The Real Maine agricultural promotions program was created by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to promote Maine agricultural products. The Real Maine website is a valuable resource, connecting consumers to Maine farms and agricultural businesses. The site provides an opportunity for people to search for products or agricultural experiences they are interested in (e.g. pumpkins), learn about the businesses that offer those products (e.g. a pick-your-own pumpkin farm 10 miles away), and even build an itinerary of farms and businesses to visit (e.g. a pumpkin farm, a corn maze, a cidery, and an alpaca farm that offers cozy knits).
For farmers, the Real Maine website offers a platform to reach people interested in Maine agricultural products, farmers’ markets, and agritourism experiences. Site visitors are often people interested in buying local, shopping at places other than a box store, and/or looking to spend a day connecting with farm animals, picking their own produce, and/or enjoying delicious, fresh produce and value-added products like apple cider donuts, ice cream, cheese, and craft beverages.
In August, more than 8,000 unique viewers visited the Real Maine website. 1,719 of these site visitors used the Real Maine website as an entry point to a farm or food business’s website. Nearly 500 people utilized a Real Maine member’s profile to get directions to that member’s business.
What were site visitors searching for?
Among the common keyword searches on RealMaine.com in August:
Maine Family Farms – While searching for “Maine Family Farms” will not bring you to a specific agricultural product, it will show visitors that Maine’s farms are often multi-generational, spread across all 16 counties, play an important part in our culture and way of life, and are important to Maine’s food system.
Broccoli – There are more than 120 Real Maine members offering broccoli for sale when in season. Did you know that broccoli grows in cold seasons, is harvested on more than 3,000 acres in Maine from mid-July through October, and is a great source of Vitamin C and K, fiber, and other nutrients?
Pumpkins – There are nearly 200 Real Maine members offering pumpkins for sale when in season. Visitors may filter their search by pumpkins in a specific town or within a certain mileage radius.
Which Real Maine member profile had the most interactions?
The Real Maine profile for Crabtree’s Blueberries in Sebago, which offers pick-your-own blueberries, had the most visitor interactions in August.
Can I find events on the Real Maine website?
Yes! “Events in Maine” and “Maine Festivals” were both top keyword searches in August. The RealMaine.com Events Calendar provides visitors with a calendar of events hosted by Real Maine members, including the Fall Fiber Tour & Trail, scheduled for the first two weekends in October, and the 17th annual Maine Open Creamery Day, scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2025.
