Seeking Info on Maine's Food Security Goals

[LisaF]

Can anyone point me toward either a person or perhaps a web site that outlines the State of Maine's goals around food security or targets for meeting x% of the state's "caloric needs" by a certain date, etc.? Thanks in advance! I suspect that the state's definition of "food security" may be different than a defintion that many of us on these boards might offer, but any documentation either way would be helpful.

Best,
Lisa

[Del Ketcham]

Lisa,

Great questions. I too am interested in these goals. In view of the recent dissolvement of "Partners for Ending Hunger" here in Maine the whole notion of where food security is heading in this State is leading me to looking at possible solutions and to be helpful in that effort..

Peace,

Del Ketcham

[Theresa Bonsey]

I went to a Quaker Fall Gathering last weekend and Anne D ("Andy") Burt is involved with Food and Faith--"Be a Good Apple! Local Foods Covenant Project" and may still be affiliated with Maine Council of Churches. In this workshop she facilitated, I believe she told us the current level of nutritional needs met by Maine food producers for typical Mainers is 18 or 20% and the goal (don't recall the year) is 80% to be met by Maine food producers. I believe she won't mind if I provide her email address...it's on the handouts she provides... [e-mail]
Theresa Bonsey

[KA Bartlett]

Here is a link to the Maine Food Policy Council at the Dept of Ag.

http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/information/foodpolicy.html

I went to one of their meetings and it was really interesting.

My question, though. is whether there has been any thought of forming a Public Food Policy Council, one not tied to the state? The State council is great, but they have all the restrictions of a gov't body (I think it took them a year or so to get all of the members approved before they could even start anything and now there is talk that the Dept. of Ag may not be interested in adopting anything new right now anyway....speculation that was mentioned at the meeting I attended in October).

It seems like there is a lot of interest in this subject and alot of groups that touch on it, but no unified effort to unite members of the public and diverse groups that have an interest. Other states and provinces have done it. Does anyone know of a movement here?

Kristen

[Del Ketcham]

We have the makings of that through this web site and the Eat Local Foods Coalition(ELFC) However we need to put together a groups that is dedicated to that and includes people from farm to fork. Farmers food distributors, hospitals, educational institutions, business people, restaurants, churches, govt officials etc, etc,. See list of partners that Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee put together several years ago and is still active today.

It seems to me that an organization similar to the could operate somewhat in tandum with the Maine Policy Council but be independent. The problem is putting it together and coordinating it but is seems to me with todays technology that it could be done. There also needs to be a core group(5 or so) that are single minded about it. Any single minded folk out there?

[Shannon Rooney]

Hi Lisa,
I heard about the New England Governor's Conference, Inc. making an effort in this area, but I don't know how extensive it is. Here are some links:

http://www.negc.org/publications.html - see the NEGC Resolution on Land Conservation pdf

http://www.farmland.org/news/pressreleases/New-England-Farm-and-Foo...

Hope this helps!
Shannon

[KA Bartlett]

I'm definately "single-minded" on this issue --some might say obsessed, but in a good way I'm sure :) I would be very interested in helping to get something organized. Any one else?