level a few years ago when she transformed a school bus into a mobile market. The bus allows her to bring produce and farm-fresh items to customers at senior housing developments and office buildings in Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland who may not otherwise have the time to shop at the farm.

This past winter Jordan and Alewive’s farms partnered with Mary Ellen and Austin Chadd of Green Spark Farm in South Portland to create an online winter market.

Twice a month people were given a choice of items to purchase online. They could select cheese, seafood, beef, chicken, desserts, tomato sauce, salad dressings and fresh produce from farms all over Maine. The farmers would put together the orders for customers to pick up at Jordan’s farm or in South Portland.

Now the Jordans have tweaked the program once more. Penny and Caitlin run an online, four-season farm market called Cape Farms’ Market. Like the winter market, items come from all over Maine. Unlike the winter market, they will deliver within a seven-mile radius, making it almost inexcusable to avoid eating locally throughout the summer.

Penny said she wants the four-season online market to be a regional food hub.

“I want people to know what they have when they get involved with Cape Farms’ Market,” she said. “We offer Maine food and extend to farms all over the state. We are so blessed to be connected to all these farmers who specialize in seafood, meats, cheese, grains, fruit, honey, wine – all from the land, all locally harvested.”

Jordan said her goal is to reach out to farms to get them involved and to give as many people access to locally produced items as possible. The delivery system will get fresh food to people who are interested in eating well but are too busy or have limited time to go to a market.

“We are trying to cater to a 24-hour customer – they can order online at any time of the day, and we bring it to them in the convenience of their own home,” she said. “We can put Maine products right in front of them.”

Caitlin Jordan said the Cape Farms’ Market online shopping cart will be open every week, Thursday evening through Monday morning. Customers can pick up their items Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. at Alewive’s Brook Farm, 83 Old Ocean House Road, Jordan’s Farm at 21 Wells Road, or the American Legion Hall parking lot at 413 Broadway in South Portland.

Customers are encouraged to contact either Jordan to sign up for home delivery.

“My passion is Maine agriculture and the viability of Maine farms,” Penny said.  “I want to connect the baker, the vegetable grower, the fisherman, the cheese maker and poultry farmer and bring their harvest to the public.”

For more information or to sign up for the Cape Farms’ Market visit Alewive’s Brook Farm online at alewivesbrookfarm.com or call 799-7743; or visit Jordan’s Farm at jordansfarm.com or call 671-5341.

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @amy_k_anderson.

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Penny Jordan and Caitlin Jordan

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