READFIELD -- There's no guarantee it will remain an orchard.

But if the Maine Farmland Trust successfully acquires Kents Hill Orchard on Route 17, the property is guaranteed to remain working farmland, the group's executive director told selectmen Monday night.

Belfast-based Maine Farmland Trust is brokering a deal to purchase the 84-acre orchard, which has been on the market more than a year. If the purchase goes through, the Trust would resell the land to a farmer at a reduced rate.

"The only guarantee we can provide is that there will be no houses there," Maine Farmland Trust Executive Director John Piotti told selectmen.

The group has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with owner Terry Drake, and it's starting an appeal to raise funds from local residents to support the purchase.

The Trust expects it will need to raise $125,000 to close the deal, said Piotti, a Democratic representative from Unity and the Maine House Majority Leader.

"What we have found from these kind of fundraising efforts is there are usually a few people who step up to the plate with big donations, and then we have a lot stepping up with $50 or $100 donations," he said. "We need both."

If the Trust can secure a federal grant, that money could wipe $60,000 off the $125,000 fundraising goal, according to Piotti. The Trust hasn't yet lined up a buyer for Kents Hill Orchard -- negotiations with an interested buyer recently fell through -- but Piotti said he expects there will be broad interest in the orchard. The Trust prescreens buyers to ensure credit worthiness, he said.

"It's a very nice piece of land from a farming perspective," Piotti said.

The Maine Farmland Trust would maintain the property if there's a lag between its purchase and sale to a farmer.

Selectmen appeared enthusiastic about the prospect of a deal. "I'm sure it will succeed," Selectman John Perry said.

"One of the reasons I think people would be willing to support this is because of the intrinsic value of coming to the orchard," said Kathryn Woodsum, the select board's chairman. "I could see it being of great concern to a lot of people, and I'm sure all of those people will be thrilled to see it remain agricultural."

Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435

mstone@centralmaine.com