V O L . X X X N O. X I X
84
Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine
P H OTO E S S AY
FEEDING TIME: Fried foods -- often
sold by vendors that work the regional
or national circuit — are the choice of
serious gourmands at Maine's fairs, as
in Fryeburg (above right), which debuted
in 1851. Common Ground takes a
different tack, requiring the use of locally
grown organic ingredients at food stalls
and featuring farmers markets (above
left) that peddle all things organic,
including rare seeds and heirloom fruits.
FUN ZONE: The house usually wins at
the carnival games that dot the midway
of each fair, but not always. At the
Union Fair (above right), which has roots
going back to 1869, Mainers Courtney
Russo (left) and Mikaela Slagger flaunt
their take-home trophies. Not all of the
entertainment is on the ground. For
those wishing to test their centrifugal
skills, rides like the whirly experience
in Fryeburg (right) — the largest fair in
the state and the grand finale of every
season — are always an option.
