About the Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine

The Eat Local Foods Coalition (ELFC) is a state-wide non-profit network that seeks social change at a fundamental level: changing what we eat and how we make decisions about what we buy. ELFC is a coalition of organizations and individuals interested in creating a shift towards a locally-based food system that is economically vibrant, environmentally sustainable, and healthy.

To some, food system reform may not seem like a pressing social need. But food issues play a dominant role in a range of critical social issues, including poverty, hunger, corporate power, misuse of workers, loss of community, and environmental degradation. With each food purchase decision, consumers are — wittingly or not —making powerful choices that will determine the kind of future we live in.

ELFC was conceived to fill a key void by building public understanding of the full impact of food and farm issues and by using that growing public awareness to shape progressive new public policies. To date, ELFC has served three primary functions: 1) as a convener, pulling together different organizations to talk about relevant issues and to coordinate actions; and 2) as a media liaison, helping to get the word out about what is happening and what is possible within local agriculture and food systems and 3) as a policy advocate. Using modest resources, ELFC has achieved considerable results which include: growing its support base through monthly networking meetings; raising the visibility of local food issues through a number of well-timed and topical articles in several Maine media outlets, both large and small; and playing a constructive role in the revision of the state's food policy.

Our active constituency is diverse and includes food groups, farming organizations, fishing organizations, community farms and organizations, faith organizations, officials from various state agencies, and a number of concerned individuals. Working with and through our partners and through the media, we're reaching a broad cross-section of the Maine population.