1. Strategies to Enhance Local Food Access
I’m Colleen and I’m the Local Foods Coordinator with the Cumberland County Food Security Council. CCFSC recently came out with a Closing the Hunger Gap with Local Food report which shows how our partner organizations are working on local food access. So I’m going to go through some aspects of the report to show examples of how organizations in maine are working on this issue to provide some context. Then we’ll hear from Abby and Clara on more specific policies and programs.
CCFSC Food Policy Forum

2. Local food supports nutritious diets, stimulates regional economies, sustains healthy environments and creates strong social connections.

3. Closing the Hunger Gap with Local Food in Cumberland County
Farming & Gardening Programs: Vulnerable People Producing Food
Farm to Institution: Access for Marginalized Communities
Farm to (Low-Income) Consumer
Farm to Charitable Food System
In the Closing the Hunger Gap with Local Food Report we focused on four types of local access projects: farming and gardening programs, farm to institution, farm to (low-income) consumer, and farm to charitable food system.

4. Farming Programs: Vulnerable People Producing Food
Cultivating Community: New American Sustainable Agriculture Project
Other refugee, veteran and beginning farmer projects
Cooperative Extension: Tidewater Farm
Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine (BFRN)
The first category of projects ones giving the growing and production power to vulnerable people - this includes immigrant and refugee farmer training programs as well as beginner farmer networks.

5. Gardening Programs: Vulnerable People Producing Food
Cultivating Community: Community Gardens
Public Housing Community Gardens
School Gardens
Pantry Gardens
Similarly, there are also gardening projects that allow community members to grow their own food.

6. Farm to Institution: Access for Marginalized Communities
Farm to School (Portland achieved 35% local in 2016)
Farm to College
CSA shares subsidized by health insurance provider and/or employer
Next is Farm to Institution - boths schools supporting farmers and there students with healthy, nutritious food. Also, CSA shares through employers.

7. Farm to (Low-Income) Consumer
SNAP-EBT/WIC at Farmers Markets (+Incentives)
Farm Stands/Mobile Farm Stands
Senior Farm Share
Farm to low income consumer - through various program. I believe Abby will talk about this but SNAP acceptance at farmers markets as well as Maine Harvest Bucks which gives low-income consumers additional incentives to shop locally. Also, farm stand - for example cultivating community runs farm stands in the community with incentives for low-income consumers. And the senior farm share program gets local food to low-income seniors.

8. Farm to Charitable Food System: Local Gathering for Donation
Community garden shared plots
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Harvest for the Hungry (Home gardens)
Hunters for the Hungry (Fishers)
Gleaning
And finally, farm to charitable food system. One example of this is local gathering for donation like gleaning. And there are policies that encourage farms to donate such as the Bill Emerson Act which protects food donors as well as tax incentives for businesses (including farms) that donate.

9. Farm to Charitable Food System: Food Bank
Good Shepherd Food Bank:
Mainers Feeding Mainers
And another example of farm to charitable food system is a food bank. And Clara will speak more about the Mainers Feeding Mainers Program in a little bit.

10. Abby Farnham, Maine Farmland Trust
LD 920: An Act To Establish the Fund To Support Local Fruits and Vegetables Purchasing
Abby Farnham from Maine Farmland Trust will now talk about LD 920.

11. Clara McConnell, Good Shepherd Food Bank
LD 786: An Act To Reduce Hunger and Promote Maine Agriculture
LD 795: Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Establish a Right to Food
LD 1159: Resolve, To End Hunger in Maine by 2030
LD 1167: An Act To Increase Consumption of Maine Foods in State Institutions
And Clara McConnell from GSFB will talk about Mainers Feeding Mainers as well as a few other bills.

12. Questions?