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Newsletter
September 2025
| | Stay up to date with upcoming opportunities, events, resources, and news on the continuing work of Farm & Sea to Institution across the State of Maine. | | Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon School-Based Food Hub, August 2025 | | |
In This Edition
- F2I Events Calendar
- MEFTI Summit Schedule is Live: Register Today
- Field Notes
- Maine Expands Local Foods Fund for Schools
- Adopt a Cow Program Deadline Approaching
- YoYA Meet-up at Common Ground Fair
- Join the Maine Youth Food Council
- Farm to CACFP Call for Proposals
- ME F2S Jobs, Funding, & Resources
- Maine Harvest of the Month: Tomatoes
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MEFTI Summit Schedule is Live -
Register Today!
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Join the Maine Farm and Sea to Institution Network and the Maine Farm to School Network on October 14, 2025 at Colby College for a full-day gathering sharing best practices, networking, exploring institutional markets, strengthening Farm to School, and all things Farm to Institution in Maine.
At the Summit, dive into:
- Proven strategies and best practices for local food procurement
- Hands-on skills and recipes to bring back to your cafeteria or food program
- Explore state and federal programs that support Farm to School and Farm to Institution - and meet the Regional Local Food Coordinator serving your district
- Federal and state policies reshaping our food system
- The current landscape of local food purchasing and organic agriculture in Maine
- …and more!
| | The MEFTI Summit is made possible with support from | | |
Last month, the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network hit the road to explore parts of Maine’s supply chain that bring local food from farms and fisheries to our tables.
In Portland, MEFTI joined the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association for a tour of the Portland Fish Exchange and the working waterfront, learning how seafood harvested from the Gulf of Maine moves from our waters through the fish auction to processors and markets across New England.
The Exchange handles more than 95% of all fish landed in Maine, making it a cornerstone of the state’s seafood economy. Visitors learned how buying preferences differ between states—shaped by taste and historical catch—and how important it is to broaden demand for the wide variety of sustainable species harvested in our local waters. Supporting these fisheries strengthens our local economy, sustains our working waterfronts, and ensures healthy food for our communities.
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In Auburn, MEFTI visited the School-Based Food Hub, where the Lewiston/Auburn/Lisbon district is working to bring more local scratch-cooked food to student's plates. This innovative initiative connects schools across the district by streamlining procurement, processing, and storage. The hub makes it easier for schools to serve fresh, nutritious meals while strengthening community partnerships and supporting local farmers.
This project is funded by the USDA School Food System Innovation Grant.
Learn more
A big thank you to everyone who joined MEFTI on these field trips!
Stay tuned for more opportunities
| | Maine Expands Local Foods Fund for Schools | | | | |
Earlier this summer, Maine expanded its support for local food in schools with the passage of the Act to Promote Local Seafood in Schools.
Since 2021, the state’s Local Foods Fund has reimbursed schools $1 for every $3 spent on Maine-grown products, up to $5,000 per year. The new law doubles that opportunity: schools will now be reimbursed $1 for every $2 spent, with a maximum of $10,000.
In 2023, Maine public schools spent about $600,000 on local foods and were reimbursed $205,000 through the fund. With the new expansion, schools can stretch their food budgets further while strengthening Maine’s farming and fishing communities.
At a time of funding cuts for Farm to School programming and Maine farmers, this expanded local food fund supports our children, families, and farmers.
Learn more about how schools can participate in this state program
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Adopt a Cow for your classroom
Deadline Approaching
Bring agriculture to life in your classroom this school year!
This free, year-long Adopt a Cow program is a fun way for students to connect with a local dairy farmer, follow the journey of a calf, and learn where their food comes from.
Enroll your classroom for the 2025–26 school year by September 15.
Learn more and sign up: www.discoverdairy.com/adopt
| | YoYA Meetup at Common Ground Fair | Youth ages 12–19 are invited to connect with peers from across the state who are passionate about food, farming, community, and the environment. Join us for a one-hour conversation on Friday, September 19, from 10–11 a.m. in the Windsor Tent at Common Ground to share ideas, explore challenges, and talk about the future of agriculture in Maine. | | | Opportunity for Maine high school students to join the Maine Youth Food Council | | |
Work with your school and local partners to tackle food insecurity, elevate youth voice in school meals, and build leadership and community organizing skills. You’ll also engage with food policy at the state and local level.
Full Plates Full Potential is building a diverse team of young Mainers passionate about food access
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Contact Kirsten Tenney at ktenney@fullplates.org
Let’s make sure every student and child in Maine has access to nutritious meals!
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Farm to CACFP
Call for Proposals
National Child Nutrition Conference
April 13 -17, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada
The National Association of CACFP Sponsor Associations is featuring a dedicated Farm to CACFP track to highlight how local food, gardening, and food education can support healthy habits and stronger connections in early care and education settings at the 2026 National Child Nutrition Conference.
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ME F2S Jobs, Funding, & Resources
Have an event, job, or news to share? Contact s.sims@hccame.org
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JOB BOARD
Regional Local Foods Coordinator – Penquis Region | Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Office | Temporary, part-time | Runs mid-September 2025 through June 30, 2026 | Anticipated start date September 15, 2025 | Applications open until filled |Apply today!
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GRANTS BOARD
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom
- Agricultural Awareness Grant — $1,000 (Deadline: Sept 12)
- Agricultural Awareness Grant — $2,000 (Deadline: Sept 12)
- School Garden & Greenhouse Grant — $2,000 (Deadline: Sept 12)
- Agricultural Leadership Grant — $1,000
- Statewide Agriculture Education Organization Grant
Learn more & apply
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom: Free Teacher Professional Development
Earn 6 contact hours / 0.6 CEUs while discovering new ways to integrate agriculture into your classroom.
Great Salt Bay, Damarscotta, ME | October 24, 2025
Register here
Farm to CACFP Bootcamp
A full day of expert-led sessions, success stories, sourcing strategies, and hands-on tools. Earn up to 5.5 CEUs.
September 24, 2025 | 11:00 AM–5:15 PM
Register here
IN OTHER NEWS
Could Child Care Centers Strengthen Local Food Systems?
New research highlights how child care centers could play a vital role in farm-to-institution markets. Dara Bloom of NC State shares insights on connecting child care providers with small farmers in North Carolina.
Read more (Civil Eats, July 28, 2025)
| | Harvest of the Month (HOM) is a nationwide marketing campaign that promotes the use of seasonally available, local products in schools. The program is available to Maine Schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and CACFP sites. Each month, a different local product is highlighted, and participating schools and CACFP Sponsors pledge to serve the product and promote it through educational materials and activities. | | |
TOMATO
Celebrate one of Maine’s favorite late-summer crops—tomatoes! Thriving in the warmth of August and September, Maine farmers grow dozens of varieties, from hearty slicers and paste tomatoes to colorful heirlooms and sweet cherry types. Tomatoes are not only delicious but also rich in vitamins A and C, making them a healthy and delicious addition to school meals!
👉 Explore Harvest of the Month (HOM) materials — posters, fact sheets, recipes, social media promo, and more!
👉 Find tomato recipes here
👉Lesson Plan Ideas:
Learn more about how schools can participate in Maine's Harvest of the Month program and bring fresh, local tomatoes into classrooms and cafeterias.
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For any questions about Maine Farm & Sea to Institution, please contact Healthy Communities of the Capital Area's Food Systems Coordinator
Alida Peterson at a.peterson@hccame.org
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MEFTI fosters collective power through collaboration and coordination to strengthen farm to institution efforts in Maine. By addressing systemic challenges and supporting public health, education, and the local food economy, MEFTI catalyzes a resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system that benefits all. To Learn more, visit mainefarmtoinstitution.org
| | | | Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network is supported by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation | | | | Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network is supported by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation | | | | |
