Stealing From A Maine Farm Stand Is Illegal And Wrong

Farm Stands are popping up around the state, which can be inviting to the wrong kinds of people.

Maine Farm Stands are a Time-Honored Tradition, But Some Take Advantage

Maine is filled with rural communities, where people grow vegetables and raise chickens in the backyard. It's one of the things I love about this state. You can go to an upscale restaurant for dinner in Bangor and stop on the way home to pick up some eggs and muffins at a roadside stand.

READ MORE: 25 Ways to Enjoy Tart, Red Good-for-You Rhubarb in Maine

Many of these farm stands are unmanned and work on the honor system. That means, visitors pick out what they want and then deposit the cash for the purchase in a designated place.

Most locations are using lock boxes with a slit in the top, because unsavory 'customers' are stealing the cash.

Mainers are Urged to Be Honest and Polite When Visiting Farm Stands

In one confusing instance I heard about recently, someone took $20 worth of baked goods, ripped a $20 bill in half, and deposited one half of the bill in the box. What did that accomplish? They still lost the $20 and stole the merchandise from the person who took the time to make those goodies.

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When you visit a farm stand, remember your ethics. You remember ethics, right? That's what you do when no one is looking:

• Park in a place that doesn't obstruct traffic.
• Don't crowd another person at the stand, but politely wait for your turn.
• Try not to handle what you're not going to buy.
• Pay for what you take.

Seriously, this is kindergarten-level learning. Be honest. Respect others. Don't take things that don't belong to you.

Support Maine Farm Stands, Which are Important for Locally Sourced Goods

Thank you to all the backyard gardeners, chicken caretakers, and amateur bakers who provide us with such delicious options each year. It's wonderful to know the products were made/grown here in our communities, and for us to support what you do.

And to the people who are trying to get something for free? Smile. Because there could be a camera recording your theft. Welcome to the 21st Century.