Let them eat ... pie!

By Michele Morgan Bolton, Town Correspondent

The search is on for the best fruit pie in Dedham. Do you have what it takes to bring home the gold?

Bakers have about two weeks to perfect those mouth-watering home recipes before a showdown on Sunday, Aug. 15, at the Dedham Square Country Store.

Entries will fall into three categories in which the winners will win prizes -- and bragging rights: Best homemade pie and crust, best homemade pie with purchased crust, and best baked fruit dessert, ranging from crisps to cobblers and more.

A panel of "surprise" guest judges will choose the winners in each category beginning at 1 p.m., the organizers say.

The store is run by the Agnew family, who are Westwood residents and owners of Hanson's Lemon Thyme farm.

Greg Agnew Sr., and his son, also Greg, launched the new venture last winter at 626 High St., in renovated space in the Odd Fellows Building. Open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment, the country market is based on the idea of a summer farmers market but is designed to be sustainable and year-round.

"Our intent for the contest is to bring members of the community together to have fun and utilize the abundance of local fruit," said Agnew the elder. "So far, we expect some traditional, and not so traditional, fruit combinations."

Agnew said the new store is doing well despite the many outdoor farmers markets surrounding it. The family started a community supported agriculture program last spring, and, he said, due to grower contacts, "we expect to be able to provide year-round local produce."

That additionally includes local cheeses, bison, other local meats, turkey pot pies, and prepared pasta dinners all from local sources, he said.

"We will also host a canning class to help our customers enjoy year round seasonal favorites from their harvest, or ours,'' he said.

For more information on the pie contest, or to register, call proprietor Greg Agnew (the younger) at 781-326-8944, or send him an e-mail at agnew.g.j@comcast.net. The elder Agnew is reachable at greg@lemonthymefarm.com.

The store's website is http://www.dedhamsquarecountrystore.com.

Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at mmbolton1@verizon.net.