Our Story

Harvest Maine grew naturally out of Maine’s local food scene. Matt Chappell, owner of Gather Restaurant, had long been committed to working with local farmers. Back in 2011, he met butcher Ben Slayton of Farmers’ Gate, and after years of weekly deliveries and food-talk, the two started wondering how they could team up.

With strong relationships across Maine’s farms — and a shared love of snacking — Matt and Ben began experimenting in early 2022. Their goal: turn the good food getting lost in the system into great snacks. Misshapen or unwanted veggies became their first target, leading to three upcycled spreads: Broccomole, Celery Root & Red Pepper, and Beet & Carrot.

In 2024, they launched Pummies, a fruit bite made from the pomace leftover from cider pressing. Healthy snacking, less waste — and more support for hardworking farmers.

-Ben & Matt