Senator Collins Visits Valley View Orchard Pies in Oxford
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Oxford, ME — U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Valley View Orchard Pies today to meet with employees and the new owners. Senator Collins congratulated the company on recently being named the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month and on receiving a Community Development Block Grant, which will allow it to continue to grow.
Valley View Orchard Pies has been in business for 30 years, but it was purchased last year by Lisa Dunham; her mother, Cindy Johnston; and two other family members. They recently moved the operation from Hebron to a 15,000 square foot facility in Oxford that provides them with bakery, storage, office, and retail space. Their 22 pie varieties are made using primarily local Maine ingredients, and they also offer a variety of whoopie pies, teacakes, and several different crisp and cobbler trays.
Valley View Orchard Pies worked with the Town of Oxford to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and were recently awarded $100,000 through the program. They are planning to use the funds for vans for transporting their products, freezers, expanding the building’s heating system, new boxes to showcase their products, mixers, and other items. As the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins has championed increased federal funding for the valuable CDBG program that supports a range of unique community development needs.
“Maine is renowned as a source of quality food, and Valley View Orchard Pies has contributed to this well-deserved reputation for decades. It is wonderful to see Lisa, Cindy, and their family investing in this business, supporting jobs, and building on Maine’s tradition,” saidSenator Collins. “I also commend them on working with the Town of Oxford to receive a CDBG grant, which will help their company continue to thrive. The improvements that this funding will provide illustrate the importance of this program, which is why I have strongly advocated for it.”
During her visit, Senator Collins was given a tour of the facility, including the office, pie making area, baking section, and packaging division. Employees also showed Senator Collins how to make her own cherry pie.
“As a baking enthusiast myself, I appreciated the skill, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence Valley View Orchard Pies puts into each of their products,” Senator Collins continued. “I also want to thank the employees for showing me their process for making a cherry pie, which I look forward to sharing with my husband and friends.”
Others attending today’s visit included Oxford Town Manager Butch Asselin; Rep. Kathleen Dillingham; Diane Jackson, a Business Advisor with Community Concepts Finance Corporation; and John Williams, executive director of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce.