|
Stay up to date with upcoming opportunities, events, resources, and news on the continuing work of Farm to Institution across the state of Maine.
Whether you are an advocate, farmer, educator, food service professional, or anyone interested in MEFTI's work across the supply chain, you will find valuable information to help us build a healthy and sustainable regional food system.
| | A fly gathers pollen from a newly opened dandelion flower, Maine. May 2025. Photo by Karl Koehler | | |
In This Email
- Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- Save the Date: Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Summit
- Announcing the 2025-2026 Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute
- Northeast Farm to Institution Summit
- News from the Network
- Donate to the Maine Immigrant Farmer Fund
- Community Arbor Day Celebration
- Harvest of the month
| | |
Mark your calanders! Join MEFTI for a day of connection, celebration, action, and learning! This one-day gathering brings together leaders, practitioners, and advocates from across the local food system including farmers, fishers, food producers, institutional buyers, educators, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations, all working to strengthen the Farm-to-Institution movement in Maine.
Stay tuned for more details.
| | New Publication! MEFTI partners at UMaine Share Findings from the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute | | |
On behalf of the Network, we extend a huge congratulations to our partners at UMaine—Amelia Sullivan, Bryn Kubinsky, and Jade McNamara—who recently published Building Sustainable Farm to School Programs in Rural Communities: Outcomes and Recommendations from the Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute in the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.
This publication marks a major milestone in the history of the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute and highlights the effectiveness of the ME-FSTSI as a training framework to support Farm to School efforts in participating schools. Since its inception, twelve school teams from Maine have participated in the Institute. You can reach the article here.
| | |
"I think the momentum comes through working with the power of those like-minded people. All of a sudden it doesn't feel like [farm to school] is an impossible thing to do at our school. It, it fuels you with all of these great ideas."
- ME-FSTSI Participant
| | Supporting Culturally Relevant Meals & Diverse Farming Communities in Portland's Farm to School | | |
Did you miss the recent Northeast Farm to Institution Conference?
This year’s gathering was a rare opportunity to connect with food system leaders from across the Northeast and beyond to share knowledge and support one another's work. For the first time, the conference was held in Maine, in Portland at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, where the state’s vibrant food system took center stage. A brief list of highlights included a tour of Portland's working waterfront and Oakhurst Dairy, a keynote address form Senator Craig Hickman, and delicious local food by Mainecourse by Sodexo.
We’re excited to share a recording of a powerful plenary session featuring Cumberland County Food Security Council, the Somali Bantu Community Association, Halal School Meals Network, Portland Public Schools, and Executive Chef Joseph Robins. The conversation explores collaboration, culturally relevant foods, challenges in the Farm to School movement, and the importance of food as a means of learning and connection.
| | Check out the Maine Farm & Sea to School Network's New Resources Page! | | 2025 New England Food Vision Prize | | |
The Henry P. Kendall Foundation is awarding $1.5 million to organizations working to build a better regional food system! This year's Prize aims to fortify recent progress and ensure that the region's students, farmers, fisherpersons, and producers continue to benefit from farm to school and campus programs. The program supports ideas that result in increased sourcing of regional food by educational institutions, more regional food in school kitchens and student meals, and increased demand for regional food by students and their families.
| | Infrastructure Investment Fund Survey | | The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is soliciting feedback from agriculture, food system, and forest products producers and professionals, as well and capital and technical service providers for these sectors, to help inform the structure and funding priorities of the new Agriculture, Food System, and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Fund. Either survey should take between 8 - 15 minutes to complete. Responses are due June 2. | | Legislation to Protect School Meals for All in Maine | | Maine’s universal school meals program is undergoing important policy discussions. Maine has introduced LD 577 An Act to Maximize Federal Funding and Protect Maine’s Universal School Meals Program. | | Are you interested in staying up to date with Food Policy in Maine? | | Join the Maine Food Policy Workgroup to receive monthly updates and participate in calls about food-related legislation in Maine. | | |
Harvest of the Month
Harvest of the Month (HOM) promotes the use of seasonal, local Maine products in schools.
Many schools in Maine have already made the pledge, and more local food is being served and eaten across the State. Learn more and get involved!
| | | |
This month we’re highlighting one of Maine’s most iconic crops. Wild blueberries are one of only three berries native to North America and grow naturally in fields and rocky hills called barrens in Maine. These tiny berries are bursting with flavor and rich in antioxidants. They work well across menus, from breakfast bars to salad dressings to desserts.
Whether you are serving them fresh in July or using frozen stock, now is a great time to plan your offerings and promote this uniquely Maine product. Featuring Wild Maine Blueberries is a simple way to connect students and customers to a fruit with deep roots in our state’s agricultural and cultural heritage.
Find recipes, marketing tools, and sourcing resources at maine.gov
| | For any questions about Maine Farm & Sea to Institution, please contact Healthy Communities of the Capital Area's Food Systems Team Alida Peterson at a.peterson@hccame.org & Sarah Sims at s.sims@hccame.org | |
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 Elmina B. Sewall Foundation | Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network is supported by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation | Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture | | | | |
