The Treasury Department announced a dozen grants around the country in their Healthy Foods Initiative program—and Maine will receive the largest award of $3 million. The money will go to Coastal Enterprises, Inc (CEI) of Wiscasset, which in turn will provide financing for businesses that bring healthy food to rural communities.

“This money will provide a source of capital for businesses who can make affordable, healthy food available in areas where it isn’t readily available and for families who might not have been able to otherwise afford it,” said Pingree.
“This means that a small grocery story will have access to capital to install a new cooler for fresh food or a company could get the financing to start a mobile farmers market that moves from town to town.”

A cool, wet spring contributed to a late start getting established for some garden vegetables around the state, but the harvest is now well under way. As fall progresses, there is still plenty of gardening and landscaping to be done before the weather turns cold.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension gardening, compost and soils experts are available to discuss how to put the garden to bed for the winter and what to include or exclude from backyard compost piles. Ornamental horticulture specialist Lois Berg Stack, a professor of sustainable agriculture, is available to discuss what home gardeners can do to prepare for winter and get a head start on next year’s garden.

Read more ›

The University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Policy Center has published a special issue of its Maine Policy Review, a 248-page assessment of Maine’s food and food systems, ranging from economics, energy and the environment to hunger, health and nutrition.

Read more ›

The Maine 4-H Foundation is inviting area businesses to participate in the Maine Clover Promotion Oct. 1-31 as part of its 4-H Month fundraising campaign.

The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The foundation calls the campaign a great way for all to contribute to the youth in our state and to identify local businesses as a youth supporter in their communities.

Read more ›

Congressman Mike Michaud announced his opposition to an amendment being pushed by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) to H.R. 2112, the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act. Woolsey’s amendment attempts to block the USDA from considering further comments on a proposed rule it published regarding school meal plans, which limits servings of potatoes and other starchy vegetables. The amendment is expected to be voted on later today or tomorrow.

“Blocking the consideration of public comments as the Department of Agriculture finalizes its rule doesn’t do anything to improve the nutritional value of school lunches,” said Michaud.

Read more ›

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is offering an amendment to a spending bill for the Department of Agriculture to help protect programs that support local farmers.

“Increasingly, families want to know where their food comes from and they want to know it was produced locally,” said Pingree. “But the bill we are voting on is designed to make it harder to promote local food.”

The spending bill being taken up in the House includes a provision that would create overly burdensome reporting requirements for the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative, a USDA program that helps support local food through a number of activities, including giving out loans to farmers and funding development of programs for young farmers and ranchers. Pingree’s amendment blocks those reporting requirements.

Read more ›

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association criticized the new law that repealed a 2009 law requiring pesticide applicators to provide advance notice of aerial pesticide applications to those who listed their property on a public registry.

“It is an attack on people’s right to know about pesticides,” said Associate Director Heather Spalding. Maine has one of the highest proportion of Organic and pesticide free farmers in America.

“We believe providing a reasonable notification system helps address concerns Maine people and families have about pesticides,” said Rep. Jeff McCabe

Read more ›

In a straight party-line vote of 20 – 15, Senate Republicans voted down a measure which would have allowed low income Mainers to use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) at local farmers’ markets. The bill, LD 735, sponsored by Assistant Democratic Leader Senator Justin Alfond, generated much debate on the Senate floor.

“There is no reason not to support this,” said Senator Alfond the sponsor of the proposed legisltaion. “It costs nothing to the state and it’s a smart way to encourage more fresh food to more Mainers.”

There are 100 farmers markets in Maine but only 15 percent have the technology needed to allow for EBT.

The bill as proposed would not have used tax payer dollars and would have been administered at no expense to the state.

Read more ›

Congresswoman Pingree touring South Berwick's elementary school greenhouse

“Maine schools are really making headway on the age-old question of how we get our kids to eat their vegetables. They’ve found that if students get their hands dirty growing vegetables, they’re much more likely to eat them,” said Pingree. “It’s very exciting to see these kids so engaged while they’re learning about habits that are healthy for them and their community. This is such a great project and it’s wonderful to see all the community support behind it.”

Read more ›

Maine’s certified organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production are now eligible for federal grants to help them implement conservation practices.

“Maine farmers know that if you take care of the land, it will take care of you. This grant is an excellent opportunity to support their commitment to sustainability and quality food,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “More and more consumers want organic products that are healthy for them and the environment. I hope this grant helps Maine farmers make the investments they need to grow their share of this expanding market.”

Pingree is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and a member of the subcommittee that oversees organic programs. She has also operated organic farms on North Haven Island.

Read more ›