Blackie’s Farm Fresh Produce

Nice selection of farm fresh produce and dairy.

Blackie’s is the go-​to place for inexpensive, quality fresh produce! They are open really early and late, and they seem to sell a lot to local restaurants which is a good sign. The people are nice, the selection is plentiful, and the prices are incredible!

Blackie’s is one of the things I miss the most about living in the Lewiston/​Auburn area. For anyone who loves fresh fruit and veg — and especially those of us who live on a plant-​based diet — Blackie’s is a yearlong oasis of beautiful, bountiful produce. Their dedication to locality and seasonality is appreciated and one of the many reasons why I love this spot. As is the customer service — they treat every customer like they’re the most important customer in the entire world. I’ve witnessed them carry bags and boxes of produce elderly folks have purchased out to their car for them; I’ve also been on the receiving end of that kindness as the employees have patiently checked their «back room» for something I might specifically need that I can’t find (sometimes this is as neurotic and trivial as an avocado that’s «not so ripe»). I’ve even been called before by the folks who work here when something I needed finally came in. There’s no need for them to overreach for me like that… but they do… and it seems so effortless!
The selection here is usually amazing, too. As are the prices (though, I will admit: you can get cheaper tofu, cheese, and eggs elsewhere): avocados for .69 cents?! THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN IN MAINE!!! Enormous bags of fiddleheads from down the road for $ 2? Poblano peppers for mere change? Pumpkins for .29 to .49 cents a pound? It’s true what you’ve heard: you can get a banana box full of fruits and veg for around $ 30ish (my total is always either $ 11 or $ 30… every. single. time). I don’t know how they do it!
Yes, Portland’s farmers’ markets are great. But… there’s something very special, very hometown-​feeling, about Blackie’s (it doesn’t hurt that they’re far more budget-​friendly, too) that I’ve yet to find elsewhere!

Blackie’s is our first and often only source for produce! Open year round, this family-​owned business is a friendly, no-​frills alternative to the grocery store. They’ve got fruits and vegetables, butter, tofu, eggs, cheese, and a nice variety of other locally-​produced products. In the Autumn they’ve got pumpkins, gourds, and apples galore, and in December they’ve got holiday decorations and Christmas trees. We rarely go anywhere else!
Best of all, even when doing a «big shop» we only spend $ 35 or so for one huge box of everything you can imagine. The value is really exceptional, and the quality of the produce is top notch. It’s true that some days in the Summer you might see a few fruit flies or bees buzzing around outside but that’s because there’s so much ripe, delicious fruit around — I see this as a good thing! I like that they reuse produce boxes for orders rather than putting everything in new bags (though you can get bags on request).
Blackie’s does a great job of offering local products whenever possible, and they’ve got a few organic options (I hope they continue to expand this offering). If they can’t find it locally, you can often find the same brands that you’d see at the grocery store so you won’t be stuck missing something in a pinch.
The staff there are all great — friendly and helpful, they always offer to carry my purchases out to my car for me. My kids like coming with me as they have lollipops at the counter and they love to talk to everyone — they’re pretty well known there by now! In fact when I shop by myself the staff will ask me how the kids are doing and send a couple of lollipops home with me :) I’ve had Blackie and his daughter both bring lollipops to the car when we’ve waited while my husband ran in. A great sense of community and a place I look forward to visiting and supporting. My 8-​year old son tells me that he wants to work at Blackie’s when he’s old enough!
One night I was running late and pulled in to Blackie’s just as they were getting ready to close. I checked the clock and realized the time but before I could pull out Blackie himself came rushing out of the store and excitedly waved me in. When I went inside I apologized for being so late and he said «Oh, no problem! You take your time, we’ll stay here as long as you need us.» I really feel like a valued customer there and they’ve got me for as long as they’re around.
Really, though, this is the kind of place that you need to see for yourself to understand what a gem it is. It’s so unassuming and down to earth that many people I know overlook it, but it is totally worth stopping in!