Chipman Farm to open new stand in Raymond By Leah Hoenen

One of Maine’s longest-established farming families is set to open a new stand in Raymond, selling local produce, baked goods and preserved products.

Chipman Farm’s new building, on Route 302 just over the Raymond line, is expected to open by Memorial Day, said Elaine Chipman.

She said the 1,500 square-foot building in Raymond was designed by her husband, Doug, and includes a courtyard for hanging baskets and perennials and a bakery.

“Years ago, we had a bakery. So this is new for us again,” said Chipman. “We’ve hired a baker who bakes from scratch and will use a lot of our fruit and vegetables in the products,” she said. Baked goods will include pies, cookies, whoopie pies and strawberry shortcakes; the stand will also offer baked beans on the weekends and soups in the fall, she said.

Shoppers can expect to find a full line of fruit and vegetable crops through the fall, as well as a variety of Maine products, including wine, beer, cheese, milk and other local items.

The farm already has stands in Poland Spring and Gray and has had a presence in Raymond before the construction of the new stand, said Chipman.

“We’ve been in the area before. (It’s) a really busy route and we’ve been looking for a while to build something on 302,” said Chipman. David Greep allowed the Chipmans to take a long-term lease on the property, where they have erected the building, she said. “We plan on being over there for many years to come,” she said.

Chipman Farm is a family affair. The Chipmans’ daughters Tomi and Alana are the eighth generation to work the family’s farm, established in 1781, said Chipman.

“Both of them have decided to come back to the farm,” she said, noting that it is one of Maine’s oldest working farms.

“We work very hard, but we work as a family and feel like at the end of the day we’ve accomplished something,” said Chipman.

As the growing season progresses, Chipman said, the farm will employ a picking crew of 20 and a staff of 12 for the stands. “It’s nice to be able to buy fresh produce that people know was picked on our farm that morning. I can tell you the time it was picked and who picked it,” said Chipman.

Keep up with Chipman Farm on Facebook and online at www.chipmanfarm.net.