There’s nothing more refreshing than a crunchy sour dill pickle at a summer cookout, and Maine Homestead Farm produces some of the best around. Owner Krista Gagne started making them in 2011 after her grandparents dropped off a paper bag full of cucumbers. That day, she made a batch of Bread and Butter Pickles, a crinkle cut cuke, tangy and satisfyingly sweet but not cloying. Family and friends loved them, and she soon had to quit her day job to keep up with demand.
No grandma’s recipes here—canning isn’t something that runs in her family, so Gagne came up with four more cucumber recipes through trial and error, including Dill Pickles, Sweet & Spicy Pickles, and bright yellow Mustard Pickles, which also includes cauliflower, pearl onions, and red peppers.
She also pickles other vegetables, like beets (delicious atop mashed potatoes), garlic, and Hot Dill Carrots. Her immensely popular Dilly Beans and Spicy Dill Asparagus are great stand-ins for celery in Bloody Mary cocktails.
My personal favorites are the verdant Zesty Zucchini Relish and Sweet Summer Relish, a blend of onions, garlic, and summer squash. Try them slathered on burgers and dogs, or mixed into potato salads and deviled eggs.
Maine Homestead Farm products are sold at farmers’ markets in York, Kittery, Kennebunk, Wells, Sanford, and Scarborough. A list of local retailers can be found on their website.
Maine Homestead Farm
6 Downing Road, Arundel, Maine
207-344-9274