Pineland Farms

What Pineland Farms does

Pineland Farms, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates a 5,000-acre integrated working farm, business campus, and educational/recreational venue in New Gloucester, Maine. The entity traces its land history to the Maine School for the Feeble Minded (1908) and was reorganized as a non-profit in the early 2000s. It serves families and individuals, event planners, schools, veterans with disabilities, food retailers, and wholesale buyers through a diversified portfolio that includes the on-site Market and Cafe, the Pineland Farms Dairy Company (the largest cheese producer in Maine, operating from a 75,000 sq ft facility in Bangor), Pineland Farms Natural Meats, the Produce Division, a maple Sugar House, an Equestrian Center, and the National Museum of the Morgan Horse. Supporting infrastructure comprises 30 kilometers of professionally designed multi-use trails, three greenhouses, a Certified Monarch Waystation, a commercial business campus managed with CB Richard Ellis-Boulos, and the VAST (Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training) program.

The business model spans multiple revenue mechanics: unit-priced retail at the Market, subscription/annual recreation passes (season ski passes $140-$160), usage-based farm passes and PYO pricing ($2.95-$5.99/lb for strawberries), professional-services event venue rentals with exclusive caterer The Black Tie Company, transaction-fee e-commerce through shop.pinelandfarms.org, transaction-fee wholesale cheese distribution via Hannaford Markets across the Eastern United States, and recurring commercial leasing on the business campus. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven, with the Hannaford relationship adding regional wholesale reach. Recent strategic activity has emphasized capacity expansion (Bangor dairy facility, Sugar House, Education Barn), institutional anchoring (Morgan Horse Museum, Malaga Island Walk), and a four-party hunger-relief partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank, Dairy Farmers of America, and the Libra Foundation that donated tens of thousands of pounds of cheese with up to $2 million in donation losses underwritten.

Technology is predominantly traditional: gravity tubing maple collection, greenhouse-based cultivation, professionally groomed trail networks, and a standard e-commerce storefront. No API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities are evidenced. Pricing varies by season and activity type, and the operator runs a hybrid segmentation across persona and business-unit customer groups. The organization is privately held with no disclosed parent company, no funding rounds (as expected for a 501(c)(3)), and leadership headed by Managing Director Cheryl Jalbert and Pineland Farms Dairy Company President & COO Mark Whitney.

Name

Pineland Farms

Legal name

Pineland Farms, Inc.

Website

https://pinelandfarms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pineland Farms is a Maine 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates a 5,000-acre working farm, retail market, recreation campus, and educational venue in New Gloucester, serving families, event clients, schools, veterans, and wholesale buyers via the state's largest cheese producer, Hannaford Markets, and on-site Market sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agritourism and Diversified Farm Operations

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Strawberry Farming (111333), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Other Animal Production (1129)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agritourism Eco-Lodges & Farm Nature Stays (THAAAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farmstay B&Bs & Agritourism Inns (THAGAHAG), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE), Forest Berries & Wild Fruit Harvesting (AFAMAFAE)

Keywords

• Agritourism services
• Farm education programs
• Artisan cheese production
• Outdoor recreation
• Event venue hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

New Gloucester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales - Market & Cafe: On-site retail market offering produce, groceries, bakery, deli, meats, cheeses, and gifts. Breakfast and lunch available for takeout. Open daily with extended hours.
2. Recreation Passes & Activities: Day passes and season passes for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, disc golf, hiking, and trail access. Includes ski passes ($19-24 day passes, $140-160 season passes) and recreation activity fees.
3. Farm Visits & Education Programs: 2-hour farm passes for educational visits to Family Farmyard, Valley Farm, and Sugar House. Family programs, adult programming, group visits, and special events.
4. Event Venue Rentals: Wedding and corporate event venue rentals with catering partner The Black Tie Company. Indoor and outdoor venues, guest houses, facility rentals.
5. E-commerce & Online Store: Online store for cheese, produce, and gift products with pickup and delivery options. Shop.pinelandfarms.org platform.
6. Agritourism Experiences: Pick-your-own produce (strawberries, produce), corn maze, pumpkin patch, graze dinner series, and seasonal events.
7. Wholesale Cheese & Dairy Distribution: Pineland Farms Dairy Company produces 13 varieties of cheese for retail and foodservice distribution throughout Eastern US. Products sold in Hannaford Markets and other retailers.
8. Business Campus Leasing: Commercial space leasing to tenants on the Pineland campus. Managed through CB Richard Ellis - Boulos Company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pineland Farms operates a 5,000-acre agritourism destination in New Gloucester, Maine combining a working farm, retail Market and Cafe, award-winning dairy production, natural meats, pick-your-own produce, year-round outdoor recreation (hiking, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, disc golf), farm education programs, adaptive sports for veterans (VAST), weddings and corporate event venues, overnight guest accommodations, and a commercial business campus. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serves both individual visitors and wholesale/grocery customers through on-site retail, e-commerce, and regional distributor networks.

Product overview

Pineland Farms is a diversified 5,000-acre agritourism destination in New Gloucester, Maine, consisting of multiple integrated product lines: a retail Market offering grocery, deli, bakery, and prepared foods; natural meats and dairy/cheese production operations (Pineland Farms Natural Meats and Pineland Farms Dairy Company, the state's largest cheese producer with award-winning products); farm education and farm visits with a Family Farmyard showcasing various livestock; year-round outdoor recreation including ski trails, hiking, and disc golf; a VAST program for adaptive sports for veterans; event venues for weddings and corporate gatherings; overnight accommodations; a commercial business campus; and agricultural operations including produce, maple sugaring, and an equestrian center. The offerings span retail, food production, education, recreation, hospitality, and commercial real estate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pineland Farms Natural Meats: Natural meats division with its own website at pinelandnaturalmeats.com
• Pineland Farms Dairy Company
• The Market at Pineland Farms

Products and services

• The Market at Pineland Farms On-site retail grocery market and cafe in New Gloucester, Maine offering produce, bakery items, kitchen and deli foods, grocery goods, meats, cheeses, and gifts. Located at the Welcome Center and open daily.
• Pineland Farms Dairy Company Dairy operation producing 13 cheese varieties including Cheddar, Colby Jack, Smoked Gouda, and Ranch Curds, with facilities in New Gloucester and Bangor, Maine. Award-winning cheeses recognized at 2019 World Cheese Awards (Bronze) and 2024 Big E Cheese Awards (Gold). Distributed wholesale through Hannaford Markets across the Eastern United States.
• Pineland Farms Natural Meats Meat company producing natural beef and meat products, sold through the on-site Market and online.
• Farm Education and Farm Visits Educational programs and farm visits for families, school groups, and visitors including a Family Farmyard with goats, sheep, chickens, ponies, peafowl, and barn cats. Includes a 2-hour farm pass for self-guided tours and a live goat cam.
• Recreation Activities Year-round outdoor recreation including approximately 30 kilometers of trails for hiking, Nordic (cross-country) skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, fat biking, disc golf (three 18-hole courses), tennis, sledding, and ice skating.
• VAST (Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training) Adaptive sports program promoting lifelong health and well-being of veterans with disabilities through archery, cycling, fishing, and other physical activities.
• The Gardens at Pineland Farms Horticultural gardens including The Garden, Lilac Garden, Cutting Garden, Annual Displays, and Farmyard Garden, featuring a 1-acre Certified Monarch Waystation for butterfly conservation.
• Produce Division and Pick Your Own Agricultural operations including pick-your-own strawberries (30 acres), pumpkins, and produce available at Gillespie Farm. Includes a seasonal Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch attraction.
• Maple Sugar House Sugar house operation producing Maine maple syrup with a gravity tubing system, offering demonstrations during Maple Week (March) and Maine Maple Sunday.
• Pineland Business Campus Commercial real estate campus offering leasing space and property management for businesses, with leasing handled by CB Richard Ellis Boulos Company.
• Weddings and Occasions Event venue services for weddings, corporate gatherings, and special occasions including indoor and outdoor venues, guest houses, and catering partnerships with The Black Tie Company.
• Guest House (Stay at Pineland) Overnight accommodations including the Denekas House guest house for visitors wanting to stay on the property.
• Equestrian Center Horse facilities and programs located at 1545 Intervale Road offering equestrian activities and services, in cooperation with the National Museum of the Morgan Horse and Cabot Morgans.
• Valley Farm and Family Farmyard Working dairy farm and educational farmyard showcasing Highland cattle (Rona, Norma, Stanley), goats (Puck, Tansy), Mangalitsa pigs from Old Crow Ranch, and various farm animals for educational visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22,000 annual visitors to Family Farmyard and Corn Maze
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Good Shepherd Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2020Four-organization partnership to address hunger relief and support Maine dairy farmers. Pineland Farms Dairy donates cheese to Good Shepherd Food Bank's network of 500+ partner agencies including food pantries, meal sites, shelters, and schools. Initial commitment of 26,000+ pounds of cheese with potential to total 200,000 pounds.
• Dairy Farmers of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2020National dairy cooperative providing donated milk to Pineland Farms Dairy for cheese production as part of the hunger relief partnership. DFA members' milk is processed into cheese for donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank.
• The Black Tie CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive catering partner for weddings and corporate events at Pineland Farms. Handles all event catering including creative cuisine tailored to client specifications, seasons, and event style.
• Maine AdaptiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides specialized adaptive equipment for VAST cycling program, enabling veterans with disabilities to participate in outdoor recreation.
• Northeast PassageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides adaptive recreational equipment for VAST programming, supporting veterans with disabilities in outdoor activities.
• Boothbay Harbor Lobstermen's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated BBQ lunch for VAST veterans boat trip to Boothbay Harbor.
• Vets on the WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes fishing trips for VAST program participants, providing pontoon boat and equipment.
• Freedom Boat Club / Moose Landing MarinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated use of pontoon boat for VAST fishing trips on Brandy and Long Ponds.
• Travis Mills FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAST brings archery instruction and equipment to Veterans attending Travis Mills Foundation Retreat programs in Rome, ME.
• National Museum of the Morgan HorseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum relocated to cooperation with Cabot Morgans and Pineland Farms Equestrian Center.
• CB Richard Ellis - Boulos CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial real estate firm handling leasing of business campus space at Pineland Farms. Contacts: Drew Sigfridson and Claire Richardson.
• Old Crow RanchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage breed pig supplier (Mangalitsas) for Farmyard educational programming.
• Partner Nordic CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrail pass discounts at Bethel Village Trails, Carter's XC Ski Center, Rangeley Lakes Trails Center, and Titcomb Nordic for season pass holders.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Working farm and education center in Pocantico Hills, NY offering public programming, on-site farm market, and dining. Closely comparable to Pineland Farms as an integrated farm + education + food retail destination.
• Shelburne Farms: 1,400-acre working farm, education nonprofit, and inn in Shelburne, VT. Highly comparable to Pineland Farms as a multi-revenue farm + hospitality + education destination in the same New England region.
• Billings Farm & Museum: Working Jersey dairy farm and museum in Woodstock, VT with public programming, farm products, and recreation. Directly comparable to Pineland Farms' dairy + education + visitor experience model.
• Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment: Freeport, ME-based working farm and education nonprofit with camping, farm store, and public programming. Comparable Maine geography, mission-driven farm + education model, and visitor-facing recreation.
• Fair Oaks Farms: Large-scale agritourism destination in Fair Oaks, IN with dairy tours, restaurants, hotel, and educational programming. Comparable diversified agritourism + dairy production model at greater scale.
• Smolak Farms: North Andover, MA working farm offering pick-your-own, farm stand, events, and education. Comparable New England agritourism + retail + events offering on a smaller acreage footprint.
• Liberty Hill Farm: Vermont working dairy farm offering farmstay accommodations, meals, and recreation. Comparable to Pineland Farms' lodging + farm + recreation offering in the same New England region.

Regional players

• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Maine-based botanical gardens with public programming, trails, and education. Comparable as a regional Maine nature-based visitor destination, though without the farm production and food retail dimensions.

Broad incumbents

• Hannaford (dairy supplier relationship): Regional supermarket chain and Pineland Farms' anchor wholesale distribution partner. Relevant as both a channel partner and the dominant regional grocery incumbent shaping cheese/dairy retail dynamics.

Others

• Dairy Farmers of America: National dairy cooperative providing milk supply to Pineland Farms Dairy for cheese production. Relevant as a key input partner for the dairy business and as a benchmark for scaled dairy operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pinelandfarmsME
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pineland-farms
• Instagraminstagram.com/pinelandfarms
• Xx.com/PinelandFarms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pineland Farms