MEFTI Catalyzes a social impact network focused on farm to institution in Maine to build a healthy and sustainable regional food system.

June Newsletter: Resources for sourcing local during COVID-19

What's Inside? COVID-19 Resources Maine Farm to Institution and Racial Equity MEFTI Leadership Team Spotlight Funding Opportunities Free Webinar Opportunities

COVID-19 Resources for Consumers:

Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory The Maine Farm and Seafood Directory details what local food is available across the state and what alternative pick-up options producers are using. Use this tool to support producers as they adjust to the changing social landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Directory 5 Steps to Support Local Seafood The Gulf of Maine Research Institute outlines how to best support seafood producers during the COVID-19 Pandemic:  Eat more seafood Connect with fishermen and sea farms Support restaurants Shop small retail Spread the word Learn More

COVID-19 Resources for Producers

UMaine Cooperative Extension COVID -19 Resources Includes COVID-19 resources on topics from Food Safety to Financing to Mental Health. Take the UMaine Cooperative Extension Farmer Survey HERE MOFGA's Primary COVID-19 Resource Document for Farmers "Clearinghouse of almost every topic and issue related to farming during the COVID-19 crisis, with links and information and resources about insurance, employees, farmers' markets, online marketing, loans and grants, etc." Take the National Organic Coalition (NOC) survey about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) HERE More COVID-19 resources for farmers can be found on our website Maine Coast Fishermen's Association COVID-19 Resources " MCFA has curated a list of resources to keep fishermen healthy and financially secure." ​ Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance COVID-19 and our seafood system NAMA "created this page to offer resources and action opportunities for local and regional food producers and community members."

COVID-19 Resources from FINE:

Farm to Institution New England's resource library has a wealth of farm to institution resources as well as relevant COVID-19 information. FINE created a w orking document for institutional matchmaking aimed to match surplus of food, distribution, storage and labor with need across Maine. How to shift focus in a crisis while remaining true to your mission? Dust off your strategic plan. RESOURCE LIBRARY WORKING DOCUMENT READ MORE

Maine Farm to Institution & Racial Equity

The Maine Farm to Institution Network recognizes how systemic racism is embedded in the institutions we work with, from schools to colleges & universities to hospitals to correctional facilities. We have so much work to do to create conditions for a just food system. We are working internally to define goals and next steps for advancing equity in our network. Here are some actions to take right now to support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) producers.

Support Somali Bantu Farmers

Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) has partnered with Agrarian Trust to secure farmland for SBCA farmers. Support their fundraiser for land security. DONATE

Support Latinx Farmworkers in our communities

Mano en Mano 's  Estamos Aquí Fund   is a mutual aid fund to support immigrants and farmworkers in Maine with financial challenges associated with COVID-19, especially those who are not eligible for government support right now. Community members can request and receive direct funds for whatever immediate needs they are facing including housing, utilities, food, and more.  DONATE

Resources from Farm to Institution New England Educate and challenge ourselves on racial equity - Food Solutions New England and the Racial Equity Challenge and Racial Equity Tools Support organizations and businesses committed to racial equity and owned by BIPOC - New England Grass Roots Environmental Fund and this list by Civil Eats  Recognize the native lands that we live and work on - Native Land Map Vote for leaders at all levels of government who will represent our values. Register to vote. Listen. Talk. Act. - Know Your Rights when protesting, and Dear White People, This is What We Want You to Do

Leadership Team Spotlight Maine Farm to Institution Network welcomed a new cohort of leaders this past fall to guide the future of the farm to institution movement in Maine. Each month we will highlight a Leadership Team member and the ways they've been involved with farm to institution work.

Shelley Goraj, MS, RD/LD   Organizational Affiliation: Alfond Center for Health Maine General Medical Center Job title: Food & Nutrition Director a) What's an exciting Farm to Institution project you are working on?   In discussion to look at an ultralocal milk producer for our individual packages of milk. b) What have you found to be the biggest barrier to local procurement?   Location of our facility in regards to the farm location /deliveries and product availability for retail pack size needs. c) What's your favorite local food?  Fresh carrots

Funding Opportunities

USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program Deadline: July 6, 2020 These grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production through Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. NFSN National Farm to School Network COVID-19 Relief Fund Deadline: July 6, 2020 Round two for applications is now open, organizations that directly serve and are led by Black people and Indigenous people will be prioritized in application review ( Read about the first round of funded projects ). Reinvestment Fund's 2020 Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Targeted Small Grants Program Deadline: July 10, 2020 For food retail and food enterprises working to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Deadline: August 28, 2020 The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. New England Grassroots Environment Fund: COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding Rolling until August 31, 2020 Seed grants are geared to groups launching new projects and/or evolving the scale of an existing project. Grants are intended to support community groups who represent the most exciting energy in the environmental movement that are not being reached by traditional funders.  COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Funding   Accepted on a rolling basis GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts. MOFGA Resources Resources for financing during COVID-19 and beyond.

Free Webinar Opportunities

Regional Farm to Corrections During COVID-19: Stories and Opportunities for Action Webinar Recording | Hosted by Farm to Institution New England Local Food Markets, Farm Labor and Metrics in a Time of Covid-19 Webinar Recording | Hosted by Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA) The Black Farmer Fund: Creating Pathways to Land Access & Food Sovereignty for Black Communities July 21, 2020, 2:30 - 4 pm ET | Hosted by Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust Cooperative Land Tenure with Leah Penniman August 18, 2020, 2:30 - 4 pm ET | Hosted by Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust National FSA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)   Webinar Recordings| Hosted by USDA Webs of Support: How Navajo Nation Sopl Leaders Are Advocating, Organizing and Farming During COVID-19 Webinar Recording (Password: 6F+727?Q) | Hosted by HEAL Food Alliance School of Political Leadership Sowing the Seeds of Liberation: BIPOC producers transforming food and farm systems   Webinar Recording |Hosted by HEAL Food Alliance Live Broadcast Series: The Hunger for Justice Weekly Broadcast and Webinar Recordings| Hosted by A Growing Culture (AGC)

Maine Farm to Institution Network is supported by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is the Fiscal and Staffing Home to the Maine Farm to Institution Network Follow HCCA's Work!

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