Posted February 5, 2014
A Maine bill would support the expansion of “food hubs,” where small-scale farmers can store, cut or clean their products to ease the distribution process to larger markets, according to an Associated Press article available here.
LD 1431, entitled “An Act To Support School Nutrition and Expand the Local Foods Economy,” is available here. The Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday afternoon.
The bill would provide grants and create a $6 million bond issue to develop more food hubs, which allow small producers to get their products to larger markets like schools and grocery stores. It would also fund programs to train school food service workers “on the preparation and procurement of Maine-grown foods.”
Lawmakers, however, are divided on the merit of the bill, according to an Associated Press article available here.
Republican lawmakers said that Maine cannot afford to fund the expansion. “The only way we’re going to get this money is to take away from revenue sharing, local towns and everywhere else because we’re headed into a very big shortfall in the upcoming year,” said Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake, a Republican from Turner.
Supporters say the bill will benefit the state by providing more Maine students access to fresher, healthier vegetables and promoting small businesses and the local economy.
Sen. Chris Johnson, sponsor of the bill, said he is considering an agricultural bond that would support food hubs in a comprehensive bond package. Other supporters cite studiesshowing that “dollars spent through food hubs boost local economies much more than dollars spent on imported food,” according to the Conservation Law Foundation here. According to the study, “every $100 spent on local food has the potential to generate an additional $63 in the local economy.”
For more information on local food systems, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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