Thank you to the people who have shopped at The Turkey Farm’s stand at the South Portland farmers market over the past year and a half.

Unfortunately, when market ended last week, so did our effort to create a lasting market for our products in South Portland. Sales cannot justify our participation again in the winter market. As to next summer, the word is that the City Council intends to move the market again, and we’re not able to start over for a third time. There has been enough turmoil and drama.

The move to Mill Creek Park this year certainly improved the market, but construction on all four sides of the market and inside the park made access difficult for customers. We knew going in that we were up against a big competitor in the Portland farmers markets, but we believed that South Portland offered greater variety and that customers would respond. Not enough did.

We found that while people in South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and other towns will travel to Portland to shop, people in Portland will not cross the billion-dollar bridge to shop in South Portland.

We won’t be marketing at the winter market at the former Hamlin School, but we again intend to use that site for customers to pick up Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys they have ordered.

Thank you again, and best of success to the other farmers and to customers who seek the best food at the South Portland farmers market.

Bob Neal
New Sharon