Getting to 30% Regional Food Consumption by 2030

Can New England feed itself in the years to come? The New England State Food System Planners Partnership, a collaboration between Maine Food Strategy, five other state-level food system organizations and Food Solutions New England, released a report on June 5th that outlines the critical role Maine can play in making the region’s food system stronger and more self-reliant. The report, a product of 16 researchers exploring the opportunities and needs along the food supply chain in New England, highlights the land, sea, and labor needs of the region, consumer purchasing metrics, distribution trends, and population projections that will impact the region’s ability to feed itself in the coming years. The Partnership framed the report around a regional goal of producing and consuming 30% of New England’s food needs by 2030.

The report illustrates the opportunity available to Maine in stabilizing the region’s food system. Maine is home to only nine percent of the region’s population, but holds more than 33% of the region’s agricultural land. As a result, despite its small proportion of New England’s population, Maine is home to 11% of New England’s food system employment, and just over eight percent of New England’s food retail sales, a $7 billion economic industry for the state. In contrast, a state like Connecticut is home to 24% of the region’s population but only 10% of its farmland, ensuring that in order to make its food system more reliant on local food, it must capitalize on available production capabilities of nearby states – such as Maine.

The gap between what Maine produces and what it consumes can be exported to support our economy, jobs, and our communities. We can rely on an unstable and unpredictable global supply chain or feed our neighbors right next door here in New England. Together, we can build a comprehensive food system development plan here in Maine in order to strengthen local farms and food businesses, be less dependent on a global food supply, and expand access to agricultural land and retain our fisheries landings so more of the food consumed here can be produced here.

Becoming more self-reliant requires expanding our food supply chains, building up our infrastructure, and retaining control of our land and sea resources. Food production is heavily concentrated in the northern part of our region, where agricultural land is more abundant. It is our responsibility to ensure that policies to strengthen the local food system are equitable, so we can all access the resources needed to feed our communities.

Read the full report here.

It's CSA sign up time!

Here are a few of the area farms that are offering CSA sign ups right now. Each CSA program operates a little differently so please click the links below to learn more.

If you are a farm and would like us to add your information to this list, please contact us!

Harvest Tide Farm, Bowdoinham

Fairwinds Farm, Bowdoinham

Apple Creek Farm, Bowdoinham

Phil’s Farm, Bowdoinham

Sound Pine Farm, Brunswick

Whatley Farm, Topsham

Farm Job Opportunities: 2023

Here are a few of the area farms hiring right now…click the farm name for full job listing!

If you would like us to help post a job, please email merrymeetingfc@gmail.com!

Two good places to search for farm jobs: Good Food Jobs and Maine Job Link.

Fairwinds Farm, Bowdoinham

We have openings for various positions, from field work to market work...full and part-time.

If you like working in a fast-paced, outdoor environment, are self-motivated and a team worker, then we want to hear from you!

Please email us at fairwindsfarm08@gmail.com for more information...and see about becoming a part of our awesome crew!

Apple Creek Farm, Bowdoinham

Apple Creek Farm is an organic livestock farm in Bowdoinham Maine operated by Abby Sadauckas & Jake Galle. Our farm is run primarily by Abby and Jake. Their roles support each other to ensure the smooth running of farm operations. Our employees assist with the day-to-day farm management and help complete projects that will support the farm over time. The farm markets diverse livestock products year-round at farmers’ markets, through CSAs and local foods markets. 2023 is the farm’s ninth season. The farm is located on two primary properties and leases additional acreage throughout Bowdoinham.

2023 Positions Available: Assistant Farm Manager, Part-Time Farm Crew, Market Crew

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until February 10th.

Dandelion Spring Farm, Bowdoinham

Located 40 minutes north of Portland, Maine, and close to many towns in the Lewiston, Litchfield, Gardiner, region.   Half of our produce is currently distributed at two farmers’ markets and the other half to direct to consumer wholesale accounts.  

We encourage applicants interested in full time and part time work.  This is for a diversified farm worker position.  Approximately half of one’s time will be spent harvesting, washing, and packing produce.  The other half of the time will be dedicated to planting, moving irrigation, weeding, and other field details.  Days are diverse and yet we also have a rhythm to our week. 

Full Time - employment Monday-Thursday (7-4) and Friday (7-5) is our ideal applicant 

Part Time - will consider applicants for a minimum of three days a week (7-4). ** Currently looking for applicants willing to work Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday ** 

Six River Farm, Bowdoinham

Six River Farm is an organic vegetable farm located in Bowdoinham, Maine.  Our farm is made possible by the hard work of our crew. Our farm crew position is the core of our farm: it's a basic, do-everything farm position. Employees participate in all aspects of work on the farm, from planting to weeding to harvesting. We offer an opportunity to work outside and learn many aspects of organic vegetable production. We think farm work is very rewarding, but it can also be very tiring and challenging. We work in all weather conditions throughout a long growing season. Therefore we look to hire individuals who are self-motivated, appreciate hard work, and have a sense of humor.

This position begins on April 3rd and ends on November 22nd.  Additional winter work may be available to employees interested in working a second season.  Hours are M-F, 7am-4pm and 6am-3pm July-Aug.  Applicants must be able to commit to the full farm season.  Starting pay is $16.50/hr.  On farm housing is not offered as part of the position.  Prior farm experience or comparable outdoor work (landscaping,trail crew, etc) is preferred, but not required.

Dragonfly Cove Farm, Dresden

We are looking for occasional farm work- primarily cleaning pens in winter and help with fencing in the spring. It is heavy, hard work. Can be on weekends or during week. $15.00 hour and we will provide lunch.

Contact: Marge.kilkelly@gmail.com or 207.380.7783

View Dragonfly Cove Farm’s Facebook page here.

Goronson Farm, Dresden

Goranson Farm is a diversified year-round organic vegetable farm in Dresden, ME: less than an hour from Portland and Lewiston, and 30 minutes or less from Brunswick, Augusta, and Damariscotta. Our talented and diverse crew is good-humored, thoughtful, and motivated; together we grow and harvest veggies and fruit for three winter markets, five summer markets, year-round wholesale accounts, and weekly gleaner donations. Our mission is to steward this precious farmland, provide good jobs, and feed all local people the highest-quality food. We have been growing on the same piece of land since 1960 and community is everything to us.

Please check out our social media and website for more of an idea about our seasons.

People of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and identities who have strong physical endurance and love to work outside in all weather are encouraged to apply. Please email us your resume and a cover letter describing why you want to farm with us. We will be in touch within a few weeks to organize an interview with potential to start immediately.

Lost and Found Farm, Dresden

Lost & Found Farm is hiring a dynamic team member to join our busy flower season! We grow hundreds of varieties of flowers for our three busy farmers markets and wholesale accounts. We are looking for a team player who is willing to work through tough weather conditions and still keep a positive attitude. We are a small team, often individuals work independently. We are willing to train the right person, but prior flower farming experience is a plus!

Months: May-October

Days: Mondays and Thursdays

Hours: 7:30-3:30, earlier start time during blueberry season/ potential to be combined with blueberry harvest position if desired

Compensation: Hourly, starting at $16/hr (unpaid lunch)

Replenova Farm, Durham

The farm is located in Durham, ME about 25 minutes north of Portland and 10 minutes from Freeport, ME. We are on a 17-acre piece of land. 10 acres of hay, 2 acres of woods, 1.5 acres of crops, a farm store and 5 high tunnels. We need help from late May to Early November.

1-2 days/week in May, 3-5 days/week June – Sept, 1-3 days/week in Oct/Nov

Possibility to work in the farm store on some Saturdays (8:30 am -2:30 pm)

$17/hr and seconds of vegetables will be available all season

Tender Soles Farm, Richmond

Come join our farm crew this season - we are looking for people for a full time and part time positions.

Our employees get to be immersed in all parts of the farm- from seedlings to transplanting to harvest to stocking the farm stand, attending markets and making kimchi.

Email us with your resume and 3 references.
Tendersolesfarm@gmail.com

Expanding Local Food Access and Support for Local Food Producers

A win-win for local food producers and families!

Farmers’ markets are the best place to get fresh, healthy foods while also supporting the economy in your community.  In recent years, markets across the country have been implementing programs to enable shoppers to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at farmers’ markets.  These programs are often run alongside SNAP incentive programs which match SNAP spending at a set ratio and make shopping at markets more affordable.  These programs have the added benefit of bringing more federal dollars into the local food system.

In early 2022, Merrymeeting Food Council (MFC) started working with the downtown Brunswick Farmers’ Market to assist them in implementing a SNAP and Maine Harvest Bucks program at their market. The program began the second week of May 2022, and as of the market close in November had 252 transactions, and $11,121 being spent with market vendors through the program.

Building on this success, MFC worked with the Brunswick Winter Market throughout the summer to assist them in implementing a SNAP and Maine Harvest Bucks Program to launch in November.  With the Brunswick Winter Market adding these programs, all 5 farmers’ markets in the greater Bath-Brunswick area will be accessible for families shopping with SNAP.    

The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) is the administrator of the Maine Harvest Bucks (MHB) program in Maine.  They work with markets across the State to implement and run SNAP and SNAP incentive programs (MHB), and were a key partner alongside MFC in implementing the new programs in Brunswick.  According to MFFM, over the last five years over $80,000 dollars have been spent through SNAP and MHB at the farmers’ markets in Brunswick, Bath, and Bowdoinham.  In 2021 alone, over $1.2 million was spent through SNAP and MHB programs across the State.  These programs are an incredible resource to support Maine food producers and communities.

How can you help?

1. You can volunteer at a SNAP market booth to help keep these programs running! If interested, please contact us! Find schedules for local Farmers’ Markets here.

2. Donate to Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets to help maintain the match for SNAP spending enabled by the Maine Harvest Bucks program.

3. Talk with your local legislators about the importance of funding programs like Maine Harvest Bucks which support local food producers and increase accessibility of local food for all in our community.

4. Learn more about how these programs are implemented at area Farmers’ Markets and their local economic impact, through stories like this one from our partner Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (read more…).

5. Don’t live in this area, and want to support expansion of SNAP/MHB at your local market? Here are some resources to get you started.

   • SNAP/MHB FAQ from Merrymeeting Food Council

   • Resources from Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets