Jean Gauthier, director of MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Food and Nutrition Services, and David Gulak, manager of Barrels Community Market, stand in front of the market in Waterville. Photo by Aerin Raymond
The Barrels Community Market opened in June of 2009, and in less than two years it has become a thriving hub of activity in downtown Waterville. More than 1,000 people come to the market every month to attend educational programs, take advantage of volunteer opportunities, and buy locally produced foods and crafts -- a big boost to the city’s and the region’s economy.
Last year, Barrels Community Market began working with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to supply fresh produce to MaineGeneral Medical Center. “By buying locally, we reduce the time from ground to plate, which means the produce is much richer in healthy nutrients,” says Jean Gauthier, director of MaineGeneral’s Food and Nutrition Services.
Named for the Barrell Block, the historic building in which it is located, the market is the brainchild of Waterville Main Street, a nonprofit dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown area. Waterville Main Street got its own start in 2001, when the city was one of the first communities selected for the Maine Downtown Center’s Main Street program.
A 2010 grant from the Broad Reach Fund, a Maine Community Foundation donor-advised fund, has helped the market expand its educational offerings and develop a model for sustainability. “The community stands behind the market,” says manager David Gulak, and the future looks fresh, local, and healthy.