Maine’s Cranberry Industry

Courtney Hammond to Discuss Maine’s Cranberry Industry

Courtney Hammond of Lynch Hill Farms will address the Bar Harbor Garden Club’s meeting on Thursday Nov. 8, at 1:00 p.m. at the Birch Bay Village Inn.

Courtney will give a brief description for the rise and fall of the Cranberry Industry in Maine, followed by an explanation for how his family developed some of the first commercial cranberry beds in Maine.  Since then, their business has transitioned to a fresh-market operation specializing in high quality fruit.  He’ll also review the growing, harvesting, processing, and marketing of their products.

Courtney had a career working as a Maine Forest Ranger, while he continued to help out on the family farm.  In 2016, he retired to take over the operation of the farm, along with his youngest sister.  Currently, Lynch Hill Farms consists of nearly two hundred acres of wild blueberries, six acres of three different varieties of cranberries, and over 2,000 shiitake mushroom logs.  Three generations of the family now help out on the farm in varying capacities.  Courtney is also a member of the state board of directors for the Maine Farm Bureau representing Washington and Hancock Counties.

The Bar Harbor Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and National Garden Clubs, Inc.   Photograph courtesy of Lynch Hill Farms.

This meeting is open to the public, but non-members are asked to reserve a seat at rsvp@barharborgardenclub.com or call 460-8496.