MEFTI catalyzes a social impact network focused on farm to institution in Maine to build a healthy and sustainable regional food system.
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MEFTI May 2022 Newsletter |
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Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute LAUNCHED |
STUDENT SUCCESS FOR A FUTURE WORLD: The Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute helps teams work together to create a culture of equity and wellness, improve food access, increase students leadership, and strengthen local food systems.
Congratulations to the first teams for the 2022-2023 school year! Each of these applicants is poised to be a leader in farm and sea to school and will have robust middle and high school student engagement:
· RSU 22 (Hampden, Newburgh, Winterport, & Frankfort);
· RSU 89 (Katahdin Schools);
· MSAD 17 (Oxford Hills); and
· North Haven Community School (K-12)
The Institute brings school teams together for an Academy Program where they build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan for Farm and Sea to School (FSTS) programming. Team members leave ready and able to support one another, to implement the action plan and learning school-wide, and to build shared leadership and capacity for the long haul. With the support of a coach, teams spend the next year putting their plans into action and connecting classroom, cafeteria, and community. A professional learning community supports individual team members with their unique role and helps them integrate the FSTS action plan.
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Maine Food Convergence Grows Connections, Collaborations,
Collective Action
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FORGING CONNECTION FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION: The Maine Food Convergence (MFC) and MYAN successfully hosted a youth food convergence circle in April 2022 to help engage more students leaders in local foods work, as part of ongoing work in Maine around equity, food systems improvements, and collective action. MEFTI is a partner and founding member of the MFC.
To find out more about the Food Policy Workgroup initiatives and Food Processing Infrastructure efforts on which MEFTI is partnering with local organizations and individuals, as well as to watch the March 2022 MFC reunion, visit the MFC website.
Anyone interested in joining the Food Processing workgroup and helping to provide access for all Mainers to fresh frozen foods year-round is welcome to contact Stephanie Cesario, Senior Programs Associate, Food Systems, at s.cesario@hccame.org.
The Maine Food Convergence 2021-2022 report can be found here.
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MNC’S Annual Conference “NUTRITION FROM THE SEA” is happening!
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NUTRITION AND THE SEA: MEFTI is one of the event sponsors for the upcoming Maine Nutrition Council annual Conference, at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel in Bar Harbor on May 11, 2022. For more information, conference agenda, and to register, click below.
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Farm to Institution Innovation at a Maine Correctional Facility
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FARM TO INSTITUTION BENEFITS ALL: Help support the production of this documentary highlighting innovative farm to institution work happening at Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston, ME- visit this website to view the video captured above and to learn more about how to donate: http://onewingpictures.com/mountain-view/
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Farm to Institution New England Grows |
COLLABORATIVE, SELF-RELIANT, AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS: By 2030, FINE's vision is for New England institutions and the FINE network to play leadership roles in cultivating a region that is moving towards self-reliance. They envision an equitable and just food system that provides access to healthy and abundant food for all New Englanders, and is defined by sustainable and productive land and ocean ecosystems.
FINE's vision is in alignment with those of many other food system entities, including the New England Food Vision created by Food Solutions New England. The vision they hold places emphasis on both the way that institutions and the farm to institution network will be operating, and the cultural conditions they see existing by 2030.
Visit Farm to Institution New England's (FINE) webpage in mid-May to discover FINE's new 2022 Advisory Council and to stay up to date on news coming from this backbone organization for a six-state network of nonprofit, public, and private entities working to mobilize the power of regional institutions to transform our food system.
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Farmer Supports and Business Resources |
GRANTS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Maine Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) now open for applications. Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the aim of this program is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations and on-farm conservation research and requires a 50-50 match. NRCS-Maine is particularly interested in proposals that will explore new conservation practice applications, inform improvements, or evaluate efficacy of existing practices and/or expand adoption of conservation practices offered in NRCS financial assistance programs. Application deadline: June 1, 2022..
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The Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network offers two workshops with Cynthia Flores, Labor-Movement founder, FREE FOR MAINE FARMERS. Registration is required.
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Permaculture Design Certificate Course. Taught and hosted by the Maine Ecological Design School and tailored to the Northeast. Registration required for this workshop, May 21- August 28.
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FINE's resource library has a wealth of farm to institution resources!
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Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory details what local food is available across the state and where to find your choices.
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Ongoing updates to the Maine Food Convergence-related outcomes and projects can be found here: |
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Have a local food highlight from your institution? Please send it to us! |
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Maine Farm to Institution Network is supported by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation |
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is the fiscal and staffing home to the Maine Farm to Institution Network
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