Maine Farm and Sea Coop tapped for Bold Coast Ride Event

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine seeks to increase bicycle tourism in Maine through their BikeMaine event. Over 600 riders, staff, and volunteers participated in this 7 night, 354 mile ride along the Bold Coast - from Schoodic Point to Eastport and back. Community groups in each town pulled together to feed and house the Riders in a tent city located near the town center. Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative was contracted to provide consulting services to the community providers to insure a food safe, high quality and timely meals for breakfast and dinner daily. MFSC also provided catering services for one dinner and two breakfasts.

Consulting services included menu development, production and service reviews, food sourcing to maximize local, and layout design to accommodate buffet lines to speed service and maintain food quality. Community group skill and experience was stressed by the goal of feeding up 300 hungry riders in the first 45 minutes of the meal period. Most groups are comfortable serving up to 100 or so folks or larger numbers over a longer time period.

This was a taxing event where we moved each day: meals in a new town with all new crew. Our results were awesome: $30,000 spent on feeding the riders and volunteers with 55% sourced locally! Positive rider surveys after the event showed a great improvement over previous rides. The MFSC Chicken BBQ in Machias featured 100 chickens, raised and processed in Calias by 10th Village Farm; accompanied by Abenaki Flint Cornbread from Songbird Farms, Sauteed Green Beans (Crown of Maine Cooperative) with Shitake Mushrooms (Mosam Valley); Kale and Apple Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette (COM, Wyman’s) and Helen’s Hermit with Ice Cream for dessert. This meal was a whooping 83% local!!

This was a great team building event for our small staff as well. Jonah manned the BBQ trailer with the chicken, Ron was on the griddle for the veggies, Jon keep the cornbread and salad refilled with the help of serving staff from the Rotary Club and high school students on the dessert bar. It was also a chance for great publicity as the Bold Coast Ride had significant press coverage including an interview on WCSH with Ron and Bill Green.

MFSC is pleased again provide food services to the 2017 BikeMaine Ride, Path to the Peaks.